Make the Most of Your Boat-Based Whale Watching Trip
It emerges from the water not far from the boat, with incredible power and presence. It quickly disappears and then once again surfaces, leaping through the air and coming down with a colossal slam that sends shockwaves through the ocean. Each passenger whistles and cheers as they look on in awe at a majestic humpback whale going through its acrobatic routine. Boat-based whale watching is an incredible experience and here’s how to make it that bit better.
Consider the Day
Boat-based whale watching is different to land-based whale watching, being a few metres away from one of the biggest animals to have ever lived isn’t the same as seeing it through a set of binoculars. Whale watching in Sydney is a lot like going on a safari, except you are at sea. Nobody can guarantee that you’ll see all the marine animals you’ve come for, but you can be smart when picking the day you set off.
If you pick a day which is too windy, you’ve less of a chance of seeing a humpback whale. They won’t surface for long as they’ll prefer to avoid the harsh weather and stay submerged. The same goes for hot weather, if the sun is beating down from above, humpbacks will lounge around and float on the surface instead of wasting energy playing.
Getting the Best Images
If it is your first time on a whale watching tour, you’ll want some good pictures to upload onto Facebook and Instagram. There is no better place to show off than on your social media accounts. But getting good pictures is all about knowledge and most photographers will tell you that water photographs best in bright lights. This rule runs opposite to when you are on land. The more the sun is shining, the more it shimmers off the water, making for a great picture. When the sun is directly overhead, the ocean lights with some magnificent colours, so keep this in mind when you start snapping away at the humpbacks.
Understanding Breaching
Breaching, the moment when whales dive out of the water and make a huge splash makes an amazing image when captured. The best way to prepare you for this event is to know when a whale is about to do it. Remember these tips when trying to predict when a whale is going to jump out of the water. When you see only its tail out of the water, it usually means it is about to dive deep and surface like a torpedo. It uses this body shape to pick up speed and power in order to propel its massive body up into the air.
When you go whale watching in Sydney, you should always expect the unexpected. Remember to be prepared and enjoy the trip. Humpback whales are wild animals and you are just a visitor to their environment. The best time to see whales and other marine creatures is during the migratory period when they travel from the Antarctica to the east coast of Australia.
