Humpbacks still on the move north
Today is Sunday 5.30pm – as I sit here to tell you all about my week – I look back and think just how lucky I am to have such an amazing job – this week has been simply awesome with some spectacular performances by our beautiful whales. This is what we saw this week:
Monday 19th
Had our first pod by 9.30am, out wider today but breaching around the 62 meter depth (8 miles out) in this pod 1 whale. We left him at 10.10 and found another pod of 5 whales, another pod of 2 whales, another pod of 2 – we couldn’t believe it – we were surrounded, all whales seemed to be in a playful mood with breaching whales spread far and wide – heaps good day !!
Tuesday 20th
Found breaching whales by 9.25am off Fingal Head, first pod had 2 whales and stayed with them till around 9.55 and headed to a pod breaching off Kingscliff, 3 whales in the pod and breaching several times, we counted 6 breaches straight off, plenty of action with whales chasing each other, tail flukes and tail flicks and then they were joined by another 2 whales and now the pod was 4 strong – loads of action as they got to know each other – eventually they split up and one lonely whale was sent on his way – poor little chap – whilst the other 3 continued on, in this pod one huge whale breached, we reckon he would have been 15 meters – BIG !!, at 10.30 still loads of action, we kept with this pod till it was time to head back – fantastic whales today – boy I have a great job !!
Wednesday 21st
Had our first pod of 9.20am, breaching straight away, whales everywhere. The pair that we stayed with came to the boat, under the boat a couple of times, one other whale joined the two, but he didn’t stay long and left the pod almost immediately – obviously didn’t fit into that pod !!. We left this pod around 10.30 and went out to a pod further out, had dolphins today, more whales breaching out wide, this pod was active with one breach within 20 meters of the boat, OH MY GOD !! what a magnificant sight that was, here is a picture plus some other exciting pictures
Thursday 22nd
Found 2 very very friendly whales, came straight over to the boat – pure magic – money just can’t buy this sort of stuff, they swam under the boat heaps of times, everyone was running from one side to the other and screaming out to them - they came to the back, to the front – another OMG day they were awesome. The arvo trip gave us fantastic whales again, two came to the boat again and everyone was just as excited as this morning, we had several breaches – loads of fun again.
Friday 23rd
First pod by 9.15 in close off Coolangatta. Next pod was a double breacher out wide, tail lobbing together, lots of tails and tail flicks by 10.20 still with them, they visited the boat several times and not travelling hard, just happy spending time splashing around – great afternoon
Saturday 24th
Found our first pod by 8.30 (we left early today) one whale in the pod – not active, left him as he dived and found another pod by 8.45 with a cow and a new little calf, only days old if that, very quiet in the water, once we knew there was a calf we left her and found another pod – which was not active either. Left them as they weren’t much fun and headed out to another pod of 2 whales who came straight to the boat – they must love our boat – or me !!! only joking – they played with us for ages, we could now see another pod coming over to join this pod, we had tail flukes to the right to the left as the pods joined up – great trip plenty of whales. Afternoon trip had two big whales by 2.05 around 5 miles out breaching, came to the boat – must the day to come to the boat – they were in front, behind us, next to us, tail flukes fantastic. They rolled upside down under the boat – great whales, we stayed with them for the trip, couldn’t see another pod anywhere. Great day
Sunday 25th
Whales by 9.30 breaching up north, found our first pod by 9.30 off Coolangatta 3.5 miles out, not at all active, had one spotty one, left them at 10.10 as they were doing nothing. Next pod big breach out wide, another pod in closer, not active again, another pod off Cook, not active and decided to leave and then as we left two big whales came right close to the boat and gave us all a big fright, as we didn’t even know they were there, we then headed out to a pod that was a little more active, loads of splashing, tail flicks, tail flukes, at least these guys were awake. We spent time with them and then had to come home as we left off they went breaching, breaching and more breaching, we watched them as we came back into port. Good day, but whales a bit quiet today, sunday rest day !!
Plenty of whales all week, they are all still travelling north, we have seen another cow and calf this afternoon on our dive charter, the divers could hear them singing as clear as a bell around Cook Island – simply awesome
this has been Carol ‘The Whale Women’ till next time