Whale Watching Tips: How to Whale Watch
Seems daft, doesn’t it? This topic.
Whale watching isn’t difficult. It’s designed to be an easy-going experience. You hop into a boat, sail off into the open blue, and let the captain steer you towards some of the largest animals ever to inhabit our planet.
What could be simpler?
While whale watching isn’t exactly difficult to enjoy, especially if you follow our guide to the best whale watching in the world, there are plenty of ways you can enhance your trip and ensure you have the best possible whale watching experience. In this blog, we cover some quick whale watching tips.
Go During the Right Season
When is the best time to go whale watching? Well, it depends on where you go. You can find fantastic whale watching experiences on any date of the year, but they have to be in the right place. Head to Sri Lanka’s east coast to see whales during December and you’ll be sorely disappointed. Make sure you travel to your preferred destination at the right time, or find a destination to match your available travel dates.
Dress for the Ocean Weather
Even in warm countries it can get bitter out on the water, especially once winds set in. Wearing your swimsuit out to sea is much more counterproductive than it sounds. Take warm clothes in preparation for rough winds and spray. The last thing you want is to be miserable and cold on your voyage.
Take Seasickness Medication - Just in Case
You should take a motion sickness tablet between 30 minutes to an hour before you set off.
What everyone?
We recommend that most people take these tablets. The exception would be that you either know you aren’t prone to seasickness following boat trips before, or you are concerned about reactions or side effects to the drug. The reason we suggest most people take these tablets is that whale watching tends to be carried out in rough waters, and if you find yourself seasick, the whole experience can be ruined.
Book Multiple Trips
Whales are massive animals, compared to the sea - well, they’re a drop in the ocean. Unpredictable and elusive, whales can play hard to get. You aren’t guaranteed to see a whale when you go whale watching but of course the result is great disappointment if you pin all your hopes of a dream encounter on one outing. The solution is simple. If possible, book more than one trip. The more time you spend out on the water, the better your chances are of a one-in-a-lifetime experience.
Pick the Right Tour Operator
Great whale watching is about more than just pointing a boat out to sea and hoping a whale crosses your path. It’s about learning patterns and behaviours, looking for telltale signs of activity and building a community in which members help each other track down the animals. If you want to find whales, first find the right tour operator. The best thing you can do is look at reviews. Previous whale watchers will often make comments like the fact that their guide was very ‘knowledgeable’ or their boat got a call in about a recent sighting and headed over. Failing reviews, you can also look at website information or social media profiles to see if any experience, accreditations or accolades are listed.
Be Ethical
The best encounters are those that leave you feeling elated and that you’ve experienced something magical. The worst kind of encounters have you questioning whether or not the animal you’ve just seen was distressed at your presence or had been exploited. Chances are you’re seeking out whales because you are fascinated by these wonderful creatures, which means you’re also likely to be against any activity that is harmful to their wellbeing.
Look for whale watching tours that advertise ethical encounters. If you can’t find any tour guides that expressly say they offer ethical encounters, fear not, that doesn’t mean they aren’t available. Read our guide to ethical whale watching to find out more!
