Manly Whale Watching
  • Home
  • Tours
    • Manly Ocean Extreme
    • Champagne Sailing
    • Harbourcat
  • Gift Vouchers
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
    • Frequently Asked Questions

THE WHITE WHALE

6/6/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
An albino humpback whale was spotted off the coast of Fingal Bay, NSW by a 16 year old while out surfing. He reported that he heard a weird singing or screaming noise and was then in awe of the sight of this marvellous creature. He returned back soon after with his drone to capture imagery which has since amazed media outlets and marine experts. Speculations have begun about whether this whale is an offspring to the beloved Migaloo. 

For anyone who isn’t aware, Migaloo is considered to be the most famous humpback whale in the world and until recently was the only pure white adult humpback known to man. Mingaloo was originally spotted in 1991 off Byron Bay, NSW and has since been spotted several times over the past few decades. Migaloo was named after the Aboriginal word for “white fella”. 

Previously in 2011, a white humpback whale calf was spotted in the Whitsundays and became known as Migaloo Junior however it is not known if they are related or not. Migaloo Junior appears to have one small black dot on the dorsal surface of his left fluke which aligns with the condition leucism rather than albinism. 

This new albino humpback whale is the perfect and most exciting way to begin the whale watching season. According to Australian Law all whales are protected however humpback whales that are more than 90% white are “special management marine animals” which have extra protection from marine vessels unable to reach 500 metres of them. This is because back in 2003 Migaloo was hit by a boat and has scars on his back from that encounter. It is terrible that this is what it took to protect whales from being struck by vessels. 

Here at Manly Whale Watching we pride ourselves on the safety of our customers, staff and for all marine wildlife. Despite being able to get quite close with “normal” whales we take great care with every decision we make when approaching a pod of whales or dolphins.
​We are already enjoying this whale watching season and look forward to seeing some new faces this year!
0 Comments

Whale Behaviour

10/10/2019

0 Comments

 
Whales, while well observed, remain an extremely perplexing animal to understand. With whale watching becoming popular as both a tourist and enthusiast activity, documentation of whale behaviour is easily achieved and widespread. On any given day, on any given tour, dozens of cameras and camera phones will be at the ready, snapping images of behaviours such as lobtailing, spy-hopping, and of course, the iconic breaching phenomenon. And yet the purpose of these awesome manoeuvres still remains speculation.

Lobtailing
Lobtailing, a behaviour actually shared with several other large-finned species, involves the whale lifting its tail high out of the water before slapping back down against the water. A movement of immense power, lobtailing is magnificent and intimidating in the same instance, and researchers speculate it may be a method of communication or perhaps a display of aggression to scare off bull whales or even excited observers. Regardless of its purpose, lobtailing is a sight to behold. It is, among other common behaviours, regularly seen by whale watching operators in Sydney.   
Picture
Lobtailing whale capture on board Ocean Extreme

Read More
0 Comments

Best Times to go Whale Watching from Sydney

30/5/2019

3 Comments

 
When to go whale watching is the big question for many whale watchers. For a lot of people taking a trip off Sydney’s coast to watch the humpback whale migration is a once in a lifetime experience so they want to make sure they get the most out of it. Luckily there are many different periods during the six months in which the whales make their way past Sydney so there is always a good time to head out!

The Beginning - May
Best for - firsts of the season
What makes May such a special time to hit the water is the excitement of ‘firsts’. Heading out in May you will hear skippers and guides exclaim your boat has experienced that particular tour’s ‘first breach of the season’ or spotted this year’s first calf! Head out in May and enjoy the buzz of the very start of the season.

Peak of the Northern Migration - June-July
Best for - surface action from competing males
During June and July the Northern Migration hits its peak. Humpback whales are migrating from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to breeding grounds in warmer waters to the north. During this time you will see pods of males competing for the attentions of prospective breeding partners. In terms of surface action this is the best time to experience the migration. Whales will perform a host of acrobatics including the impressive surface breach. In order to obtain this gravity defying manoeuvre this 30-tonne mammal will dive deep before swimming upwards at around 30 kilometers per hour!
Picture
Impressive humpback whale breach - Picture: Whale Watching Sydney
Mid-Season Mayhem - August
Best for - everything!
Once August hits we will see the beginnings of the southern migration as well as the continuing excitement of the northern journey. There will be lots going on in August and it is this time of year when going out with an experienced skipper is really important. Our operators have over 30 years combined experience leading tours from Sydney’s coastline. All of this knowledge goes into making sure that each tour experiences the best encounters every day

Peak of the Southern Migration - September-October
Best for - calf encounters and curiosity

Read More
3 Comments

Dolphins, Hammerheads and more spotted during first weekend of 2019

23/5/2019

0 Comments

 
Whale watching season officially began this weekend with all tours embarking on their first trips of the season and it wasn't just humpback whales getting camera shutters clicking. All tours reported sightings of a huge range marine wildlife delighting lucky whale watchers. 

​​Ocean Extreme cruised with humpbacks on both Saturday and Sunday but it was dolphins that stole the show. A pod was sighted swimming close to the boat on Saturday afternoon giving customers a chance to grab a few epic shots as they frolicked in the wake. 

Read More
0 Comments

A New Season Commences!

16/5/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Pod of 60 killer whales spotted not far from Sydney's coast - Picture: Merimbula Marina
As May rolls around we see Sydney slipping into the full throes of winter. Some may find this time of year grim, but these cold snaps also herald the commencement of the Sydney whale watching season! With both water and air temperatures cooling rapidly, we can expect to see whale sightings steadily increasing through mid to late May, and peaking through June and July as our whale friends chase warmer waters north. 2019 promises the same excitement and wonder of every migration. Steady increases in whale numbers suggest an exceptional season awaits us.

During the 2018 season lucky Sydney whale watchers experienced memorable encounters such as Sydney’s first killer whale sighting for many years. The huge predators were cruising in a pod of close to sixty whales - a rare sighting for Sydney! Such encounters have us excited for more diversity than ever this year. Humpback whales are, of course, the most commonly spotted, but, if you’re lucky, you may catch glimpses of Southern Right Whales, Sperm Whales, Minki Whales, and even the colossal Blue Whales.

Whale watching tours will begin running out of Sydney from the 18th of May when sightings start to become more consistent. During the earlier stages of the migration, expect to see young and lively males making their pilgrimage ahead of the bigger bull whales. Mother whales and their calves are commonly sighted in the second half of the season, when whales are heading south, back to their Antarctic home.

And so, as Sydney cools down you’ll find the team at Manly Whale Watching rugging up and gearing up to get out there for another great season, full of awesome moments with our colossal East Coast travelers!

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    June 2022
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2018
    May 2016
    July 2015
    May 2015
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    May 2013
    April 2013

Our Services

Tours
Booking
F.A.Q.
Photos

Blog

Company

Contact
Terms and Conditions
Picture
 East Side Pier, Manly Wharf,  East Esplanade, Manly 2095  -  0412 622 662
Copyright © 2022 Manly Whale Watching   -  All rights reserved.