GET SET FOR A WHALE OF A TIME!

Minke Whale

They’re here! The gentle giants of the ocean are now gracing our waters and what a sight they are!

The commonly sighted species, the dwarf minke and humpback whales, are now being sighted offshore from Cairns and Port Douglas, delighting all those lucky to see them at play.

During the months of May to September, our Tropical North Queensland waters present the added bonus of whale watching as they migrate to mate and give birth to their young.

Quicksilver’s dive and snorkel vessel, Silversonic, has one of the few permits from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, making it possible to view, and even swim with the dwarf minke whales.

A unique treat to see is the famous Migaloo, a rare white humpback whale and last year, he was first sighted by delighted passengers and crew aboard a Great Adventures Outer Barrier Reef and Green Island cruise. All were in awe as Migaloo was sighted swimming north off Green Island. A truly breathtaking experience!

Migaloo

About Migaloo

Migaloo is a white humpback whale that was first observed in 1991 off Byron Bay when it was estimated to be 3-5 years of age. In most years since then it has been recorded undertaking the winter migration into eastern Australia. In addition to sightings in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, Migaloo has been recorded to as far north as Low Isles in North Queensland. It has been recorded 'singing' in 1998 and 2003, indicating that it is an adult male.

What type of behaviour are we likely to see?

Humpbacks can display a wide range of behaviour, such as:

Humpback Whale breaching

Breaching: This is the most spectacular display of all, where the animal leaps almost clear of the water, creating the kind of splash that only a 40 tonne animal can produce!

Spy Hop: Humpbacks will often surface vertically and actually stick their head out of the water so that they can see above the waterline.

Tail slapping: This is where they slap their tail on the surface. It can be a form of communication, but more often than not, it is an aggressive display.

Bubble Netting: A technique developed to allow whales to entrap their prey (krill) by creating a ring of rising bubbles. The whale then moves through the net and uses its baleen to trap the prey.

The Blow: Often the first indication that a whale is in the area. The vapour cloud produced is caused when the whale empties its lungs.

If you would like to learn more about whales and other fascinating marine life, visit Quicksilver’s Reef Biosearch website at www.greatbarrierreefs.com.au