'Celebrity’ whale delights Silversonic passengers'

Click Image for more Pictures *Picture courtesy The Cairns Post, photographer Marc McCormack.

It was a once in a lifetime encounter for passengers aboard the luxury dive and snorkel vessel Silversonic when Migaloo, the rare white humpback whale, was sighted swimming just north of Undine Cay.

The extremely excited passengers and crew were in awe as Migaloo was sighted with two other humpback whales either side of him, described by Skipper Shane Down as his bodyguards. Quite fitting for this ‘celebrity’ whale!

Silversonic was en route to Agincourt Reef when this rare whale, thought to be the only white humpback whale in the world, was sighted for the first time this year in Tropical North Queensland waters, off Port Douglas.

This is the third year in a row the Quicksilver Group has been the first to sight Migaloo as he made his annual trip north. Last year he was first sighted off Green Island on the 15th July and in 2005 off Low Isles on the 16th July. Like clockwork, this year’s appearance was on 24th July.

Shane Down, skipper of Silversonic said, “It is one of the most amazing sights. Migaloo wasn’t doing anything spectacular and was just slowly cruising north with his two bodyguards either side. This is a once in a lifetime chance to see this amazing whale – an unbelievable experience for both passengers and crew.”

May to September is whale season as these gentle giants migrate north to mate and give birth in tropical waters. And it’s been a great season for our passengers with humpback whales and dwarf minke whales being regularly sighted – an added bonus of visiting the Great Barrier Reef at this time of year.