Where Are The Best Places To Whale Watch?
The worldwide whale watch industry brings in roughly $1.25 billion dollars each year. According to outspoken Canadian animal rights activist Paul Watson, “Back in 1980, whale watching surpassed whaling as an industry. Now it’s worth about four times as much. Whale watching provides far, far more jobs to people than whaling ever did. Whale watching has become an ally in the fight to end whaling.” While some tour operators are reckless and irresponsible, the promise of conservation through education is sound. In this article, you will learn about some of the best places to go whale and dolphin watching around the world.
Azores, an isolated Portuguese-owned island chain in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the best places to whale watch in Europe. Situated 950 miles from Lison, the Azores Archipelago survives autonomously from cattle farming, fishing and tourism. Many travelers love the nine major islands and eight smaller volcanic islands because it remains one of the few unspoiled paradises on the planet. With massive craters, towering mountains and bountiful wildflowers, this idyllic paradise makes a great setting. Over the summer, you can see sperm whales and short-finned pilot whales, although the best time is February to June, when you can see humpback, fin, killer, sei and blue whales, as well as several types of dolphins. The winter months (November through January) offer little opportunity to see anything, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Dominica, one of the Caribbean islands, is known for its vibrant coral reefs, underwater hot springs, stunning marine life. Tourists traveling to Christopher Columbus’s paradise in the Lesser Antilles will enjoy rainforest nature hikes and viewing some of the rarest plants, animals and birds in the world. Dominica is said to be the only country in the world where sperm whales live year-round. From time to time there are whale watch opportunities, and you’ll see migrations, feeding and breeding activity of pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales, as well as Bryde’s, killer and humpback whales, Risso’s dolphins, spinner dolphins, common dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins and giant sea turtles. While travelers are likely to spot something all year round, November to April offer the most diverse sightings and the winter months feature the most acrobatics as the resident humpback and sperm whales mate.
No discussion about the world’s whale watch capitals would be complete without mentioning Hermanus, South Africa. The best shore-based whale watching opportunities are located at Walker Bay, the southernmost tip of Africa, where whales leap out of the water, breach and fluke. Each year, Hermanus hosts a Whale Festival to celebrate the return of the southern right whales in May. Here they’ll mate and calve in the warm, shallow waters throughout the spring and summer, although the best time for viewing is in October. Travelers will enjoy Bryde’s, humpback and killer whale watching and, most commonly, southern right whales. With great restaurants, accommodations and local attractions, Hermanus is a great place to vacation.
Sarah Lomas is a foremost expert in the yeast infection cures field. Her work has been extensively published in various online publications in the areas of how to get rid of a yeast infection. For more information on the treatment for yeast infections, visit Remedyforyeastinfection.com.
inFAMOUS 2 | Let’s Play 4 | Sniper tower bird hunting.