Whale & Wildlife Report | March 10-16, 2024
Highlights
Male humpback competition pods
Humpback mom and calf pairs
Subadult humpbacks
Humpback mom, calf, and escort trios
Bottlenose dolphins
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Sea turtles
Reef manta rays
Mobula ray
Whale & Wildlife Report | March 10-16, 2024
March whale watching is always exciting with lots of humpback action, bigger calves, and spring sunshine! At this point in the season, a good amount of humpbacks are still in the area. Humpback mothers are nursing their calves and getting ready for the journey ahead. Some mothers who only gave birth recently, will remain on the coast for a few weeks until their baby is big and strong. Humpback males are competing and looking for a final opportunity to spread their genes before departing themselves.
Our tours saw a span of activity this week and many of our humpbacks were found up north! We spotted a few heat runs in the distance with some splashing and breaches confirming that competition is still high. Some solo males were traveling up and down the coastline and we spent time with two subadults who looked to be maybe a year or two old. The mom and calf pairs are still frequent with some calves gaining strength and even showing us their little flukes! We had some adorable encounters and witnessed lots of surface action including pec fin slaps and tail slaps. During one encounter with a male escort whale, both mom and baby breached and chin slapped sending the male on the move (such an interesting interaction)! We had a few whales close to the harbor and some days where a bigger search was required. Whale watching in the wild is truly a new search every day, and not knowing exactly what we will encounter on our trips keeps every adventure exciting!
Our guests enjoyed lots of dolphin sightings and some fairly large pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins. The morning and midday hours are some of the best for encountering them and we found a few groups outside the Kua Bay area. Hawaiian spinners, like many dolphins, enjoy bow riding and surfing our wake. On multiple occasions we became surrounded and everyone had a blast admiring the action all around us! During one encounter a mom and calf humpback whale popped up amidst a group and we saw dolphins bow riding the whales (a first for a few of our crew)! We also got some good looks at bottlenose dolphins on our trips with active groups further offshore and a few individuals hunting around the fish pens. We’re always on the search for dolphins and whales, and we love sharing our passion for these cetaceans with our guests!
The manta action up north has been phenomenal! We had some cautious guests this week and we were thrilled to see their fears dissolve during this unforgettable experience! With squeals of excitement through their snorkels, we’re reminded just how special every trip and interaction is. Floating at the surface and witnessing Kona’s massive mantas swoop below is hard to imagine until you are there in the water! On a few occasions and as one of the last lights in the water, we had mantas guiding us back to the boat for some epic grand finales! If you’re on the edge of giving it a shot, our expert guides are here for you every step of the way. We love the way we do mantas, and we work hard to make everyone's adventure comfortable and memorable. We can’t wait to share the manta magic with you on our upcoming adventures!
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