Top Ten Things to Take on a Whale or Dolphin Watching Trip
No matter where you are going whale or dolphin watching, whether you are spotting Orca’s in Canada, Humpbacks in South Africa, Blue Whales in California or Dusky Dolphins in New Zealand, there are a few essential things you need to pack.
Your trip could be a once in a lifetime experience and maybe even a life changing one, so you really do not want to have that stomach churning sensation as you realise “Doh, I forgot the…”
Follow our top ten tips of what to take on your whale or dolphin watching trip for the best chance of having an experience to warm the cockles of your heart.
Binoculars
These are a must have accessory and if anyone says you do not need them, nod politely and walk away singing to yourself. Although photographs of whale and dolphin watching trips often make the experience look as if it is a close up affair, this is not always the case. Without binoculars you may be left saying "What dolphin?" in reply to exuberant shouts of "Look at those Striped Dolphins leaping!" Top binocular tips: select a pair with a magnification of between 7x and 10x; keep the strap around your neck unless you want to see them flying overboard.
Clothing
You may be subject to all the elements on a whale or dolphin watching trip, so be prepared for anything, as any boy scout could tell you. The ocean can be a cold place to hang around, even on a sunny day, and, on an overcast day, a drop of sun combined with water glare could leave you sunburnt by the end of your trip. Wear plenty of layers that you can take off and put on as required, and include wet weather gear. Take a hat to protect from cold and/or sun and sensible, waterproof footwear with good grip; do not be tempted to show off your new best shoes! Polarised or UV glasses will protect your eyes from water glare and make it easier to spot whales in bright conditions. Lastly, do not forget your sunscreen or you may be featuring an attractive red faced look come evening.
Camera
When you return home and tell friends "You'll never believe what we saw..." They may well reply "No we don't, prove it!" Make sure to have a camera with you to preserve the memory of your experience and share it with others. A zoom of between 4x and 6x magnification is best; any more would be impractical due to the movement of vessel and animal. Take a waterproof bag to pop it in when not in use. You may choose to take a video camera to record some footage that will hopefully have your friends back home asking for more rather than pleading for a break. A word of caution though: a whale watching trip can be an emotional experience and one that will have most impact when you are fully engaged with it; do not hide behind your camera for the whole trip or you risk dulling your experience down to a flat two-dimensional impression of what it would otherwise be!
Guide book
Get yourself a whale and dolphin guidebook before you go. Whether or not you have children with you, your whale watching experience is likely to be more fulfilling if you know a little bit about what you are seeing. Not only will you be able to pat yourself on the back when you tell people you saw "a Sperm Whale!" as opposed to "a whale", you are likely to be more awed by your encounter when you read about the lives of these deep-diving, squid-fighting leviathans. There will probably be plenty of dull moments on the trip when there is not a Fin Whale or Common Dolphin in sight; your guide book can entertain you during these lulls, maintaining your momentum until the next sighting is made.
Food and drink
If your belly is rumbling from hunger and your brain feeling disoriented from dehydration, you are unlikely to enjoy your encounter to the full. Take some snack food to keep you going and plenty of fluid to drink. Depending on how extreme a temperature you are likely to encounter, a flask of hot or cold drink could be a lifesaver.
Yourself, but on a good day
It is a simple suggestion but one that may be easily overlooked; DO get a good night's sleep before your trip and do NOT be hung-over or suffering from any other excess. Your body and your spirits (not the alcoholic kind) need to be in tip top condition for your adventure; you may have choppy seas to overcome and down time in between sightings. It is essential that you are feeling alert and patient so that you have the best chance of being the first person to spot the blow from a passing whale and the last person to lose their good mood when nothing exciting happens for a long time.
Notepad and pencil
Take a notepad and pencil to record what you see, make a sketch, write a poem, or do whatever you may be inspired to do! Doing a bit of homework before you leave may even enable you to help with cetacean research (cetacean = whales and dolphins). Some conservation groups run cetacean sightings schemes which the public can input into; check out conservation groups local to the area you will be visiting to find out if you can get involved.
Anything to help you avoid seasickness
Even a full night's sleep and a good breakfast cannot guarantee that you will be immune from the ravages of seasickness. Wear comfortable clothing, pack any medicines or remedies you have been advised to take and have plenty of water and comfort food to hand. If you do suffer from seasickness give the guide book to someone else and make sure you keep your eyes focussed on the sea around you.
Kidnap a guide!
If you know a cetacean geek, take them with you. Failing that, if you want the most educational and illuminating experience, book a trip on a whale watching boat with a nature guide on board. They are likely to be the best whale and dolphin spotter, ensuring you do not miss that elusive Beaked Whale as it dives beneath the boat. They will also give you expert information about everything you see in a lively and engaging manner. Some species of whale and dolphin are very hard to tell apart; they will not conform to the clearly drawn pictures in your guidebook and there may be the merest glimpse of a dorsal fin on which to base an estimation of its species. An expert guide should be able to identify the animals you spot and may, for example, confirm that you have indeed just witnessed the rarely spotted Cuvier's Beaked Whale.
Lucky charm
Whale and dolphin watching can be a hit and miss affair. You may get lucky and have the most amazing encounter of the century or you may get unlikely and not see so much as a splash. So to increase your chances of coming home smiling, if you have a lucky charm, take it, if you can sing a whale-charming song, sing it, if you can dance a dolphin-loving dance, dance it... You get the idea!
Follow our top ten tips for the best chance to have a whale or dolphin watching trip of a lifetime and, when you return, come back to Planet Whale and tell us all about it.
Good luck and enjoy your adventure...
Written by Amanda Banks, freelance writer and researcher for Planet Whale, http://amandabanks.com/
