Gear

Being cold, wet, seasick and miserable can take the edge off a spectacular whale or dolphin encounter. Fortunately, such situations can largely be avoided by wearing the correct clothing and packing the right equipment for the trip.

The bare essentials

The most important considerations are the bare essentials: warm dry clothes, food and water. Even if it is a hot calm day on land, weather conditions at sea can be deceptively cool and changeable. As a general rule try to dress for all weathers. Take several layers of clothing, which will improve insulation in cold weather and give you several options if it is warm. Always think ahead. Once you have a chill it can be difficult to warm up even with extra layers of clothing so put warm clothes on as soon as you start to feel cold. A warm hat will prevent around 35% of your body heat being lost through your head. Windproof or waterproof clothing is essential. Some operators will also insist on soft-soled shoes, which will give you a better grip on deck. In sunny weather, a cap, sunglasses and suncream are advisable for protection.

Avoid seasickness

To avoid seasickness it is important to remain hydrated with a full stomach so take plenty of non-alchoholic drink and snack food with you. If you feel seasick, it can help to eat even if you don’t feel like it. Much of a whale watching trip may be spent travelling to and from key hotspots. You may wish to read a book, look for seabirds and other marine life or simply watch the sea in its ever-changing form. Whale watch operators will often ask for your help in searching for whales and dolphins. With perseverance you may well be the first to spot something!

I spy with my little eye

Binoculars are the most essential piece of equipment for observing whales and dolphins at sea. They can be used to scan the sea at distance, and they increase your chances of observing subtle behaviours or identification features that would go undetected with the naked eye. If possible, buy a good pair of binoculars that feel comfortable and are not too heavy, with a magnification of between 7× and 10× and a wide field of view. The field of view is especially important as locating objects at sea can be difficult due to the uniformity of the background.

Spotting telescopes are very useful for land-based watching and can also be used on large stable vessels. However, they are best used in conjunction with binoculars, which are generally more suitable for scanning the sea because they have a much wider field of view.