Whales are some of the most fascinating and beautiful creatures on earth. These marine mammals are known for their intelligence and vast size. There is a considerable industry that has emerged to cater for people that want to see whales with their own eyes in coastal areas around the world. Here are some of the best whale watching spots in the world.
- Vancouver Island
Around 20,000 grey whales migrate past the Pacific coast of Vancouver Island every year. Head to Vancouver Island in March to catch the Pacific Rim Whale Festival: one of the most important annual gatherings of marine mammalian enthusiasts. The festival heralds the arrival of the migrating grey whales and is a great hub for finding out the results of the latest research into these beautiful animals. Vancouver Island also has a very large native population of orcas that can be seen the whole year round feeding on the animals that live in the area.
- Iceland
Many whale species migrate to the cold North Atlantic Ocean in order to feed. Iceland is perfectly positioned for catching feeding whales in the act. A short boat trip from Husavik can yield some incredible results for the expectant whale watcher. Carnivorous sperm whales are particularly impressive visitors to the seas around Iceland. Sperm whales are eminently mysterious deep-sea hunters. They return to the surface after a hunt in spectacular fashion. They have the largest brain of any living mammal and exhibit incredible social behavior.
- Maui, Hawaii
Maui island – also known as the valley island – is one of the most picturesque places to spot whales. Between November and May Maui, Hawaii resorts are filled with naturalists hoping to catch a glimpse of the marine mammalian population that shelters in the calm and warm waters of the area. The peak whale watching season begins in January.
- Western Scotland
Minke, humpback, sperm and orca whales can all be seen relatively close to the western tip of Scotland. Approximately a third of all of the North Atlantic’s whale population migrates through Scottish waters every single year.
Between May and October large pods of Orca can be seen hunting near Shetland. Orcas are intelligent and violent hunters that use pack tactics to isolate seals, dolphins and other whales. Seeing a pack of orcas hunting in the wild is an unforgettable experience.
- Southern Sri Lanka
The coast around southern Sri Lanka is one of the only places in the world where people can easily catch a glimpse of the largest animal on the planet: the blue whale. Between December and March, blue whales congregate in coastal waters around Mrissa. They arrive in the area in order to feed on the rich planktonic life.
The blue whales found off of the coast of Sri Lanka are by no means ordinary. They are the only population of these giant mammals that does not migrate to cold water in order to feed. Scientists discovered this by analyzing the fecal matter released by these airliner-sized vertebrates.
