mercredi 8 août 2018

The Joys Of Whale Watching Catalina Island

By Matthew Wright


There are millions of creatures in the earth's many oceans and seas, but few inspire as much awe from humans as whales. The sheer size of these behemoth creatures is incredible, but also the fact that they have large brains and are very intelligent, often compared to humans in their capabilities. To see them up close while in California, try a whale watching Catalina Island tour.

The waters around Catalina Island stay relatively warm, especially in winter, compared to the more Arctic waters around Alaska, where many of the Catalina whales spend their summers. But in winter, they will come south to mate or give birth before swimming back up to the Alaska area. This gives tourists and locals the perfect chance to see them all winter long.

You will have the opportunity to see many different whale species in this area, which is why it is such a huge draw each winter. The largest ones you can see includes humpbacks, blue and gray whales. There are also fin back and minke whales, as well as orcas, which moat people refer to as killer whales in the area.

When it it time to book your tour, the kind of experience you want will dictate which one you book. There are large boats, but also smaller ones not much bigger than a speedboat. These are able to go faster to bring you closer to the action when some of the whales begin to surface, letting you really get close.

There are many reasons to take the smaller vessel, and many reasons not to. Perhaps you want a slower pace, more relaxed experience. Or, if you have a walker, wheelchair or an elderly person in your party who needs assistance getting around, then the larger barge-like boats are a much better option. The are also better for families, especially if you have a service dog or children who will need to be attended to while you are watching for the whales.

You can take a short tour that only lasts a couple of hours if you are short on time. If you have all day, then a day tour that comes back in the evening is ideal. You can even book an overnight experience where you stay in a room on a nearby island, allowing you to maximize the amount of whales you can see.

Whales are not the only sea creatures that are known to gather in the waters surrounding Catalina. In addition, you may see harbor porpoises or even dolphins. In the air, there are seagulls and if you are lucky, bald eagles.

Your best bet to ensure you get a spot on a boat is to book in advance, especially if you have a large party. Just make sure that you keep an eye on the weather. In windy or rainy times, the waters may become too choppy for the boats to safely operate. Call ahead to ensure the boat is still going out before you leave for the pier to ensure the tour is still on.




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