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 reason Catalina Island draws so many whale watching visitors is that it is the perfect location due to its proximity to breeding and birthing grounds. Many whales spend their summers in the Arctic waters surrounding Alaska. However, during mating season, they come to the Catalina area to either mate or give birth before heading back north again.
During the peak mating and nesting season, there are many species in the area that you will get a chance to glimpse in their natural habitat. Many people come for the largest ones, which includes humpbacks, grays and blue whales. You may also glimpse orcas, also known as killer whales, mikes and fin backs as well.
When you look for a tour to join, you will have lots of options. The biggest one is deciding the size of boat you want to ride on to watch. There are smaller, speedboat type options that only seat small parties or individuals. They go very fast and bring you as close as possible to the whales.
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.
The next decision you make after the size of the vessel is the length of the tour. For the full experience, try the overnight tour that lets you stay on a nearby island. You can take the full day tour that does not stay overnight instead. You may also choose the short tour that goes out only for a few hours at a time instead.
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.
You should book your tour in advance, as the busy season fills up quickly and you don't want to get left out. Look out for the weather on your appointed day. Choppy waters may force the tour operator to cancel, so if the weather looks bad, call before you leave to ensure that the boat is still going out so you do not waste your time and can reschedule faster.
The reason Catalina Island draws so many whale watching visitors is that it is the perfect location due to its proximity to breeding and birthing grounds. Many whales spend their summers in the Arctic waters surrounding Alaska. However, during mating season, they come to the Catalina area to either mate or give birth before heading back north again.
During the peak mating and nesting season, there are many species in the area that you will get a chance to glimpse in their natural habitat. Many people come for the largest ones, which includes humpbacks, grays and blue whales. You may also glimpse orcas, also known as killer whales, mikes and fin backs as well.
When you look for a tour to join, you will have lots of options. The biggest one is deciding the size of boat you want to ride on to watch. There are smaller, speedboat type options that only seat small parties or individuals. They go very fast and bring you as close as possible to the whales.
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.
The next decision you make after the size of the vessel is the length of the tour. For the full experience, try the overnight tour that lets you stay on a nearby island. You can take the full day tour that does not stay overnight instead. You may also choose the short tour that goes out only for a few hours at a time instead.
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.
You should book your tour in advance, as the busy season fills up quickly and you don't want to get left out. Look out for the weather on your appointed day. Choppy waters may force the tour operator to cancel, so if the weather looks bad, call before you leave to ensure that the boat is still going out so you do not waste your time and can reschedule faster.
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