Whale Watching

As the Southern Resident orca community becomes better known and more popular, the number of boaters hoping to see them may increase. If you are watching whales by boat, please remember that you are a visitor in the whales' habitat. Courtesy is required to avoid disturbing or intruding upon them. Patience and careful boat handling also optimize your chances of seeing the whales engaging in their natural behaviors. Proper boat handling near whales requires both knowledge of whale behavior and a respectful attitude. A comprehensive set of guidelines for viewing whales and other wildlife has been published by the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA). Responsible boat captains should review and remember these guidelines.

For current federal and state regulations and guidelines, please see: Be Whale Wise.

Tips:

Whales orient themselves to their surroundings, to food sources, and to each other, primarily by their sense of sound. Boat noises are much louder underwater than through the air.

Fast turns, accelerations and decelerations make very loud noises underwater. Go slow around whales. Avoid speeding toward whales or trying to intersect their course. "If you see a blow, go slow."

Take your time. Gradually slow your boat to idle speed when you are within a mile or so of whales. The whales may be miles apart from each other. There may be other whales much closer than the ones you last saw.

Try to approach slowly, from behind and off to one side, in a course that will gradually bring you parallel with them and the legal distance away from them.

Avoid jumping from one group of whales to another, and avoid "leapfrogging" directly into their path. You are just as likely to see whales when they surface if you remain where you are or continue on the same course and speed when the whales dive.

When it is safe to do so, the best whale encounters may be experienced with the engine turned off. If you have a hydrophone, drop it into the water and listen to amazing orca conversations.

When you leave a whale or group of whales, wait for them to surface safely away from you before crossing their path behind them.