After a summer and fall of observing stunning and intelligent Orca whales in The Pacific Northwest, Captain Dan McSweeney has returned to Hawaii to continue his work with the magnificent Humpback whales. For several weeks now, the number of Humpbacks returning to the Big Island waters to join resident whales has steadily increased, and although January, February and March are their biggest migration months, there have already been numerous sightings of cows and calves along with pairs and singles. We are beginning to see mothers and calves playing atop the warm Pacific Ocean, their tails slapping the ocean and fins gently waving above the water. These playful mothers can be as much as 40 feet long and weigh 60,000 -80,000 pounds when they arrive. At birth, their calves are a mere 11-14 feet long and weigh about 2,000 pounds, but their rate of growth makes their year old counterparts difficult to distinguish from other whales. Lone males have already been spotted as they dive beneath the surface and sing the mysterious humpback song deep in the water.
Captain Dan McSweeney’s Whale Watch will begin their Humpback season mid-December, as the Humpbacks continue increase in number and visibility. Also, Pilot Whales and Beaked Whales, smaller than the Humpback, but unique in that they travel in groups that can number as many as 30, are playing in the waters around the island. In addition there have been several sightings of the elusive false killer whales, a rare treat for everyone. As always, the whales are sometimes joined by spinner, spotted and bottlenose dolphins, who love to play in the wake of the Whale Watch boat.
Captain McSweeney’s Whale watch guarantees whale sightings. However, if you happen to be on the rare trip where a whale is not sighted, you will be given a second excursion at our expense, and treated with warm hospitality, as is the norm on all our trips. All trips include tasty refreshments and snacks, as well as educational information given first by Captain Dan himself, and supplemented by his well-educated, experienced and friendly crew.
It’s best to plan ahead in this busy season, so book soon! To book your adventure and indulge your whale watching desire, call us directly at 808-322-0028 or simply click the Make a Reservation tab to the left of the screen on our website www.ilovewhales.com. Captain Dan offers both a 7 am and 11 am departure, both of which are 3 hours in length. If you prefer the calmer water, cooler air temperatures, best lighting for getting great pics, and having the rest of the day to enjoy other activities, you might want to consider booking the early morning excursion. We look forward to serving you and providing you with the whale watching benefits arising from Captain Dan’s knowledge and experience around these wild creatures!