Sometimes when a whale is moving under water, the energy from the tail movement produces a slick spot on the surface of the water. Single whales also have been seen doing this and people think it is a way for them to socialize with us.Īnother circular pattern you will see on your Cape Cod whale watch expedition, is called a footprint. The wall of bubbles makes the trapped fish move to the surface of the water in a giant mass. Then the whales blow a wall of bubbles as they swim to the surface in a spiral path. The hunting members of a pod form a circle 10-100 feet across and about 50 feet under the water. Humpback whales use this method to hunt food by rounding up concentrated masses of prey. One of the the neatest things I saw on my Cape Cod whale watching expeditions, were whale bubble rings. The markings are sort of like whale fingerprints. This allows them to keep tabs on the movements and life cycles of the different whales and provides a wealth of valuable knowledge to aid conservation efforts.Įvery season, the naturalists identify several hundred different whales on their tours. Whenever a whale begins a deep dive, it raises its tail fin high out of the water in preparation for a long dive to the bottom.ĭuring this time, many of the naturalists on-board the whale watch vessels, photograph the unique tail markings for identification later on. The whales however, have grown accustomed to the presence of these whale watching boats and frequently swim underneath them-making for a scary experience. The boats are very careful not to get too close to the whales, to avoid disturbing their natural habits and activities. Sometimes, a whale will even slap the water with its flippers as if acknowledging the spectators. You might even see whales breaching (leaping straight out of the water into the air). You are likely to see humpback, finback and minke whales, and it is truly an eye opening experience. Because the water is shallow here, the whales are able to feed on the nutrient rich plankton which rises to the surface.ĭuring your excursion, naturalists will help you spot, identify and learn more about these massive creatures. The Cape Cod whale watch tours all head to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, the whales' favourite feeding grounds.Įach year, beginning in late winter, whales return to Stellwagen which encompasses over 600 square nautical miles, about 26 miles east of Boston, 6 miles north of Race Point and 7 miles from Gloucester. Whale watching tours depart regularly from Plymouth, Barnstable and Provincetown Harbors and many even guarantee a sighting. It is amazing how these large creatures can be so docile and careful as they swim near the boats. Seeing these gigantic mammals gracefully swimming alongside a whale watch boat is for many, the most memorable event of their holiday. Cape Cod whale watching is truly spectacular.

Whale watching cape cod