Take a Trip with a Marine Biologist From December 15 until April 15, the whale watching boats of Cabo get the go ahead to take groups just outside the bay in to the mouth of the Sea of Cortez, or perhaps along the west side beaches of the Pacific Ocean: you don’t need to go far to see the whales traveling between the two oceans. Whale watching is a regulated activity; a flag must be displayed on the boat, you may only approach the whale at the tail end and reserve a distance of 60 – 80 feet (a tip – smaller boats get closer), the boats must maintain a speed of 4km or less, and a maximum 30 minutes observation time per whale, per boat. Most operators are very respectful of these rules. What sets apart operators is the standard of the guides themselves. Look for a tour company that employs marine biologists. They often work specifically with whale research projects and will be full of information about the current status of these whales, can explain precisely what behavior is being displayed, and try to explain the most current theories as to why. They may even be able to identify an individual based on the pattern of the tail. Most whales are unfortunately in the ‘threatened’ level of conservation status. So, part of the experience of viewing these magnificent animals should be to learn a little bit about them as we go. Take a trip to see these 55 foot, 40 ton beauties breach, slap and fluke right in front of your boat. Take the kids, take lots of photos and get more from this bucket-list experience by choosing a responsible company with marine biologists as your guide.]]>
