If you’re lucky enough to be a resident of Newport Beach, then you have the awesome opportunity of going whale watching! This exhilarating excursion takes you to the heart of whale country, where you’ll get to be up close and personal with these giant mammals! Plus, it’s an amazing way to get first-hand experience after a science lesson with your Newport Beach tutor.
You’ll board a small but fast boat, boats actually designed by the military that have been found to be perfect for jetting across the ocean to go whale watching. One of the whales you might be lucky enough to see is the Blue Whale, the largest mammal to ever live on Earth! These whales can reach up to 200 tons, and can grow over 100 feet long, though the ones commonly sighted in Newport are around 80 feet, not that that’s very small! Almost 3,000 blue whales travel to the Newport Coast in May through October, to feed on the fish the coast has to offer. These whales dive down for their prey, and while their dives can last upwards of ten minutes, when they resurface they are slow to move, and having evolved with no natural predators, are quite tolerant of the boats getting very close to them.
You can see Fin whales almost any time of year, but Spring time appears to the best. If you thought the Blue whales were friendly, then get ready for the Fin whales! It’s pretty common for these guys to let the boat get quite close, and sometimes they’ll even circle around the boat, checking it out. While they don’t jump or do acrobats as much as their Blue Whale cousins, they still like to pop in and say hello, and their large appearance and dark color are very impressive.
Another common sight is the Humpback whale, and some say the most exciting one to watch. These guys are characters, loving to show off their great jumping skills and enormous size, with a personality to match! They can be seen almost any time of year, but May through November seem to be the best months.
These are only a few of the amazing types of whales you might get to see on the tour. You may also come across Gray Whales and Minke Males, along with a few different breeds of dolpins including Bottlenose Dolphins, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, and the Common Dolphin. The guides act as your Newport Beach tutor as you travel across the waves to get glimpse of these fantastic beasts in their habitat!