Gold Coast Whale Watching

Did You Know?

admin — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:28:43 +0000

Humpbacks are Baleen Whales who filter feed and do not have teeth.
Adults grow to 15m and weigh 40 tonnes.
Adult lungs are the size of a small car.
Adults can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes.

Sounds of the Seas – Poem by Spirit

admin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:11:29 +0000

Click this link to listen to actual whales singing!

The seas are beginning to change
It’s time to swim to warmer waters
So begins our annual migration
To see our curious friends on Spirit

On our way we love to sing
It’s our way of communicating
Calling our mates or just for fun
Twisting our bodies through the seas

We love to hear human sounds
It makes us want to sing
Sing songs that fill you to the core
Songs that swell inside of you

Humans say we make amazing sounds
Long groans, low moans
Roaring sounds, cries and snores
But what about your sounds

Sounds of laughter, screaming cries
What was that? A sneeze!
Goodness gracious how hilarious
If we listen mightily we can feel your hearts beat

It won’t be long before we see our friends on Spirit
Up we surface, taking deep breaths
Then dive below singing our songs
Along the Humpback highway

Whales breathe air as people do…

admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:33:30 +0000

Because whales live in the ocean, many people think they are fish. Did do you know that whales and dolphins are not fish? They are mammals. People are mammals too.
Mammals are the group of animals that breath air using lungs, give birth to live young (rather than laying eggs), and feed their young with mother’s milk.
All animals, including people, need oxygen, a chemical found in both the air and in water.
Fish use their gills to take oxygen from the water that they live in.
But people get the oxygen we need by breathing air, using our lungs.
Whales and dolphins use their lungs to breathe air also.

2013 Whale Watching Season is approaching…

admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:31:11 +0000

Yes, the gentle giants of the sea will soon be on their way towards the wamer seas.
It’s a 10,000 klm journey with dreams of mating and giving birth.
Whale watching has become a huge attraction world-wide.

Every year thousands of whale watching fans gather from all over the world to watch these majestic creatures living their lives in their natural habit, playing, sleeping, foraging and interacting with one another.
Whether you’re a huge fan of whales or just curious about their nature, whale watching can give you a glimpse into the lives of the most amazing and the biggest animals in existence.
Whale watching will give you the opportunity to watch these majestic creatures do what they do best.

Be amazed! Come join Spirit for the journey of a lifetime!

Whales do not sleep as we do.

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:39:28 +0000

To rest, whales sleep only half brain so they remember to take air in, otherwise they would drown.

Another Poem – The amazing journey of the Humpbacks!

admin — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:50:00 +0000

It’s time, the music begins
The stirrings deep within
Now begins the 10,000klm swim
Of the majestic creatures of the sea

The music is contagious
Pods singing with heavenly sounds
Awakens the sleepy ones
Up the coast we swim towards the warmer seas

One breach, two breaches and then a twist, splash
It’s a celebration
Dreams of mating and giving birth
Are now becoming a reality

The stunning Gold Coast skyline comes into view
With Spirit vessel in the distance
Is that Skipper Jason at the helm?
Passengers eagerly awaiting our arrival
So curious to see us again

Oh, if they only knew
How excited and curious we are too
To see them again clapping incessantly
Showing off our aerobatic tricks

Screams of delight draws us closer
Spy hopping to get a better view
Hands and arms outstretched in anticipation of a gentle touch
Up breaches a juvenile with a leap, twist and splash

We must journey on, and wave our pectorals
See you on the way back we sing with joyous enthusiasm
With our calves and mates
Until Spirit is just a speck in the distance

Who’s Watching Whom?

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:27:22 +0000

Whales have great eyesight both above and below the water. For short amounts of time, whales can raise their heads vertically out of the water until their eyes are exposed. This behaviour is called ‘spy hopping’ and it enables them to see where sounds are coming from (in particular from boats and other whales). It also allows the whales to orientate themselves with the coastline during the migration.

The Whale – what a story…

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:37:40 +0000

Just recently I read an interesting article about a female humpback whale that had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. (San Francisco)

“She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth.

A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help.

Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her…

A very dangerous proposition!

One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.

They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.

When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles.
She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed gently around – she thanked them.
Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.

The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.”

Whales are so amazing, they can change your life…

Did you know?

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:25:00 +0000

A female whale is called a Cow, a male a Bull & a baby a Calf
The female is pregnant for 12 months
The calf stays with its mother for 2 years
When born the calf can be 2- 3 meters long and weigh 1-1½tonne
In the first three weeks of life the calf can triple its size
A new born calf can drink up to 600 litres of milk a day
The milk of the female whale is as thick as toothpaste, and very high in fat

Playful Whales – A Poem by an Employee of Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching…

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:16:03 +0000

The crew came running into the office
With shouts of joy

What a day, what a cruise
Oh how privileged we are

Take a look at this
Four Whales mugging the boat

What a sight
So close to the boat
The crew reaching out to give them a rub
Passengers looking in awe

Oh how naughty she was
On her back displaying all
What a sight, just pure white

The other Whales had something else in mind
Let’s clean ourselves; it’s been a long time
Under the bow they went
Rubbing off their barnacles

Passengers curious
What’s happening, they shouted?
Will they turn the boat upside down?

No, says the Skipper
They’re here to play

And play they did
Frolicking up and down and around
Nudging the bow

Then came the blow
Spray all around
The crew soaking it in
Everyone in awe

What a show
Go Whales go

Oh Mother Nature
How wonderful you are!