Humpback Whale
The Humpback whale is one of the most agile and acrobatic members of the whaling species and provides frequent displays of breeching and tail slapping. Their antics can seem quite funny for a whale of their size as they can grow up to 16 metres long and up to approx 45 tonnes!

Humpbacks feed on up to a tonne of krill each day, which they sieve through baleen bristles. However while they are migrating they do not feed at all which is for a period of about five months as they travel north to the warm water off the Kimberley coast during the months of May, June and July to breed.

Humpback calves are usually 4.5 to 5 metres long and can weigh up to 1.5 tonnes at birth. In their first few months they stay close to their mothers and gain weight rapidly in preparation for the journey south to cooler waters. By 12 months of age the calves will have grown to 8 metres long and gained their independence. Only the male Humpback whale ‘sings’. As they do not have vocal chords air is passed through the body passages to produce sound. Each year the ‘song’ made by the whales is different to the last. Humpbacks can communicate with each other over great distances.

Southern Right Whale
The sedate and placid Southern Right whale can weigh up to 80 tonnes and reach 18 metres in length. They were named ‘right whales’ by the early whalers who found them easy to hunt as they swim slowly and float after death hence they were the ‘right whale’ to catch. Unfortunately this lead to them being hunted to near extinction during the last century.

Southern Right whales are now protected but are still considered rare and endangered with an estimated population of only 3,000 alive today. Their numbers do seem to be increasing but it is still a privilege to be able to see these creatures at close quarters.

Southern Right whales can be easily identified as unlike most whales, they do not have a dorsal fin.  So when they dive or are swimming along the surface, only the straight line of its smooth back can be seen. Southern Rights also have a distinctive spout when they breathe; it is seen briefly as a thin v-shaped mist from its twin nostrils. 

The Rules for Whale Watching

• Only persons with vessels licensed by CALM are to operate commercial vessel tours involving whale watching.
• Persons on private vessels (including everything from surfboards and kayaks to yachts and launches) do not require whale watching licences, but must adhere to these rules and guidelines governing whale watching.
• Aircraft are not permitted to fly within 300 metres of a whale, except by special authorisation.
• Swimming with, feeding or touching whales is not permitted. Such actions may cause stress to the whale and are dangerous to people. If you are in the water and a whale approaches, you must endeavour to keep a minimum of 30 metres distance between yourself and the whale.
• Any marine vessel, whether powered by a motor, paddle or sail that is within a distance of 300 metres from a whale is within the whale's contact zone. The following special rules apply within the contact zone.

1. A vessel must not cause a whale to alter its direction or speed of travel.
2. A vessel must not disperse or separate a group of whales.
3. A vessel, whether under power or drifting, must not approach a whale from a direction within an arc of 60� of the whale's direction of travel or an arc of 60� of the whale's opposite direction of travel (see Figure 1).
4. A vessel must not approach a whale within a distance of 100 metres (except licensed 'RESEARCH' vessels in particular circumstances).
5. Where a whale approaches a vessel and the distance between the whale and the vessel becomes less than 100 metres, the vessel master must place its motor or motors in neutral or move the vessel at less than five knots away from the whale until the vessel is outside the contact zone.
6. A vessel must not block the direction of travel of a whale, or any passage of escape available to a whale, from an area where escape is otherwise prevented by a barrier, shallow water, vessel or some other obstacle to the whale's free passage.
7. A vessel master must abandon any interactions with a whale at any sign of the whale becoming disturbed or alarmed.

Remember:
If whales are diving for prolonged periods or swimming evasively, you are disturbing and upsetting them. Leave them alone. It is an offence to harass whales, and they may permanently abandon an area if continually disturbed.