Wonderful Whale Watching in Maine
Nature lovers will be thrilled with a Maine whale watching vacation.
Maine is a beautiful yet rugged state and a terrific place to go on a whale watching excursion. Lovers of the great outdoors especially appreciate these trips, which take guests through the waters of the Gulf of Maine for some incredible sights.
What to Expect
Every whale watching cruise is a bit different but all have one thing in mind…finding whales to watch! In Maine, due to the large number of whales in the waters around the state, the sightings are frequent.
Trip lengths vary according to the type of boat used and the frequency of sightings. Most whale watching tour companies guarantee a sighting so they stay on the water as long as necessary, within reason.
The average Maine whale watching cruise lasts anywhere from 1 ½ to 4 hours and some incorporate additional sightseeing. Trips past some of the state's picturesque lighthouses are sometimes included with whale watching tours.
Some companies use high-speed vessels. That means guests reach the whale watching sight sooner and have more opportunity to watch the animals in their natural habitat before returning to the harbor.
Others accommodate passengers on boats that are a bit slower, making the trip to the whale feeding grounds a little more leisurely.
Nonetheless, the experienced captains know the best places to spot the amazing creatures and many tour companies boast a sighting rate in the high 90th percentile.
What You'll See
In the waters of the Gulf of Maine and the Acadia region, visitors will be treated to an amazingly large number of a variety of species. Whale watching in Maine is sure to provide guests with some incredible sights.
You should expect to see an abundance of Humpback, Finback, and Minke Whales. Other more rare species are also sometimes spotted, such as the Right Whale or Pilot Whale.
Guests may also see pods of White-sided Dolphins, schools of porpoise, and plenty of sharks. You may also find a Giant Tuna or two and can watch the Harbor Seals playing along the shore.
If you enjoy bird-watching, there's lots of opportunity to do a little of that while whale watching in Maine. Look for gannets, several varieties of gulls, shearwaters, hawks, and puffins. Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons are often spotted as well.
Is This Safe for the Whales?
Avid environmentalists are often concerned about how activities like whale watching affect the natural behaviors of the whales themselves. No need to worry.
The tour and charter companies that run these trips are equally as concerned about the whales and their environment and would do nothing to harm either.
In fact, naturalists or other environmental experts usually accompany guests on the whale watching trips so as to educate them about the whale and the fight to keep them healthy and happy.
Many companies also support local environmental organizations that assure the safety of the whale, such as Allied Whale, a Maine organization that conducts research for the effective conservation of marine mammal populations and their habitats.
When to Go
It gets quite cold and icy in the Gulf of Maine during the winter months. Therefore, most companies only conduct whale watching tours for about half the year.
If you're hoping to go whale watching in Maine, you'll want to arrange your trip between the months of May and October. The months of July and August are especially busy so reservations should be made in advance to insure that you won't be disappointed.
Even in the summer months, whale watchers in Maine should dress warmly and comfortably. A hat and gloves isn't out of the question in the early and late parts of the season and a jacket is always necessary.
Posted by Pat on Monday, July 18, 2005