2013 Whale-watching season will get under-way this weekend 1st June. Whales have all ready be spotted in King George Sound. We had a group of divers on board last weekend and our spotter Bernie phoned me to say there were 2 Humpback whales between Limestone Head and Breaksea Island. Sunday while the divers were enjoying a dive on the HMAS Perth those of us left on board spotted several whales north of us. They were half way across the Sound and stayed in the same area for about 2 hours. They were heading out of the Sound when we headed home. The following day with a friend I did the Bald Head walk and spotted 2 pods of what looked like humpback whales entering and leaving the Sound. Looking forward to the up coming whale watching season and what is in store for us.

Diving Weekend with St Mary's & Fin Whales

We had the pleasure of students from St Mary's Presbyterian Collage in Perth with us for a dive weekend. Students who have done a dive course and are lucky enough to be able to travel to Albany. The weather was great our first dive was on the "HMAS Perth". Then out to "The Cheynes III". I am always impressed the way the girls conduct their dives all under the watch full eyes of their teacher Mark Staniforth. Sunday we head out towards the islands for our first dive but as we get close I spot two whales. At first glance they look like big humpbacks They cruise past as if on a mission but i question if they are humpbacks or fin whales. We turn and follow for 10 minutes and I see that their fin is a little different than a humpback. Now I am sure they are fin whales :). We leave these whales and head to the dive site known as "The Seal Colony" They love the dive. The kids and staff are blown away by the large plate corals. The weather is getting better and we head to the "SS Cheynes" as the students will be surveying this dive site. Oh yes must do a little work while on such a school camp. The first dive on this site over we have arranged a bbq lunch. A 2 hour surface interval and the students are back in the water. Conditions have calmed off so much that our anchor rope is floating what a great day. Mark comments that it would be a great night for a night dive. We drop every body off at Camp Quaranup. Before all of the dive gear is taken from the jetty the girls thank Eve and myself for arranging some great diving. My response to this is to thank the girls for being such great guests aboard my boat. I tell them that they are credit to their school, their parents and to them self in the way they behave. To give to an idea these kids are very organised on the boat dive gear stored well, they were more organised that many of the adult groups we have on board. They were polite and well mannered. They were keen to do all the tasks that they had to do even though on school camp. It is great to see such enthusiasm.

Looking for Love

The weather has calmed down. (Not Before Time) Although the is a bit of South Westerly swell rolling into King George Sound. We cruise past one of the bulk carriers anchored close to Mistaken Island. Bernie has told me that he saw several whales heading towards Bald Head. I know we wont see those whales as they will be going past the Salmon Holes by the time we get to Bald Head, and truthfully the swell out side the sound would make things very uncomfortable. We cruise past the eastern end of Mistaken Island then in to Frenchman Bay, past the wreck of HMAS Perth, Seal Rock and over to Limestone Head. As we get close to Limestone Head the call comes from Bernie that he thought he saw a blow close to the mainland, As I am chatting to Bernie, Eve my deckie comes to the bow and says she thinks she saw a blow in the direction of the islands, but not too far away. With reduced revs we turn and head in that direction. When looking for whales you have to scan all around as often a whale will pop up behind you, or off to either side. I spot a soft blow about 600 metres away. We find 1 humpback whale and follow him for some time as it just slowly cruises north, over towards the 3 ships at anchor. I am sure that he is "Looking for Love". I say him but I have no idea if the whale was a bull or cow. Being mating season you would think if it was a cow then a bull would not be far away. I am often asked to identify between bull and cow. I assume that if you have 2 whales the one in front is probably the female and the one following with its tongue hanging out is most likely the male. Why should things be different with whales. We leave this whale after some time and head towards Whale-world and cruise back toward home along the coast.

Two Humpbacks Cruise Past

Well folks over the weekend we have enjoyed the company of divers from "The Dive Shed" Busselton. Two dives on the dive wreck "HMAS Perth" on Saturday and then "The Cables" and the "Cheynes II" today.
 The weather was perfect and as we headed out to the islands this morning several km from Princess Royal Harbour channel I spotted 1 Humpback whales cruise past several hundred metres away. We slowed to give the divers a quick look but this whale did not wish to be seen again. The guys loved the dive at "The Cables" And we headed over to the Cheynes II for our surface inter-vile. As the last of the divers are entering the water for there dive on the wreck of an old whale-chaser "Cheynes II" a call from several non divers enjoying the day on the fly bridge, alerts us that 2 humpbacks are cruising from with in "King George Sound" towards "Bald Head" They are about 1000m to our stern and just cruising, we watch them, and one of the divers jokes that she is worried about the whales coming close. Oh she should be so lucky. Id love to dive with a humpback whale as it cruises past.

Something to add to my bucket list, "head to Tonga and dive with Humpbacks" So the whales are arriving now we need some whale watchers.