The conditions for whale watching off the Kona Coast are ideal this time of year. Kona is on the leeward side of the island and the name literally means calm. The waters off the Kona Coast are protected by the extremely tall volcanoes that rise from the sea. This makes for ideal water conditions compared to other locations on the island and also contributes to the beautiful sunny skies. Winter temperatures are mild, hovering in the 80s, making it the ideal winter time to escape from snow storms on the mainland U.S. Because of the very tall volcanoes that make up the island, Kona is also graced with extraordinarily deep water very close to shore which draws in a whole host of other marine mammals besides the seasonal humpback that prefers the shallow water coastline. This month has already brought sightings of Hawaiian pilot whales and the false killer whales (dubious distinction of being Hawaii’s newest endangered cetacean species) , two of the twelve exotic species that make their home in Kona all year round. Both species are typically found in larger groups. Pilot whales, in particular, are often with related individuals which makes sightings very intriguing for guests as Captain Dan generally knows the individuals, being that he has studied pilot whales off these waters for several decades. The false killer whales are also fun to encounter as they are the ultimate predator, next to their cousin, the black and white killer whale, which often makes for exciting encounters as on lookers often witness them in action chasing down fast moving prey. In the deeper water have also been huge schools of the spotted dolphins which can launch their bodies 20 -30 feet in to the air in a spectacular display.

Closer to the shoreline are large congregations of spinner dolphins that come to the shallows during the daylight hours after foraging at sea through the night. The spinners are also known for their aerial antics and can complete 7 revolutions mid air before crashing back down again. The spinners are sometimes seen socializing with their seasonal humpback whale friends. Dwarfed by the giant whales, the spinner dolphins weigh in at only 100 pounds when full grown. Their cousins, the bottlenose dolphins, on the other hand might be 600 – 800 pounds when full grown and they too like to hang with the humpback whales from time to time. When it comes to wild life off the Big Island, there is no shortage of it and whatever it is we are graced to encounter, it is always sure to entertain. Each day brings with it a new wild life surprise.

See what your trip may have in store for you. Book your whale watch expedition today with Dan McSweeney’s Whale Watching Adventures, the most experienced operation on the Big Island. Spend quality time with whales, basking in the warm Kona sunshine, enjoy true whale tales told only so well by an Irishman wildlife photographer and researcher such as Captain Dan McSweeney. Book direct and receive a complimentary 8 x 10 color picture of a whale taken by none other than your own Captain Dan. Reserve your space today at 1-808-322-0028.

On behalf of the entire crew, we look forward to seeing you on the Kona Coast of the Big Island.

Aloha and Mahalo, Captain Dan

If you have not been to the Big Island of Hawaii during the winter months, you have not experienced the best the Big Island has to offer. This is the peak of the tourist season. Why you might ask? For one, perfect winter weather – for those wanting to escape harsh winters elsewhere Hawaii provides a nice reprieve with tropical temperatures rarely dipping below a daytime temperature of 80 degrees; second, these months represent the peak of the annual humpback whale migration. Even from the shoreline, the spouts and splashes from these goliath creatures can be seen. What way to get closer to the giants than to go on a whale watch adventure with Captain Dan McSweeney.

Running tours off the Big Island for more than four decades and actively involved in research for much of that time, no one supersedes Captain’s Dan’s know-how and knowledge. Dan’s decades of experience not only allows him to more easily locate whales, to decide which whales are the better prospects to spend time with, but once with them, no one tracks whales better and anticipates for you their fascinating behaviors than Captain Dan. His comprehensive understanding of how whales use their environment combined with anecdotal stories of his personal time with whales and his humble appreciation and passion for preserving their habitat all contributes to a superior whale watching experience for you.

In Hawaii, there is no more exciting time for tourists and residents alike than the months of February and March. Whales are not only seen, but also heard as they bellow out their exotic winter songs, sung mostly on the winter breeding grounds. Recent tours have included large groups of mating whales where bystanders often witness males challenging each other for access to the female whale. Other tours have included precious encounters with mother and calf pairs as passengers might witness the youngster attempt aerial antics for what may be the first time. No matter how you slice it, these months are about excitement when it comes to whales, not to mention, the great shows by the infamous spinner dolphins, most known to jump, spin, and splash and seen in groups as large as 200 at any given time.

Reserve your space today for a true adventure with a true whale researcher. We look forward to seeing you on one of our whale watch adventure tours, running daily through the peak of the season.

Aloha

While it is a bit early for newborn calves, we have already seen a few different mother and calf pairs. They are especially fun to spend time with. The calf does not hold its breath as long as its mother so it spends more time at the surface. Often, we might witness the calf jumping for the first time, a behavior called ‘breaching’, or sometimes we might see it lying on its back, flapping its long flippers. Sometimes the calves get curious of objects floating at the surface and pay a close visit. No matter what it is up to, a humpback calf is always a delight to encounter.

Besides seasonal humpback whales, our recent excursions have included encounters with giant sperm whales of Moby Dick fame. Found offshore in the deep water, this giant lives in the Hawaiian Islands throughout the entire year. Because a sperm whale is capable of staying underwater more than an hour on a single breath of air and lives in the deep water, the sperm whale receives very little attention compared to the seasonal humpback that prefers the shallow water where they are obvious to visitors and residents alike. Feeding on fish and giant squid, the sperm whale can dive one or two miles beneath the ocean’s surface. Its unique body shape and the angle of its spout set it apart from all other whales in the ocean. Easy to identify, even from a distance, the spout of the giant sperm whale angles at about 45 degrees from the surface of the water while the spout of a humpback whale will rise vertically. The year-round pilot whales have also made recent appearances. Found in large groups of essentially related individuals, pilot whales are always a pleasure to come across. Much smaller than their larger relatives, what the pilot whale lacks in size, it more than makes up for in number. Pilot whales are often found in large groups numbering 15 – 30 individuals whereas the seasonal humpback whale is often found by itself.

Dolphins are often found close to the shoreline during the daylight hours. The most common variety in Hawaii is the notorious spinner dolphin, always fun to watch, most renowned for its aerial antics.

Each trip differs from the next as we never know exactly what we will see or where, but one thing is for sure, we will see whales. Our guarantee is that if you don’t see whales the first time out, you come out again, “on us”. Book your trip online at www.ilovewhales.com or call 808 322-0028 today and see what Mother Nature might have in store for you

Captain Dan is glad to be back from a summer hiatus and autumn in the Pacific Northwest. As you might imagine, it is always a pleasure to be back on the calm waters of the Kona Coast. We are looking forward to the annual migration of humpback whales with an unusual sighting of a solitary humpback off the Big Islands Kona Coast in late August! Typically, humpback whales will trickle in from the early fall until they arrive in more reliable numbers in late December and January. The peak of the migration to the breeding grounds are the months of
February and March.

While we are anticipating their arrival in greater numbers, several other whales have been sighted recently off the Big Island. There are a dozen other species that live around the Hawaiian Islands throughout the entire
year, including Hawaiian pilot whales, giant sperm whales of Moby Dick Fame, and the notorious false killer whales, not to mention the playful spinner and bottlenose dolphins.

Many visitors escape to the islands during the winter to seek the idyllic weather of Hawaii, a reprieve from rain and snow, arriving just in time to welcome the arrival of the humpback whales that make themselves known to those on the coastline. Humpback whales are the only whales in Hawaii that are very comfortable in relatively shallow water.

Captain Dan’s Whale Watch Adventure tours will resume in early December on a limited schedule. Captain and crew are looking forward to a busy winter and to the many marvelous encounters that no doubt will ensue. Please contact
our office at 808.322.0028 to book early for that busy time of year. We look forward to seeing you on the beautiful Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawai’i.

Aloha,

Captain Dan and crew

It continues to be a productive summer of whale research for Captain Dan McSweeney of the Wild Whale Research Foundation. The most recent project in August 2012 was a continuation of projects conducted each August over the past three years primarily looking for the Hawaiian false killer whales for genetic and photo-identification research as well as satellite tagging. The August project was also a continuation of a similar project which began last October to obtain information on diving and acoustic behavior of false killer whales and melon-headed whales through the deployment of suction-cup attached digital acoustic tags (D-tags). The 17 day effort with Cascadia Research Collective of Olympia, Washington and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution of Hawaii yielded prolific data, biopsy samples, and photographs to contribute to ongoing studies of genetics, toxicology, residency patterns, social organization, population estimates and more.

For more information on the project and elaborate photographs including rare looks at melonheaded whales, rough toothed dolphins, pygmy killer whales, false killers, rissos dolphins, whale sharks, squids, sea birds and more, visit http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/hawaii/August2012.htm.

For those eager whale watching enthusiasts, Captain Dan McSweeney’s Whale Watching Adventures offers tours which will resume off the sunny Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii in the late autumn. Each trip provides guests with an authentic experience with Captain Dan who drives and narrates every trip. Visit our website at ilovewhales.com and book your trip on-line early as space is limited.

This season of the year is a good time to see mother and calf humpback pairs. While much of the herd has begun its migration back to the Pacific Northwest, the mothers and calves seem to remain behind the longest.
The calves may need to do a fair bit of nursing before they are strong enough to make the long, 2,500-mile journey north. Day in and day out we have been witnessing these pairs as the young calf often circles at the surface above the mother humpback whale and then dives down to nurse. The calf feeds on approx 50 – 100 gallons of milk per day and grows rapidly during the first year of its life. Along with the mother humpback and calf pairs is often another adult whale, called an escort whale. For many years, the escort whale was thought to be a female, essentially an auntie charged with helping to care for the youngster, but years of research and underwater gender identification has shown these are actually male whales that sometimes trail the mother and calf around. Out in the deep water as of late, we have had several encounters with the impressive and odd-looking hammerhead sharks. They don’t seem to bother the whales but are often seen in close proximity and are often found in pairs. Closer to shore, the spinner dolphins that remain in Hawaii throughout the entire year have been putting on a quite a show. Huge congregations of them have been seen, usually on the latter part of the tour as we cruise the shallows. Manta rays, sea turtles and a number of other forms of marine life are often seen along the shore. Every day is another unique experience that always seems to surprise even the most experienced of whale watchers. Reservations are required for your adventure. Book it today with Captain Dan’s Whale Watching Adventures at 1-808-322-0028.

March 22, 2012

This week has yielded some epic tours. We have been lucky to witness mating groups of humpback whales that had no hesitation for putting in extremely close appearances right next to our boat. At one point, we were surrounded on every side by a giant goliath. Just sitting in idle, we watched as these mesmerizing creatures splashed around, put up their tails, and circled the boat. Watching the jaw drop on every passenger aboard is always a thrill for the crew. While these close encounters are rare, one never knows when and where they will happen. Equally spectacular have been more appearances of our resident false killer whales and their smaller cousins, the pygmy killer whales. There are more than a dozen varieties of whales that are found in Hawaii throughout the entire year. Every so often, they also pay a visit to the shallow shelf where the humpback whales tend to congregate. These interspecies groupings are always a bonus and fun to watch. Some of these encounters have included a variety of dolphins including spinner, spotted and bottlenose dolphins. These dolphin sightings are always a blast as they are often engaged in some kind of aerial antic, whether its launching their bodies clear of the water or jumping and spinning before splashing back down again.
No one knows why they might engage with the seasonal humpback whales, perhaps this is their idea of fun. Book your whale watch adventure today. Reservations are required. Call Captain Dan’s Whale Watching Adventures at 1-808-322-0028.

Today’s encounter was an amazing experience as eventually a group of male false killer whales came together and began crossing under and around our boat. Many were splashing, while others were quick to dart away, only to turn around and come racing back towards us. Visitors and staff alike were thrilled with the excitement of this unusual encounter.

Scientists are especially interested in false killer whales because of their dwindling population in the Hawaiian Islands. On-going research is suggesting that the “insular” population of this species here is thought to now number around 150 individuals. This low population number is of concern to ocean life managers, conservation groups and the concerned public. The false killer whale, in near-shore Hawaiian waters, is now a “candidate” species to be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Reservations are required for your adventure. Book it today with Captain Dan’s Whale Watching Adventures at 1-808-322-0028.

March is a beautiful time of year here on the Big Island. A hint of spring is in the air, making for enjoyable sea conditions and an abundance of marine life, while on land the mountain slopes are covered in white, sweet-scented blossoms, the buds of the famous Kona coffee in full bloom.

This past week yielded some fun encounters with some of our offshore resident whales, the pygmy killer whales. Despite their small size, pygmy killer whales have an aggressive reputation but are not likely to pose a threat to adult humpbacks or small calves. Pods of pilot whales have also been reported offshore. They will frequently be seen with oceanic white tipped sharks swimming in their midst.

Additionally, we’ve been had numerous sightings some hammerhead sharks resting at the surface. Although this variety of shark is typically not a threat to the humpback whales, larger species like tiger, mako and great white sharks are considered potential predators, especially of sick or injured whales.
Each tour aboard Dan McSweeney’s Whale Watching Adventures is full of new experiences and pleasant surprises. Contact our office to reserve your seat now….
1-808-322-0028.

The months of February and March are good months to find mother humpback whales with their young calves. This week has been no exception with a lot of sightings of the youngsters, some just new born, while others are already a few months old. Calves will stay with their mothers nursing here on the breeding ground until they are well nourished and strong enough to make the long journey north back to Alaska. It is always a delight to see the young calves in Hawaiian waters.

Every day holds a new adventure. Many trips are topped off with a show of jumping from the popular spinner dolphin as well as lately by some spotted dolphins, an offshore relative. Spotted dolphins are capable of launching their small bodies out of the water more than 20 feet out of the water on a jump! To book your whale watch adventure, call Captain Dan at 808-322-0028