Rare Omura's whale sighting at the Great barrier Reef

10th of December 2024

Guests and crew aboard Port Douglas-based dive and snorkel vessel Silversonic were witness to a rare sighting of an Omura’s whale while enroute to Agincourt Reef yesterday. 

The first recorded sighting of an Omura’s whale in the Great Barrier Reef was confirmed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in December 2016. 

The whale, estimated to be 12 metres in length, was sighted near Undine Cay at 9:20am. Skipper Shane Down stopped the vessel and was able to identify the whale as lucky passengers were able to catch a glimpse of it. 

“I saw the whale after seeing the blow and there was a commotion on the surface. Approximately 200 metres away, we could see a big white patch under water and I believe it was the pleats of the throat stretched out after taking a big gulp of food. It also turned around and headed back to the south-east then back around to the west - I'm guessing to get some more food as they lunge feed.”

Despite the rare confirmed sightings, Shane has recorded these whales for many years and said it’s great to see a rare whale in our waters, usually seen between November and February. 

Quicksilver Group Environment and Compliance Manager, and cetacean expert, Phil Coulthard said, “Generally it’s unusual to see whales during our summer as we associate the humpbacks and minke whales with the cooler months, so it’s certainly a treat to see an Omura’s whale at this time of year.”

The Omura’s whale is one of the smallest members of the rorqual whales, and about which very little is known. Scientists only identified the Omura’s as a species in its own right in 2003. At first they were thought to be a smaller “dwarf” or “pygmy” form of Bryde’s whale or possibly a dwarf Fin whale due to their similar patterns of makings. They may in fact be more closely related to their much larger relative, the Blue whale. 

Omura’s whales are found in the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean, primarily in shelf waters with the majority of recordings in the Tropics.

The Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai) common name is in recognition of Japanese cetologist Hdieo Omura.

Photo credit: Shane Down