Quicksilver Group News
July 13th, 2009Humpback Whale encounter for Silversonic Passengers
Passengers aboard Quicksilver’s dive and snorkel vessel Silversonic got an up close and personal encounter with an inquisitive juvenile humpback whale on Friday (10 July).
Estimated to be around 5 metres in length, the humpback approached the stationary vessel emerging at the bow while thrilled passengers watched on in awe.
Silversonic had been returning to Port Douglas after a day out at Agincourt Reef and stopped when the whale was sighted about 300 metres in the distance. The whale curiously approached the vessel and stayed for about 10 minutes before swimming off.
While Silversonic has had several minke whale encounters this season, this is the first close encounter with a humpback whale for Silversonic this season. Silversonic has one of the few permits available from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority that allows guests to swim with dwarf minke whales if encountered.
Image Gallery
Photos courtesy of Silversonic’s skipper, Shane “Sharkey” Down.
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About Humpback Whales
Humpback whales regularly migrate from Antarctic waters along the east coast of Australia every winter. They are generally seen on the Great Barrier Reef between the months of June to September as they migrate to warmer waters to mate and give birth.
Humpback whales are easily identified by having extremely large pectoral fins (their scientific name is Megaptera, which literally means giant wing), and scalloped flukes.
They grow up to approximately 16 metres in length, weighing in at 30-50 tonnes. Male humpbacks produce “songs”, which are believed to attract females at mating times.
