Quicksilver Group News
August 14th, 2009Rare treat as Migaloo sighted by Quicksilver and Silversonic
It was a rare double treat for Quicksilver’s passengers yesterday as guests aboard both Quicksilver’s Outer Reef cruise and Silversonic dive and snorkel boat were thrilled to sight Migaloo, the famed albino humpback whale.
Migaloo was spotted about half way between Tongue Reef and Low Isles (about 4 miles NE of Low Isles) at approximately 4pm as the vessels were on their homeward journey from Agincourt Reef into Port Douglas yesterday.
Migaloo was solo, surfacing several times in between dives.
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Quicksilver VIII’s Skipper Andy Kramer said the passengers were in awe of the rare sighting and there were lots of “oohs and aahs” from passengers and crew alike.
There were several other sightings of Migaloo yesterday, which were the first official sightings in our waters since 2007. He appeared to be heading southward.
Quicksilver Group Migaloo sightings
In 2007, Silversonic was the first to sight Migaloo, at that time swimming with two other humpbacks and travelling north off Undine Cay on the 24th of July 2007.
In the two preceding years, the Quicksilver Group was again the first to sight Migaloo – off Green Island in 2006 on the 15th July, and in 2005 he was sighted off Low Isles on the 16th July.
In the current weather conditions, the Quicksilver Group has been sighting a number of humpback whales but to see Migaloo has been one of the most unbelievable experiences for both crew and passengers.
The whales are regularly sighted at the Outer Barrier Reef at this time of year, and future passengers may be lucky enough to enjoy the added bonus of whale watching for a few weeks yet.