These are just some of the whale behaviors that could be seen on the water with us! Each and every whale watch is different, so you never know what will happen on your trip!
BREACH
The breach is probably the most famous and splashy move that a humpback can do! This incredible behavior is when a whale launches itself fully out of the water in an amazing arial display. This behavior is rare to see, which makes us love it even more!
Fun fact – it only takes 2-3 kicks of the tail of a humpback to propel itself fully out of the water!
SPYHOP
Spyhopping is a well-loved whale behavior, and is when a whale pokes its rostrum (head) out of the water. This move is generally associated with curiosity and it is quite a sight to see!
Fun fact – if you look closely, you can see the bumps on the whale’s face when they spyhop. Those bumps are called “tubercles” and they are each an enlarged hair follicle!
TAIL THROW (PEDUNCLE THROW)
Another splashy and fun behavior that whales can do is the tail throw. This maneuver is like a whale version of a cartwheel, when the whale throws it’s back half out of the water in an incredible display of power. Tail throws can be associated with “spunky” behavior and you can sometimes see whales do this during competition groups!
PECTORAL FLIPPER SLAP
Humpback whales are known for their long arm-like pectoral flippers. These flippers are approximately 1/3 of their body length, so they can measure up to an impressive 15+ feet! When they lift these appendages out of the water and slam them down on the surface it can make quite the percussive slap, attracting both whales and whale watching vessels!
TAIL SLAP
The tail slap is the cousin move to the tail throw, but with a little more control. Tail slaps can be performed when a whale is upright or upside-down! This behavior can sometimes be repetitive and people have counted over a dozen slaps in a row!
FLUKE UP DIVE
The fluke up dive is the most frequently observed behavior from humpbacks. This move generally indicates a longer dive and will occur after the whale has taken a few breaths at the surface. The dive is preempted by a rounding of the whale’s back and presents and excellent photo opportunity!
Fun fact – Humpback whales are identified by the pattern on the bottom of their tail, so these dives are the perfect time to get an ID shot of any whales!
HEAD LUNGE
Head lunges are often seen during competitive groups. When males are fighting to impress the female, they will bring their heads above the water and slam it down. This presumably is to ward off the other males and show the female that they are big and tough, making them the obvious choice for her to mate with.
Fun fact – Sometimes when whales perform a head lunge, they will fill their mouths with water, essentially puffing out their chests and making them look even bigger. What a way to impress the ladies!