Once in a Blue Whale

I had the amazing opportunity a couple of weeks ago (yes I am behind on my posts) to go whale watching with the Harbor Breeze Cruises on behalf of the Aquarium of the Pacific.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is announcing that its award-winning Whales: Voices in the Seamultimedia exhibit is now available at seven institutions around the nation, including most recently added to the New England Aquarium and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The Aquarium of the Pacific is also debuting new components to this exhibit, which highlight the endangered North Atlantic right whale and humpback whale and include rare footage and interviews with leading scientists. As guests explore this exhibit, they will learn about the environmental threats facing blue, North Atlantic right, gray, humpback, sperm, and other whales. This exhibit update was made possible by the Pacific Life Foundation and was developed by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography with the Aquarium of the Pacific.

We were given a brief overview of the exhibit before we headed out to the water. I have been whale watching a few times and have had some success with sightings, mostly of dolphins, but still.

On every Harbor Cruise there is an employee of the Aquarium. Marine Biologist David Bader joined us and gave us a brief overview of what we should expect to see.

Along the way we did see a huge pool of those tiny jellies David spoke about and we saw a bunch of other fish and birds that got him excited. But nothing got us as excited as the Mother and Calf Blue Whales that we found and followed. After watching them swim around off the coast of Palos Verdes and waiting for them to come up after each shallow dive they surprised all of us (including David and Captain Dan) by swimming up close to us and circling our boat!

Notice the blue hue just under the water, that is why they are called “Blue Whales”.

I have never been that close to anything of that size before. A couple of fun facts, Blue Whales are larger than any known mammal that has ever lived including all the dinosaurs. The size of the tongue of a Blue Whale is approximately the same size of an African Elephant. The baby whale grows approximately a foot and a half a day! Talk about growing pains.

Anyone can visit the Aquarium of the Pacific and embark on a Harbor Breeze Cruises for a three-and-a-half hour whale watch excursion with Aquarium experts daily at 11:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. The Blue Whale & Sea Life Cruise combo ticket is available for purchase on-site at Aquarium of the Pacific or may be purchased in advance by calling 562-590-3100. Prices are $59.95 adult 12+, $54.95 senior 62+, and $38.95 child (includes whale watch & Aquarium admission). Guests will be able to listen to the whales they see and can learn more about whale communication through the Aquarium’s interactive Whales: Voices in the Sea kiosk exhibit featuring the largest and smallest whales on the planet, the blue whale and the vaquita.

If you go, make sure to share your pictures with me!

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