One of the main questions that we get on tours is “When are the whales going to jump”? Today this question wasn’t asked and was instead replaced with “Are these whales ever going to stop jumping?”

We ended up seeing Hendrix (BCY1278) and Dalmatian (BCY0994) playing around in the water together. There was also another humpback who came close to these two for a little while, before leaving to its own thing. We didn't end up getting any ID’able photos of this mystery whale.

Humpback whales are famous for their acrobatic behaviours, including breaching, which involves the whale leaping out of the water and crashing back down. While the exact reasons why humpback whales breach are not fully understood, scientists and researchers have proposed several theories to explain this fascinating behaviour:

1. Communication:

Breaching might be a form of communication among humpback whales. The loud splash and sound generated when a whale hits the water can be heard and felt by other whales over long distances. This behaviour could convey information about the breaching whale's location, identity, or even its emotional state to other whales in the area.

2. Cleaning:

Breaching might help humpback whales remove parasites, barnacles, or other hitchhiking organisms from their skin. The force of hitting the water could dislodge these unwanted passengers, helping the whale maintain its streamlined body and reduce drag while swimming.

3. Play and Social Interaction:

Breaching is often observed in younger humpback whales and calves, suggesting that it could be a form of play or social interaction. Young whales might breach to practice their acrobatic skills, bond with other whales, or engage in friendly competition.

4. Mate Attraction and Courtship Displays:

Breaching could serve a role in mate attraction and courtship displays during the mating season. A spectacular breach might demonstrate a whale's strength and vitality, making it more attractive to potential mates. Males might also breach to establish dominance and compete for the attention of females. This would explain it in the breeding grounds though, not necessarily here in the feeding grounds.

6. Fun:

Some researchers suggest that breaching could simply be a form of enjoyment for humpback whales. Similar to how humans engage in recreational activities, breaching might be a way for these intelligent and social creatures to have fun.

It's important to note that these theories are not mutually exclusive, and humpback whales may breach for a combination of these reasons. The exact motivation behind breaching likely varies from individual to individual and can be influenced by factors such as age, sex, social context, and environmental conditions.

Today we had a pretty good idea that there must have been some sort of social aspect to this amazing display from the whales as it seemed that they were taking turns with their activities. When one whale would jump, the other would respond with a jump or slap of its own. During the entire hour, our vessels were watching these whales the display continued, and according to shore-based sightings in the area, they were happening long before and long after we were gone. That’s a lot of energy spent by these whales! Some researchers estimate that each breach can take between 0.5% to 2.5% of the whale’s daily energy budget! That would really add up during super active times like this. It must be worth it for them though, since we continue to see these kinds of displays throughout the year.

The naturalists onboard during this tour, Des Poier and Vanessa Vereschahen, captured some of these amazing displays of power from the whales, as well as some of the other wildlife they found during the tour. Please enjoy all the photos below!