This morning’s sea conditions were great, a lazy swell without too much wind. We spotted our first whales, a mother and her calf, about 3 miles North-East of Point Cartwright. Coming up to them we saw a leather-back turtle swimming beside the boat. We followed the pair of whales for about 40 minutes, but unfortunately they were a little boat shy and didn’t get too close. However a group of twenty or so common dolphins decided to come out and play with us, swimming around the boat, jumping up and splashing around.
About 4 miles East of Mt Coolum we spotted another mother and calf and the mother swam right up and performed some fluke updives at the back of the boat. On our way back, another mother and her newborn, only about a day or two old with its dorsal fin still folded over, floated by on the surface.
The winds picked up to 10 knots for our 10.30am trip, giving the seas a little bit of chop but overall not bad conditions. Our first pod of two we found a mile East of Point Cartwright, which we had several close encounters with and watched them perform tail slaps and peduncle throws. After following the pair for about an hour, we turned back and came across another pod made up of a mother and her calf, and one other whale. We had a couple more close encounters and they performed for us some fluke up-dives. On our way back in we spotted another mother and calf ahead of us, but we didn’t stop for them.