Whale & Wildlife Report | July 7-13, 2024
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
Highlights
Short-finned pilot whales
Dwarf sperm whales
Bottlenose dolphins
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Rough-toothed dolphins
Tiger sharks
Sea turtles
Whale & Wildlife Report | July 7-13, 2024
We started the week off strong with some tiger shark sightings in the harbor! In Honokohau Harbor, the water is often pretty clear giving us great visibility from onboard Artemis. We often see tropical fish, crabs, turtles, and sometimes spotted eagle rays and sharks. Our crew and guests spotted two tiger sharks swimming near the surface, and everyone got some great looks! Tiger sharks will often venture into our harbor looking for things to eat, especially as the fishing tournament season is in full swing.
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
We had two species of whales this week, short-finned pilot whales and dwarf sperm whales! As we were running north up the shoreline, Captain Andrew saw some dorsal fins that we determined were most likely Kogie (dwarf sperm whales). This species can be shy and they are also deep divers like many pelagic whales. We got some brief views before they disappeared beneath the waves, but it was a cool sighting nonetheless!
PC: Olivia Miller
With a mix of glassy and chunky ocean conditions, we did have lots of short-finned pilot whale encounters up and down the Kona Coast. One group was logging peacefully at the surface giving us some nice views from Artemis. Further offshore we found large pods with lots of active behavior. It was exciting to see so much interaction! Another group was also pretty playful, treating us to tail slaps and upside down lunging at the surface! Three larger bulls were equally impressive and it was interesting to see their size difference compared to the females in the pod. As our most frequently encountered species of pelagic whale, it’s always a pleasure to spend time with this unique population!
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
Our tours encountered quite a few dolphin pods, and we had three different species this week. We found Hawaiian spinner dolphins outside the harbor and near downtown. Some pods were sleepy and cruising slowly while others were lively and surfing our wake! As it is wildlife, we never know what behavior we will see. Inshore outside Two Step we encountered bottlenose dolphins, and they were two mom and calf pairs! They were super social and rode our bow giving us some adorable views of the babies. Our guests took turns looking over the bow to see them gliding beneath! Offshore we also found a small group of rough-toothed dolphins with a calf of their own. They were just relaxing at the surface so everyone was able to get some clear looks. It was a great week and we’re ready for more summer wildlife adventures!
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