Watching Whales

What to expect and what to bring?

By: Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph.D.

Latest CRESLI whale watching trip information and reports:

What should you bring on the whale watch?

You will be on a moving vessel, yes it will rock, but we won't go out if conditions don't warrant it (i.e., dense fog, strong winds, severe weather, and seas greater than 7 feet).
- Be sure to keep your camera away from sea spray, that is, keep it contained until we get near wildlife. Have a towel to wipe off your camera; have lens cloth; protect the front of your lens with a neutral density or UV filter
You should be prepared for a variety of weather conditions.
- Have several layers of warm clothing (particularly early in the season) available; have foul weather gear available.
  - It's always better to be a "MORE-ON" than a "LESS-ON", i.e., you can always take off layers of clothes if you are too warm, but if you are cold, it's hard to add layers that you don't have.
Shoes ... strong, sturdy, flat, non-skid, rubber-soled.
A hat ... under cold conditions much body heat is lost through your head. During warm weather a hat is needed to protect you from the sun, rain, etc..
Sun screen ... that blocks UVa and UVb. VERY IMPORTANT!
Sun glasses ... VERY IMPORTANT!
Sea-sick medication .... If you are prone to motion sickness, take medication well before coming on board
Camera
Binoculars
The vessel has a full galley with food and drinks for purchase, but also feel free to bring your own.

What might we see?

Cetaceans

Humpback whales
Finback whales
Minke whales
North Atlantic Right whales
Sei whales
Sperm whales
Short-beaked Common dolphins
Bottlenose (in shore and offshore) dolphins
Atlantic White Sided Dolphins

Turtles

Fish

Ocean Sunfish
Blue, Basking, Great White, Hammerhead, Thresher, and Shortfin Mako sharks
Bluefin, Albacore, Yellowfin, Bigeye, Atlantic Bonito, False Albacore, and Skipjack Tuna
Mahi Mahi
White and Blue Marlin, Atlantic Sailfish, Swordfish

Pelagic birds

Cory’s Shearwaters
Scopolli's Shearwaters
Great Shearwaters
Sooty Shearwaters
Manx Shearwaters
Audubon’s Shearwaters
Wilson’s Storm-Petrels
Northern Fulmar
Northern Gannet;
Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes
Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers
Greater Black-backed, Herring, and other Gulls.

Purchase your tickets at https://vikingfleet.com/activities/whale-watching/

Whether our trips take place are dependent upon weather and sea conditions. The marine forecast for the waters around Montauk are available here.

CRESLI is a non-profit organization as defined in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All Contributions are deductible to the fullest extent of the law. A copy of the last financial report filed with the Department of State may be obtained by writing to NYS Dept. of State, Office of Charities Registration, Albany, NY 12231.