How to spot the Humpback whale when scuba diving
Megaptera novaeangliae
Found in all major oceans. Undertake long seasonal migrations: feeding in cold, high-latitude waters (Antarctica, Arctic) during summer and migrating to tropical/subtropical waters for mating and calving during winter. Distinct populations exist in North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Southern Hemisphere.
Encounters are strictly seasonal during their breeding/calving periods in warmer waters. Examples: Tonga (July-Oct), French Polynesia (Aug-Oct), Silver Bank/Dominican Republic (Jan-Apr), Hawaii (Nov-May, peak Jan-Mar), Hervey Bay, Australia (July-Nov).
Encountered in warmer tropical waters during breeding season.
Specific breeding grounds like Vava'u (Tonga), Moorea/Rurutu (French Polynesia), Silver Bank (DR), Maui (Hawaii). Encounters are almost always via permitted snorkeling trips, not scuba diving. Strict regulations govern approach distances and in-water interactions (e.g., limited swimmers, passive approach). Choose reputable, licensed operators.
Worldwide observation of the Humpback whale
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Data sources
- Photos: Wikimedia Commons
- Distribution and specie data: GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
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