Our trips take you to meet the majestic humpback whale one of the largest animals on the planet. Humpback whales are marine mammals; they are warm blooded, breathe air and give birth to live young which they nurse. In common with other cetaceans like dolphins (but in contrast to land mammals), they are conscious breathers. They actively choose when to take every breath of their lives.
Humpbacks range in length from 35′ to 50′ (10.5m – 15m) weighing 35-50 tons. They derive their common name from the distinctive high humping of their back when they execute a deep dive.
Their Latin name, Megaptera novaeangliae, translates as “big-winged New Englander”. They were named for their long pectoral fins and were first noted off New England. Their long fins can reach up to one third of the whale’s total body length, more than 15 feet. They are the longest appendages of any living animal on land or in the sea.
The leading edge of the pectoral fins feature knobby bumps called tubercles that help direct the flow of water over the fin. The tubercles themselves are unique to humpback whales and are also found on their head. They have a single whisker-like hair, called a vibrissae, connected to a dense network of nerves. Their exact purpose is unknown but they are believed to aid in efficient swimming, feeding and social behaviors.
In addition to their distinctive physical attributes, they are famous for their haunting songs,
