A Big Fish Expeditions Trip Report
The largest animal that ever lived
Swimming with blue whales is a personal journey that, for some, is the pinnacle of their lives. Others happened to stumble upon something that looked like a great trip and had no idea how remarkable these animals and encounters are for anyone who experiences them. They are gentle giants that are twice the size of humpback whales.
Finding blue whales is a feat unto itself, no matter the population you seek to find, whether they are the pygmy blue whale subspecies or the species that travels up the coast of South America to Mexico. To have the encounters that we experienced on this year’s blue whale adventure is more than an achievement, it’s a lifetime memory and an expedition into nature.
For our trip, we headed to Timor-Leste, a country with a rich history. This Southeast Asian nation recently became independent from Indonesia in 2002. The iconic 27m-tall Cristo Rei de Dili statue was gifted from the Indonesian Government and stands as a reminder of that time. As a developing nation, the experience here is a glimpse into conflict leading toward a new future. For us, that means encountering blue whales this and future years.
Following a migration
With our humpback whale trip, we encounter whales experiencing a delicate nurturing, and reproductive season. Here, we observe migrating blue whales returning south of Australia to continue their growth and quest for food as they return from their reproductive season. Between 662 and 1,559 pygmy blue whales passed by the hydrophone logger studies in Western Australia by the Centre for Marine Science and Technology and the Centre for Whale Research.
These whales are on a quest, and as one of the fastest long-distance swimming whales, they keep moving. Our trips are structured so that two small groups take turns jumping. When a group is waiting while the other jumps, it’s exciting to observe the approaching whale from the surface.
We could freedive alongside the whales or see them from the surface. The best views of the whales were from 10 m (33 ft). Although it seemed like we were close to the whales, they are so big the illusion of being close is far from being close. We learned how to approach them successfully with each jump into the water. How we make our approach and especially how the operator manages their approach makes it easy to see and avoid disturbing the whales on their migration.
Encounters with blue whales are remarkable and pass by quickly. These are thrilling moments that can leave you both fulfilled and yearning for more.
Regional discoveries
Little is known about these whales, as they were only confirmed as a separate subspecies in 1966. It was thought that, like other whales during their reproductive season, they don’t have access to food. However, it was recently discovered that the deep near-shore waters in Timor-Leste provide access to some quantities of food that the blue whales eat.
Their calves have also been observed making the migration south. Though we saw two at a time on one of our jumps, we didn’t see a calf this year. They have been documented here and we’re certainly hopeful for a future encounter.
Seeing spots
As the whales dive for food, they reach depths where cookie cutter sharks leave their circular impressions on the whales, making it appear that they glitter in the water. Their skin does have a spotted appearance.
Join us next year
It’s a privilege to share waters with these magnificent mammals. This experience is a unique adventure filled with the awe of glimpsing an endangered species larger than life itself.
Join Big Fish Expeditions next year, led by trip leader and professional photographer and filmmaker Jennifer Idol.
Blue Whale Expedition
