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In the northern Great Barrier Reef (Australia), a swim-with-whales tourism industry has developed based on the June/July migration of dwarf minke whales. A limited number of reef tourism operators have been granted permits by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to conduct these swims, given strict adherence to a Code of Practice, and that operators report details of all sightings as part of a monitoring program. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is the only place in the world where dwarf minke whales regularly approach boats and divers.
On Dive Report we list whale and dolphin species in our animal calendar, but please be aware that with Minke Whales this does not necessarily mean that you can easily dive with them in the locations listed. We have included them as there is a chance of them being spotted from the boat in transit or between dives, which is still exciting adding to the overall dive trip experience.
Minke Whales are the most abundant baleen whale. Minke whales have a characteristic white band on each flipper, contrasting with its very dark gray top colour. They are two or three different subspecies: the North Atlantic minke whale, the north Pacific minke whale and dwarf minke whale. Minke whales can reach up 6.9 meters long. Females are about 7.4 meters. Both sexes typically weigh about 4–5 tons. Minke whales have a life expectancy of over 20 years.
Minke whales are widely distributed throughout the world, commonly found from the poles to the tropics, but they prefer the open sea. The dwarf minke whale and North Atlantic minke whale undertake synchronized seasonal migrations to feeding areas at their respective poles during spring and to the tropics in the autumn where they overwinter.
Due to their relative abundance minke whales are often the focus of whale-watching cruises setting sail from, for instance, the Isle of Mull in Scotland, County Cork in Ireland and Húsavík in Iceland, and tours that are taken on the east coast of Canada. Scientists from James Cook University and the Museum of Tropical Queensland have worked closely with participating operators and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, researching tourism impacts and implementing management protocols to ensure that these interactions are ecologically sustainable.
More detailed information about Minke Whales can be found here.
Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
Aliwal Shoal is a reef unlike any other reef you have seen before. It is a fossilized sand dune reef, rather than the coral reefs common on Sodwana Bay or the Red Sea. This creates an area with huge swim throughs,...
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Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Cairns is located in Northern Queensland, Australia, and tourists flock to this tropical city to dive the Great Barrier Reef - the largest coral reef in the world, and the only single living structure on Earth that’s visible from space (not that...
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Honiara, Solomon Islands
Remote and truly beautiful the Solomon Islands is a diver’s dream destination. Part of the coral triangle with a staggering diversity of marine species, coral and dive sites, it somehow remains one of the least dived areas of the world. A number of...
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Koh Lipe, Thailand
A small, relatively unknown island on the Thai tourist circuit, Koh Lipe is still considered off the beaten path. There are no cars, you can walk everywhere and the stunning beaches with fine powdery sand are surrounded by numerous, even more stunning...
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Koh Phangan, Thailand
The second biggest island in the Gulf of Thailand, just north of Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan is ideally placed close to the stunning Ang Thong Marine Park and main dive sites of the area. Quieter and more remote than the...
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Koh Tao, Thailand
Koh Tao is considered by many as the main diving destination in the Gulf of Thailand primarily because of its shallow coral reefs teeming with marine life making it a particular favorite amongst beginner divers and snorkelers. Combined with a laid back...
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Nungwi, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar is the chosen destination after climbing Kilimanjaro or as end of the trip after a dusty safari. Because of its beautiful beaches and its charming locals, Zanzibar is the right place to rest and enjoy some of the best diving the...
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Oban & Inner Hebrides, United Kingdom
Oban is known as one of Scotland's main diving areas. The landscape is mountainous and the archipelago of islands offers many areas of sheltered water. There are large wrecks to explore from 5m-50m in sheltered conditions, and variety of marine life. The...
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Port Douglas, Australia
Crystal-clear waters, beautiful corals and incredible fish-life can be found at Agincourt Ribbon Reefs, an easy day boat ride from Port Douglas and on the very outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Port Douglas is on the East coast of Australia...
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Ranong, Thailand
Ranong is the most northerly province on Thailand's Andaman coast and best known for its mangrove forests and hot springs. It's also a gateway to Myanmar, with longboats ferrying people and produce over the narrow divide that separates Thailand and Myanmar. Ranong Province...
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Tutukaka, New Zealand
Tutukaka is the gateway to the amazing Poor Knights Islands rated by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world! Tutukaka is on the beautiful Northland coast of New Zealand. Its marina is the perfect departure...
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Weligama, Sri Lanka
Weligama translates to mean “sandy village”, in reference to the town’s sand-swept bay. Located only 2.5 hours from the capital of Sri Lanka, this area is visited for its large number of nudibranches, pinnacles, blue whales, whale sharks and manta rays. The...
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