June 2010
Every year around this time we know that the Minke and Humpback Whales are on their way to our part of the Great Barrier Reef and again in June we have been fortunate enough to have seen the whales swimming again just off Haba.
The migration pattern of Minke Whales is not very clear - we know that they like to come up to the Agincourt Reefs - perhaps it is just for a yearly holiday to say hello. Minke Whales are inquisitive and like to watch what we are doing. For all of us it is exciting to see them come so close to Haba, gliding through the water often coming back for another look.
The Humpback whale who also comes up to the Great Barrier Reef during the winter months (they have a regular migration pattern) this whale is not as curious as the minke whale, seeing them, for us, is spectacular though.
Minke Whales swim and dive, Humpbacks are acrobatic, jump (breach), slap their fins and tail. Different barnacles grow on their skin, making them look knobbly and rough, this is part of their natural state and some barnacles only grow on humpback whales.
We are keeping our fingers crossed that the whales will still be around in July.
