By Heather Mark
Three Spots Where You Can Pet a Whale
Getting within arm's reach of a wild animal really gets your heart pumping. What if the animal you sidled up to was one of the largest mammals on the planet? Can you imagine yourself reaching out from a boat to pet a whale? What about swimming next to one? The whale's mournful songs and slow undulations capture our imaginations and melt our hearts. Are there places you can get close enough to touch a whale? Absolutely.
Touch a Whale in Mexico
Baja Jones Adventures has an unprecedented track record for interactive whale encounters (GreyWhale.com). Only one of their Guerrero Negro tours since 1999 hasn't had the opportunity to touch a whale. The all-inclusive five and six day whale tours are an equal mix of Mexican sightseeing and whale watching. Expect to see Gray Whales, Blue Whales, dolphins and birds.
Touch a Whale in the Dominican Republic
Aquatic Adventures offers "soft-in-water" encounters (AquaticAdventures.com). Travelers float in the water with masks and snorkels and wait for the whales to approach them. Their touch-a-whale adventures take place on Silver Bank, a warm water breeding and calving zone for Humpback Whales. It is thought that three- to five-thousand Humpbacks pass through the 20 square-mile Silver Bank area during breeding season. Aquatic Adventures also offers specialty tours to other parts of the world.
Touch a Whale in Tonga
Tonga is a tiny island near Fiji, but it's big on whale adventures. Whaleswim Adventures offers three, seven and nine day tours that include education about Humpback Whales and guidance in the water (WhaleSwim.com). Travelers often find themselves swimming among mother Humpbacks and their babies. You might even learn what spy-hopping, head-lunging, fluke-slapping, pec slapping and breaching are.
About the Author:
Heather Mark is a writer-traveler living in Central Florida. Her articles have appeared in Pregnancy Magazine, The Orlando Sentinel, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and she's contributed hundreds of articles to various online publications.
Photo Credits:
René te Witt, sxc.hu
