What To Wear Whale Watching For The Most Comfortable Experience.

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WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO WEAR WHALE WATCHING FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE?

Australia is one of the best countries in the world for whale watching. With two extensive coastlines for the majestic humpback whales to travel along to reach warmer waters during winter, it’s no wonder why these vast stretches of ocean are called Humpback Highway.

And with so many places and companies on both sides of the continent offering incredible whale-watching cruises that no animal lover should miss, there’s one out there for everyone.

But what are some of the things you need? For the most enjoyable time, here’s a suggestion of what to wear whale watching and a few other things to consider before you go.

The dorsal ridge of a humpback whale sticking out of the ocean.
Heading out on a cruise is the best way to see whales in their natural environment.
A Humpback Whale sprouting water out of its blowhole.
And is one of the most magical wildlife experiences you can have.
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What To Wear Whale Watching.

When figuring out what clothing to wear for a whale-watching trip, much of it depends on the point of departure and the time of year chosen to go. Whale watching is a winter activity, and the seasons are usually between May and October, with the chilliest months typically being June and July.

The closer to Antarctica the tour departs from, the colder it will be and being out on the ocean is always even more freezing. This makes deciding what to wear for the most comfortable whale-watching experience quite varied due to those vastly different factors. But this list will try to cover as many circumstances as possible.

1. Sturdy Enclosed Shoes.

The first thing to consider when asking what to wear whale watching is shoes. It’s easy to opt for thongs or sandals because they are convenient to slip on and off, especially if you just spent or are intending to spend the rest of the day at the beach, but they’re not the optimal choice for this experience. Instead, you’ll want to go for some sturdy, enclosed shoes and there are a couple of good reasons for this. 

Whales don’t have rules and they don’t appear where you want them to. The curious creatures pop up wherever they like and that generally means anywhere around the boat at any given moment. And if you’re on the standing decks, that means a lot of moving around the vessel to get a look at these majestic creatures. They also typically don’t stay at the surface for very long, so you need to move fast and having loose-fitting shoes isn’t ideal for doing such a thing.

Additionally, boats are rocky. Even on calm days, they experience motion as they move over the waves. And when you’re out on the water, you’re never entirely sure of the conditions until you’re out there, so sturdy shoes will help keep your feet firmly on the ground while the boat is rocking. Plus, it means you won’t lose a shoe, which is not only very inconvenient for you but also terrible for the environment.

2. Long Sleeve Top & Pants.

For places where the winter temperatures are typically mild and pleasant, a shirt and shorts can suffice if you’re someone who doesn’t feel the cold. But for everyone else, an option better suited to whale watching is a long sleeve top and pants.

That’s because not only will it provide extra warmth from the wind when out on the water, but it’s also a great option as it protects your skin from the sun and fewer chemicals on your going into your dermis is always a win-win.

3. Warm Coat.

Even if you’re somewhere with warmer winters, it’s a good idea to take a warm jacket. With the wind from the boat moving across the ocean and occasionally splashing up water, it’s always cooler at sea than it is on land.

Taking a coat will mean you can enjoy whale watching on the outer decks longer if the first layer of clothing isn’t sufficient enough.

4. Windproof Jacket.

Following the same vein as the previous item on the list is a windproof jacket. This is more for cooler climates where the cold weather can really affect your enjoyment of whale watching.

For extra heat retention in those super chilly places, layer it over the warm coat to ensure you are well insulated. 

5. Waterproof Jacket/Raincoat.

Before heading out on the ocean, it’s always a good idea to check the weather, because dealing with water splashing up is one thing, but if there is a chance of rain, a raincoat or waterproof jacket is something you definitely do not want to do without.

Many windproof jackets also keep out the rain so if you have one of those, they are fantastic two-for-ones to take especially in cooler climates. But for warmer places, a thin raincoat or poncho will also do just as well.

The splash of water after a humpback whale crashes back down into the water.
Taking a waterproof jacket/raincoat is always a good idea because not only does cruising across the ocean splash up water but so can the whales.

6. Beanie, Neck Warmer, & Gloves.

For those extra cold environments, you’ll really want to wrap yourself up. Make sure to take a beanie, neck warmer and some gloves to keep the areas of your body that aren’t typically well covered by clothes nice and toasty. 

It’s a little extra baggage to take but it’ll make the experience so much more pleasant so you can focus on observing the majestic beasts of the deep and not how freezing you are.

7. Hat. 

The hat is one of those things that occasionally gets overlooked, but when you’re out on a boat, it’s a good idea to take one. While all whale-watching boats have undercover areas, they’re never the greatest vantage points to spot the animals, especially since there are no guarantees about where they’ll appear. 

The open deck areas are always the best but that means hours of being exposed to the elements, especially the sun. A hat will do a solid job keeping the sun off your face while you roam around the boat. 

But make sure to take one that stays on your head well, because a gust of wind can easily knock it off your noggin. And if it goes into the drink, well, it’s unlikely the skippers going back for that.

The tail of a whale sticking up out of the water.
The best viewing spots are usually from the open areas of the boat meaning exposure to the sun for long periods of time.

8. Sunglasses.

Sunglasses are another thing to contemplate taking with you whale watching. On days when the sun is out, the UV Rays are even harsher out on the ocean than they are on the land thanks to the light reflecting off the water. 

Taking some sunnies with high UV protection will not only protect your eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays but the polarising lens in them will make spotting whales easier too.

Note: If your sunglasses or prescription glasses don’t stay on your face well, try some purpose-built anti-slip accessories or glasses wax to reduce your risk of losing them.

Other Things To Bring Whale Watching.

➡️ Motion/Sea Sickness Tablets. 

If you’re inclined to get seasick remember to take some motion sickness tablets. There’s nothing more fun than feeling like you need to hurl up your half-digested food because your body doesn’t react well to movement.

You never know how turbulent the ocean will be on the day of your cruise, so it’s always good to pop a couple before you board the boat and have a few to spare in case you need some to settle your uneasy stomach later.

Note: They’ll likely have them for sale aboard the vessel, but it’s much cheaper and more convenient to pre-purchase them elsewhere.

➡️ Camera & Batteries.

Whale watching allows for such magical encounters, so of course, you’ll want to have memories of it. But while phones have come a long way with their photographic capabilities, there’s still nothing quite like a purpose-built camera to capture the most exciting moments. 

But because whales typically only appear for a very short time before disappearing beneath the surface again, it’s hard to photograph them. Still, if you do take your camera, don’t forget to take plenty of recharged batteries to capture the spectacular moments when they happen.

Note: See below for some tips on how to get better photographs of the whales with your DSLR.

➡️ Binoculars.

Another thing you might want to take whale watching is a pair of binoculars. 

Typically the whales don’t come close at the start of the cruise. They’ll generally be off in the distance doing their own little thing until their curiosity kicks in and they come closer to the boat.

Until then, you might want to view them at length or look back towards the land and see what it looks like from across the ocean.

➡️ Sunscreen.

Wild animals don’t play by human rules, and with whales, you never know where to be or where to look to see them, but inside the shady air-conditioned cabin of the boat isn’t the ideal place to be to see them.

There’s too many chairs and obstacles to contend with, so you’ll miss out on a fair bit of the action. The best spots are where you have the widest, uninterrupted view of the ocean, which is always the open deck areas. After all, that’s where the whales are.

That also means a lot of sun exposure, and when you’re out there for several hours, it’s a good idea to slather on a heavy amount of sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Don’t forget your neck, hands, and the tops of your feet if you wear sandals or flip flops and any bald spots.

➡️ Lip Balm.

For the same reason that you’ll want to smother yourself in sunscreen, you’ll also want to consider bringing some lip balm to keep your lips looking moist and fabulous.

Hours of exposure to the sun, wind and salty air are inclined to make your lips look like they’ve lost a few rounds with some sandpaper. Using some lip balm throughout the tour will help keep them feeling soft while you’re out enjoying your whale-watching adventure.

➡️ Moisturizer.

One last thing you might want to take with you while whale watching is some moisturiser. With hours spent out in the sun with the ocean breeze blowing and salty water splashing up on you every now and again, it’s not great for the skin.

Taking a small bottle of moisturizer to apply throughout the cruise will help nourish your skin and keep it in great condition throughout the wonderful experience. 

➡️ Water & Snacks.

Anytime you go out anywhere, it’s always a good idea to take some snacks and water with you so you don’t get hungry or hydrated.

Whale-watching cruises usually have a few snacks and drinks you can purchase (or are sometimes included), but taking your own not only saves you a bit of money but they are guaranteed to be the ones you like. 

It’s a particularly good idea if you have specific dietary requirements that they are unlikely to cater for as it means you won’t have to go several hours without.

Whale Watching Tips.

✔️ Set Your Camera To Shutter Priority.

Heading out whale watching, you will, of course, want to take some pictures of the majestic beasts, but getting good photographs of the animals comes with challenges.

Firstly, whales never appear where or when you expect them to. The entire exercise is a waiting game and only they know when they are going to surface and how they are going to do so. That makes knowing where to point the camera to capture them impossible. 

Secondly, they usually only come up for the briefest time, making shooting them even harder, because you have to find them in your frame and allow the camera to focus before the shutter can take the photo. 

On top of that, you have to contend with the movement of the boat, which throws off any sort of stability, which is why getting good whale photographs is so hard even for photographers who know their way around a camera. 

But not all is lost. There is a technique you can employ to increase your chances of getting good whale images, but it will only work if your equipment has manual modes such as DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

Manual mode can seem scary to anyone who hasn’t attempted using it, especially when the subject is as challenging to capture as this, but fear not. You only need to set your camera to the semi-automatic Shutter-Priority dial.

On Canon and Nikon, this dial is TV and S respectively. 

This mode only allows you to control the shutter speed, while the camera selects the ISO and aperture based on the scene, which is perfect for this kind of photography. 

Setting it on a high shutter speed, (anything above 400 is a great value) will help compensate for the motion of the boat, the movement required to frame the whale and any natural hand shake. Just choose a small central focus point (you don’t want a broad focus area), and shoot.

Due to the brightness differences between the water and the sky, some pictures may come out darker depending on what it was metering when you took the photo, but they can be brightened or darkened in post-processing, but you can’t unblur a photo.

It’s not perfect, especially given the challenging conditions, but you’ll end up with more sharp, higher-quality pictures than you would if it was on full automatic. 

If you’re not familiar with your camera in manual modes, test it out on moving objects before you go. You can always try it out on a few whales at the beginning of the tour and set it back to automatic if you don’t like the results.

A mother whale and her calf swimming side-by-side
A fast shutter will help get more clear shots.

✔️ Tie Your Hair.

To get the most out of your whale-watching experience, it’s a good idea to tie your hair up. On your cruise, your head will face every direction as you look for whales.

Loose hair will inevitably end up in your face on repeated occasions. Tying it up will make for a more pleasant experience because there’s no need to move it out of your face constantly.

Conclusion: What To Wear Whale Watching.

Heading out to the deep blue on a dedicated whale-watching cruise is a fantastic way to see these beautiful marine animals up close, and with these few tips on what to wear whale-watching, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time searching for these majestic creatures.

The dorsal ridges of a whale showing above the surface of the water.
Have a whale of a time.