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Pacific Whale Foundation Ecotours Include Snorkeling, Whalewatching in Maui
It’s prime whalewatching season in Maui, and you shouldn’t miss this spectacular experience. The peak of the season is January through April, but whales are commonly seen from December through early May. Maui is considered one of the world’s top whalewatch spots, famous for the proximity of whales to its shoreline and the large number of whales found there. Pacific Whale Foundation, now in full swing for the 2007 migration and birthing season, has offered educational whalewatches and conducted whale research in Maui since 1980.
More than 3,500 humpback whales come to Hawaii each winter to mate and give birth, making the state the nation’s primary mating and calving ground for these endangered animals. Humpback whales are the fifth largest of the world’s whales. The population that comes to Maui spends summers feeding in the cool waters of the North Pacific in the nearshore waters of Southeast Alaska and through the Aleutian Islands into the Chukchi Sea. In autumn, the whales migrate to warm water areas near the equator to mate and give birth. About 60 percent of these North Pacific humpback whales come to Hawaii.
Pacific Whale Foundation uses the newest high-tech, ultra-smooth catamarans, powered with biodiesel fuel produced on Maui. All profits from the cruises support Pacific Whale Foundation's education programs and its work to protect whales, dolphins, all other marine life and their home—the oceans of the world.
You can choose from a variety of eco-adventure tours:
Molokini and Turtle Arches Snorkel Eco-Adventure
Molokini Marine Preserve is the remnants of ancient volcanic activity and is a mid-sea oasis, one of Hawaii’s top-rated snorkel locations. Pacific Whale Foundation researchers have documented more than 250 species of fish living here. Snorkel this famous reef with the foundation’s experienced marine naturalists. The tour includes a second snorkel location at Turtle Arches, home to underwater lava arches and many green sea turtles.
Molokini-Lanai Snorkel Cruise
Three great adventures in one: Snorkel at Molokini Marine Preserve. Then travel to the scenic coast of Lana’i, where wild spinner, bottlenose and spotted dolphins live and play. After that you’ll snorkel at a beautiful Lana’i reef—and possibly encounter a curious sea turtle or two. This adventure is offered exclusively by Pacific Whale Foundation.
Lana’i Dolphin Snorkel Cruise
The original and best Lana’i wild dolphin tour, based on Pacific Whale Foundation’s pioneering research of wild dolphins. Cruise beautiful, scenic shorelines where wild spinner, bottlenose and spotted dolphins are found. This trip includes snorkeling at one of Lanai’s famed reefs.
Whalewatch Eco-Adventures
Enjoy Maui’s top-rated whalewatch, with professional narration by a team of expert marine naturalists, opportunities to listen to whales on hydrophones, a free Junior Naturalist program for kids, and guaranteed whale sightings—or you go again free.
Or choose the “Ultimate Whalewatch,” where you’ll first spend time with a Pacific Whale Foundation researcher on a personally-guided, small-group tour of the research facilities. Learn about whales and their behaviors, and enjoy a workshop on “how to photograph whales in the wild.” Your small group will then join a scheduled whalewatch eco-adventure cruise with your researcher.
About Pacific Whale Foundation
Pacific Whale Foundation, Maui’s oldest and largest marine conservation organization, is celebrating its 26th anniversary this year. Its staff of 120-researchers, marine educators, naturalists and others is dedicated to marine conservation and protecting whales. Findings from its research studies also have formed the backbone of Pacific Whale Foundation’s award-winning “Ocean Outreach Program”—one of the largest marine education efforts in the world. Pacific Whale Foundation is funded through profits from merchandise sales, fundraising events, grants, corporate gifts, memberships, its Adopt-a-Whale and Adopt-a-Dolphin programs, donations from supporters worldwide, and its marine ecotours.
For more information about Pacific Whale Foundation, its research and its ecotours, visit www.pacificwhale.org. To book a tour by phone, call (800) 942-5311; from Maui, call (808) 249-8811.