They arrive fully fed and during the winter months they live on their own fat storage. So why do they head to tropical waters during the winter? Well it’s to either mate or give birth. Mothers have now taught their children to swim and are heading back north to polar waters where they feed during the summer months.
Humpback whales tend to stay in groups during the summer months so they can forage and feed together, but anything longer than this is unusual. They hunt by a method called bubble net fishing.
The Humpback Whales will rapidly swim in a circle around a large school of fish. They then blow air through their blow hole causing a visual barrier. The ring of bubbles can be up to a 100 feet in diameter and contain hundreds of thousands of fish. The 12 or so mammals will then close in on the school and suddenly, a whale or two will swim up through the bubble net with their mouths open swallowing thousands of fish with one gulp.
The water temperature here is now starting to warm up and there are no more humpback whales to entertain us, well until they arrive in December for their next season of mating or giving birth.
From a scuba divers point of view I am looking forward to the water warming up. During these winter months here the water temperature can get as low as 60 degrees F.
That may not sound that cold, but you lose body heat 4 times faster in water than in air, it is. During the coldest months here, if you are going to dive, you will want to be wearing a long 7mm semi dry wet suit, hood and gloves.
The hoods and gloves are now gone and as it warms up over the next few weeks, the 7mm can be reduced to a 5mm then to a shortie (no arms or legs) and eventually in July just a rash vest. So if you are thinking of going diving or snorkelling the best time of year for it is nearly here.
The water is getting warmer and the rainy season hasn´t started yet.
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