Similarly , Fasser , who studied marine biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth , was seeking a way to engage directly with the animals . “ I … moved away from research for a closer connection with the wildlife I loved ,” she explains . “… Our trips give us a chance to not only share marine life with the public , but also help others develop a passion for protecting it with us .” |
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Several types of whale and dolphins — like humpback whales ( top right ) and common dolphins ( bottom right )— frequent the local waters .
vessels like the Catallac , a more luxury offering . All boats offer cocktails to enjoy as you relax on the sea , with the larger ships containing full bars as well as snacks . Opt for a VIP upgrade on both the standard and luxury tours for reserved seating , a complimentary drink and binoculars to use throughout the trip .
For a more intimate experience , enlist the help of Newport Coastal Adventure , which also partners with Newport Whales and operates out of its docks . The Zodiac-style boats put passengers right at the surface of the water , with an inflatable “ collar ” around the edge for added comfort . “ It ’ s a really great platform for enjoying the wildlife that we have off of Newport ,” says founder Ryan Lawler . “… It ’ s fewer people that you ’ re with and a more intimate experience with the animals , …
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where your seat is right alongside the action .” Having grown to a fleet of five boats since Newport Coastal Adventure launched a decade ago , there is space for between six and 15 guests on the inflatables . With both public and private charters available , you ’ re able to easily customize your trip out on the water , and the company also offers extended excursions that expand the usual two-hour whale watches into four- or eight-hour adventures — the latter of which makes a stopover at Catalina Island for lunch .
While these experiences are a wonderful chance for locals and tourists to get on the water and see marine life in their natural habitat , it ’ s also very special to the captains that lead the tours . Having grown up in Newport Beach , Lawler dreamed up the idea for Newport Coastal Adventure while seeing the whale watching boats go out every day during his job driving the Balboa Island Ferry . “ I said , ‘ There ’ s got to be a better way to do this that ’ s a lot more fun ,’ ” he recalls . “ If you ’ re on a small , fast boat , you can get to the whales quicker . You ’ re so close to the water , you can put your hand in the water , basically , and just have dolphins playing with you and your boat , inches from your face . It ’ s way more engaging .”
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WONDROUS WHALES Obviously the point of whale watching is to spot a whale , and summer happens to be the best season to do so in Southern California . And the bigger , the better , right ? The summer months happen to be the ideal time to spot a blue whale , the largest animal to ever exist on Earth . And , although we are lucky to have them around , Rodriguez says it ’ s still a rare treat to spot one , as only 1 % of the population ever sees them .
“ The excitement of seeing a blue whale certainly starts from their size alone , although they are also known to show their tail and surface feed when we ’ re really lucky ,” Fasser adds . “ We focus heavily on this species throughout the summer .”
Lawler agrees that spotting a blue whale typically leads to special moments . “ They ’ re just extremely majestic ,” he notes . “… It ’ s a very watchable animal . They ’ re not afraid of anything , really , because they ’ re the biggest animals on the planet . And then , when they dive , about half the time , their huge tail comes up in the air — it ’ s about 20 feet wide .”
But these monumental blue whales aren ’ t the only cetaceans you ’ re likely to encounter in the summertime . Playful humpback whales start to appear in the spring with even more sightings in the summer , and they tend to put on a show for local whale watchers .
“ When we do see humpbacks — or any species — breaching , … a lot of the time people will ask , ‘ Why did they do that ?’ and there ’ s really no rhyme or reason as to why ,” Fasser says . “ There ’ s a lot of hypotheses and those include aggression toward other animals and possibly even toward boats as well as play and … sometimes they get foreign material on their bodies and they ’ re just trying to wash it off . Or social behavior ,” she adds , recalling a time that two juvenile humpbacks on either side of the ship mimicked each other with tail slaps , pectoral slaps and , finally , breaching .
Other cetaceans that frequent Newport Beach year-round are large , sleek fin whales , with triangular flukes and distinct coloration , and small , solitary minke whales , which are quick swimmers with inquisitive personalities . “ These are species that stop to feed whenever food is readily or plentifully available ,” Fasser explains .
Of course , in the last year , local captains have
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BOTTOM RIGHT : COURTESY OF NEWPORT COASTAL ADVENTURE ; ALL OTHERS : COURTESY OF NEWPORT WHALES |
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