From April in spring to October in the fall, whale watching Plymouth tours depart from Plymouth Harbor. Their destination is Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, 20 miles offshore. It's prime feeding territory for cetaceans including Humpback, Finback, Minke, and North Atlantic Right Whales. Every year from spring to fall they travel to the North Atlantic Ocean to mate and feed.
Most trips are accompanied by a naturalist, or several naturalists, who offer facts and help passengers locate and identify the ocean wildlife. Many of the Finbacks and Humpbacks have names and a well-known life history. Naturalists identify individuals by their pigmentation and markings.
Other sea life in abundance includes sharks, porpoises, dolphins, jellyfish, harbor seals, and seafaring birds. The Northern Gannet is the giant of the sea birds with a wingspan approaching 6 feet. The Storm Petrel is the smallest at only 5 to 7 inches. Atlantic White-sided Dolphins are frequently spotted. Traveling in pods, they're playful and curious, often seen jumping and diving.
North Atlantic Right Whales were hunted almost to extinction. Slow swimmers with a body rich in blubber they were easy targets and a profitable catch for whalers. No more than 350 survive today. It's a special thrill if you're lucky enough to see this rare and endangered behemoth.
The smallest baleen is the Minke Whale, still an impressive 30' long and up to 7.5 tons. They're the most populous species but are hard to spot. They tend to travel singly or in small groups and rarely approach excursion boats. Blue Whales are rare but occasionally seen in these waters. They're the largest animal on the face of the earth at 80' long and weighing in at around 120 tons.
The 2nd largest animal, Finback whales are often sighted. Up to 70 feet in length, they weigh in at 40 tons plus. Despite their size they're fast. With speeds up to 23 mph, they've been nicknamed 'greyhound of the sea'. Look for small groups of three to seven, although they may gather in larger groups when there's abundant food.
Humpbacks are a popular favorite regularly seen in these waters. They're giants. They're graceful. They're playful. They're will-known for their hauntingly beautiful and complex songs. They travel in family groups making them easy to find. Up to 50' long and weighing as much as 40 tons, a humpback at play is a phenomenal sight.
Set aside 4 hours of your day for a whale watching Plymouth excursion. The harbor's only 1 block from the downtown district. Plan ahead by checking the weather forecast, and if you're prone to motion sickness, take pills an hour before departure. The open water can be chilly even when suffering through a heat wave on land. Always pack a jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
Most trips are accompanied by a naturalist, or several naturalists, who offer facts and help passengers locate and identify the ocean wildlife. Many of the Finbacks and Humpbacks have names and a well-known life history. Naturalists identify individuals by their pigmentation and markings.
Other sea life in abundance includes sharks, porpoises, dolphins, jellyfish, harbor seals, and seafaring birds. The Northern Gannet is the giant of the sea birds with a wingspan approaching 6 feet. The Storm Petrel is the smallest at only 5 to 7 inches. Atlantic White-sided Dolphins are frequently spotted. Traveling in pods, they're playful and curious, often seen jumping and diving.
North Atlantic Right Whales were hunted almost to extinction. Slow swimmers with a body rich in blubber they were easy targets and a profitable catch for whalers. No more than 350 survive today. It's a special thrill if you're lucky enough to see this rare and endangered behemoth.
The smallest baleen is the Minke Whale, still an impressive 30' long and up to 7.5 tons. They're the most populous species but are hard to spot. They tend to travel singly or in small groups and rarely approach excursion boats. Blue Whales are rare but occasionally seen in these waters. They're the largest animal on the face of the earth at 80' long and weighing in at around 120 tons.
The 2nd largest animal, Finback whales are often sighted. Up to 70 feet in length, they weigh in at 40 tons plus. Despite their size they're fast. With speeds up to 23 mph, they've been nicknamed 'greyhound of the sea'. Look for small groups of three to seven, although they may gather in larger groups when there's abundant food.
Humpbacks are a popular favorite regularly seen in these waters. They're giants. They're graceful. They're playful. They're will-known for their hauntingly beautiful and complex songs. They travel in family groups making them easy to find. Up to 50' long and weighing as much as 40 tons, a humpback at play is a phenomenal sight.
Set aside 4 hours of your day for a whale watching Plymouth excursion. The harbor's only 1 block from the downtown district. Plan ahead by checking the weather forecast, and if you're prone to motion sickness, take pills an hour before departure. The open water can be chilly even when suffering through a heat wave on land. Always pack a jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera.
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