Are you visiting Maui this October hoping to catch a glimpse of the majestic humpback whales? We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but there is no whale watching Maui in October because there are no whales in Maui in October! Humpback whales are only in Maui half the year, from December until April, creating an amazing opportunity … Read More
New Hybrid Dolphin-Whale Discovered? 🐋🐬🐙🐠
We’re sure you’ve heard the rumors that there is a new hybrid between dolphins and whales, and those rumors are TRUE! Last August Cascadia Research Collective (you’ve heard us talk about them before), conducted dolphin and whale research around the Hawaii islands. One discovery off the Kauai coast was this possible hybrid between a melon-headed whale and a rough-toothed dolphin. … Read More
Best Time of Day to Whale Watch in Hawaii
Wondering what’s the best time of day to whale watch in hawaii? The good new is that whales don’t operate on an a.m. or p.m. schedule like us, so the best time for whale watching is when you feel like going! Humpback whales do not feed when they migrate to Maui, so the activity we see are mating rituals, competition … Read More
Best Place to Snorkel in Maui
Hotel? Check! Flights? Check! Snorkel gear? Check! The best place to snorkel on Maui? Hmmm, now that’s a little harder to check off the list! Unfortunately, some of the often recommended “popular” snorkel destinations are just that… too popular and too crowded! This where a little local expertise can help! Locals on Maui seek out snorkel locations that have abundant … Read More
Manta Ray Research with HAMER
Marks said that with 90% decline in manta ray sighting rates in Maui, HAMER’s manta ray tagging program is a crucial effort to better understand what habitats are important for their survival and how they use that habitat for feeding, mating and pupping. Ultimate sponsors these satellite tags (think each tag $5K-$10K dollars!) which are placed on the mantas and … Read More
Full-Face Snorkel Mask. Harmful or Helpful?
After doing our research, spending every day in the water and hosting thousands of snorkel trips, we do not recommend snorkeling or diving with full-face mask as there are some safety concerns we have discovered! Consider these safety concerns before deciding to dive or not to dive with a full-faced mask. 1. Our number one concern is carbon dioxide poisoning. Many of the full-faced mask do not have … Read More
Whale Research? We’re All Ears!
Proceeds from every Ultimate Whale Watch and Snorkel are what fund important research like this! Mahalo for your support!
Ultimate Leads Official Whale Disentanglement
Saturday January 27th Ultimate Whale Watch owner and marine biologist Lee James got a call to lead the West Maui first responders team to aid the 8th entangled whale of the season (we are now at 11 reported entanglements since this was reported!). “Research is benefiting them long term, but this is short term and it’s exciting work” said Lee, after completing … Read More
Giving the Ocean EARs
EARs- aka Ecological Acoustic Recordersare new technology being used by researchers tomonitor coral reef soundscapes among other purposes! According to NOAA, “The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, developed the EAR program for these purposes: Next week, Ultimate is working with Researchers Eden, Anke and Megan to refurbish EARs off … Read More