Swim with whales for another season

Swim with whales for another season

Swimming with the graceful humpback whales will still be on the agenda for 2015-2016.

A code of practice for swimming with whales has been developed by the Hervey Bay whale watching fleet, and outlines best practice processes and policies for swimming with the majestic creatures.

The draft code will allow the trial of the practice to continue for the 2015 whale watching season, and will be finalised between the 2015 and 2016 whale watching seasons.

Fraser Coast Regional Councillor with the Tourism Portfolio, Stuart Taylor, said the trail gives the Fraser Coast a competitive advantage over other operators in the industry.

“Adding to the close up experiences that whale watching in Hervey Bay offers is the interactive swim with the whales experience,” he said.

“There is nowhere else that guarantees whale watching experience where whales stay and play for days on end.”

Hervey Bay, which is known as the ‘whale watch capital of the world’, is renowned for its whale watching experiences. It is one of the only places in the world that whales actively interact with the whale watching vessels.

Hervey Bay Whale Watch’s owner Jill Perry said safety is always their first priority when letting guests swim with whales, with perfect water conditions and whale behaviour needed for the swim to take place.

“This year we are getting a lot more enquiries due to it being advertised on our website and in our brochures,” she said.

“Last year due to the approval coming late in the season, the awareness was not high. This year we are working to change that.”

The season kicks off this month with an anticipated 23,500 whales migrating along Australia’s east coast. Over 8000 of those are expected to make their way into Hervey Bay waters between July and November.

For more information on the whale season, head to whalesherveybay.com.au.

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