We’ve been on countless whale-watching trips in Maui waters: large catamarans, fast rafts, sailing charters, kayaks, snorkeling, from the beach, and from the cliffs. But nothing compares to a spearfishing trip on a small zodiac off the coast from Olowalu.
Olowalu, West Maui
It began with Paul and I entering the water in near pitch-black about 10 minutes away from Lahaina Town. We took his ten-foot zodiac out from the beach with hopes of spearfishing off the coast during sunrise. As we geared up around 200 yards from the beach, an 11-foot tiger shark approached the boat on the surface. My thoughts were on the vulnerability of the rubber raft and froze. Paul acted quickly and slapped the side of the boat, which made the shark flip quickly in the other direction.
I was a bit rattled. Paul started the motor and we took off for a more remote entry. As we put on our gear again, we saw movement in the water. We figured it was the tiger again, and our spearfishing session was never going to happen. Turns out, it was a curious adolescent humpback whale!
We got mugged by an adolescent humpback whale! It was unreal. Watch as two grown men giggle like school girls while this whale bumped our boat over and over again.
Each year, Humpback Whales migrate to warmer waters where they mate and breed from December through in Maui, Hawaii. We got really lucky to have this whale hang out with us for over 20 minutes. And even though this was the best whale watch we’ve ever had, to the point of life-altering, we’ve had so many other amazing experiences. Every year, we get at least one unforgettable whale watch out of the 3-4 we do. Some of them are on big boats, some on small ones, and even some when we’re chilling on the beach.
February is by far the best whale watching month, so we’re pretty excited about whale season here on Maui. If you’re looking to do a whale watch, here’s a solid list of Maui whale watch boats.
All of you who were awed by this film, please stop Japan from killing whales, which has included 200 pregnant females in a recent discovery. (2016 info from Avaaz). That is an obscene sin against Mother Nature, and us humans deserve all that’s coming our way. Japan’s excuse is that it’s for ‘scientific’ research which gives them impunity against the law. They think we’re idiots! But now the big guns are turning on Japan – mighty Australia has decided to lead a powerful coalition of global dissent. Support Avaaz (voice). View their page, they give links for background info, sign their petition, lend your own voice NOW. http://Www.avaaz.org Oct 2016.
It’s obvious these beautiful, intelligent and curious creatures thrive in the waters off Maui and should be a protected species globally.. It is a shame these gentle creatures are not safe and do not thrive nor survive in in so many other waters around the world.
Thank you for sharing this precious and intimate encounter with a very inquisitive and brave adolescent . Simply beautiful experience.