Graeme Butler Butler's Swim with Dolphins www.swimwithdolphins.co.nz

October is whale time in the Bay. Gemini Galaxsea's first October trip encountered two pygmy blues just South of Tuhua (Mayor) Island. Blazing Shadz reported a pod of Orca and a couple of large whales in the vicinity early in the morning. The orca had disappeared but the whales were still feeding a mile or so south of the island at midday when Gemini Galaxsea arrived.

Photos: Rod Mueller Photography.

A couple of days later, with suspected broken ribs and recovering from a damaged skull after a spill from my bicycle, I managed to cobble together some willing crew members to take Gemini Galaxsea to sea, while I enjoyed ‘passenger' status. At least six Minkes in a pod were feeding only a couple of miles north of Karewa in the afternoon. Another smaller unidentified whale was found in the morning but disappeared without trace after a couple of quick surfacing.

Finding whales is too good to pass up so another call around for enthusiastic crew to ease the load on my wrecked body saw Gemini Galaxsea playing with a small unidentified whale and a rare leopard seal at Okuparu reef. There was a couple of metres or more of swell, not a lot of wind so it was uncomfortable and not such a great day. A large whale feeding two miles to the west of Motiti Island was reported but not found.

The weather was much better during the forth voyage. It wasn't long before a diligent search yielded a very curious and interactive Minke whale that swam around and under Gemini Galaxsea for 20 minutes or so. A hallmark of Minkes is that they are curious. While we drifted with engine out of gear and let the animal play out its curiosity and entertain all on board with its friendly close behaviour which included lifting its head clear and eye-balling passengers from right beside Gemini Galaxsea.

Eventually several large blows were spotted some miles toward Tuhua (Mayor) which were deemed worth investigating.

It took half an hour or more to reach the location but eventually a large, blue whale hung about feeding and blowing quite unconcerned about being close to a boat full of gaping surprised and highly excited humans. There were several more whales playing within a mile or so, all with large blows but they were left in peace without any approach so no identification was possible.

Trip five on 10th October produced spectacular whale encounters. The first two whales blowing, seen from a mile or more away, turned out to be a Brydes whale and her calf.

Like all great whales they were relaxed and happy to hang about feeding and blowing for the half hour Gemini Galaxsea drifted while photographs were taken, and enthusiastic gasps of delight were expressed by all on board.

Another blow was spotted a mile or so off. On investigation this turned out to be the steamy breath of a blue, not as enormous as some of this species, but a large animal never the less and once more Gemini Galaxsea was entertained in a fashion that all on board have become very accustomed. The thinking on board Gemini Galaxsea is not to spend too much time with large whales and leaving them to get on with their day relatively undisturbed could be the best policy. Gemini Galaxsea always breaks off encounters long before there is any sign of agitation or stress so these whales were left to their own devices about midday.

It was decided to cap the day off with a quick look at Karewa Island for seals and a mooch about looking for dolphins. As predicted, a few New Zealand fur seals lay on the rocks and one played in the water. Fur seals are usual visitors in the bay at this time of year. A search under bird workups to the north of Karewa for failed to find dolphins but masses of fish, planckton, birds of many varieties and the reddish brown stain of krill covered the area.

Later in the afternoon another huge blow shot skyward indicating a very large whale, which when investigated turned out to be a massive pure blue with a calf. Like the other whales encountered, she was happy to hang about feeding and virtually ignored Gemini Galaxsea and her compliment of excited photographers.

A female Blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on the planet, this one was right up there in the category of mega fauna and having a calf at fin was a rare and wonderful sight, being around such a whale is the dream of every whale enthusiast but to find a blue whale with a calf is almost unheard of. Gob-smacked is a fair description of all who shared time with this whale and her offspring.

This is spring in the Bay, the whales prove the old planet still has a lot of flesh on her bones yet.

Gemini Galaxsea will be making whale voyages for as long as the whales are around so interested people should email butler@swimwithdolphins.co.nz

No guarantees, but a fine day at sea is a fine day at sea and with the number of whale sightings recently, the chances are great for a spectacular and rare encounter.