This article provides all the information visitors need to know ahead of time for their adventure on Whale Watching Monterey Bay tours from land or sea. Climb aboard a boat, and the deck beneath your feet shakes. This vast blue ocean lies before us as far as the eye can reach. Then, suddenly, the world leaps to life! A humpback whale breaches — tail first — into fresh air above us from underwater where its great flukes diminish in size behind murky rolling surf. These moments are ones which stay with passengers long after they leave Lahaina; no memories can equal those of a whale-watching trip.

“Ask a local,” folks say, “and on any outing you’re liable to be disappointed for it may turn out differently each time.” Perhaps on one trip you’ll see mother whales teaching their young children some manners: a young calf that timidly slaps the water with its fin then its mother’s enormous frothy splash. On another day, one can be enjoying the deep booming calls of mature males resounding through water, captivating everyone within earshot.

Captain Joe, with his ever-present grin and brown-orchard tan, tells stories of a whale once showering his ship’s deck. “Nature’s hearty handshake!” he laughs. These encounters spark fierce arguments and hearty laughter long after the last guest has set foot back on dry land.

You’ll need to prepare well for this sensational show: bring lots of clothes. The weather in Lahaina could be encouraged or criticized like an unpredictable crowd at a ballgame or appear suddenly colder than ever before on one leg of your morning walk for no reason whatsoever. Personal favourite sunglasses offer both UV protection for your eyes (‘Though sight is clear and perfect, it is best that to the ancient Oriental aesthetic must be held light to’) plus style. And don’t forget the camera; some memories are too good not to be cherished again, while capturing these moments in digital form can never be overrated.

Trips usually begin silently, with a pervasive sense of anticipation building among the passengers as they search for the massive denizens of other worlds. This feeling spreads throughout the boat – a rising tide of energy still building even while you sail along on one wave after another in the tracks left by ships past. There is an almost unbearable tension in the air, which nature will unleash…

And remember, the waters around Lahaina have more surprises in store than just giant whales. Dolphins might frolic and leap with graceful turns, or you could even see a cheeky turtle come up for air. You never know what surprises the sea holds in store.

For the adventurous, some tours provide hydrophones that enable you to experience these sounds of the ocean. It’s like listening in on an entire symphony orchestra playing beneath water!

As the sun slides down behind those hills to the west, Lahaina’s magic is still very much in evidence and you are treated not just to visits by whales but full marine ballets–all of which linger freshly in memory for everyone savoring the beauty right there on a sandbar or aboard ship: every time they take such a trip!