Omura’s Whale sighted on Great Barrier Reef by Silversonic guests, crew

A rare whale, which was only declared as a recognised species in 2003, has been sighted on the Great Barrier Reef this week.

Guests and crew aboard Port Douglas-based dive and snorkel vessel Silversonic were witness to a rare sighting of an Omura’s Whale while en route to Agincourt Reef. Photo: Supplied.

A rare whale, which was only declared as a recognised species in 2003, has been sighted on the Great Barrier Reef this week.

Guests and crew aboard Port Douglas-based dive and snorkel vessel Silversonic were witness to a rare sighting of an Omura’s Whale while en route to Agincourt Reef on Monday.

The whale, estimated to be 12 metres in length, was sighted near Undine Cay at 9:20am.

Skipper Shane Down stopped the vessel and after seeing a blow on the water and commotion on the surface.

“Approximately 200 metres away, we could see a big white patch under water and I believe it was the pleats of the throat stretched out after taking a big gulp of food,” Capt Down said.

“It also turned around and headed back to the southeast then back around to the west – I’m guessing to get some more food as they lunge feed.”

Capt Down was able to identify the whale as passengers caught a glimpse of it.

The first recorded sighting of an Omura’s whale in the Great Barrier Reef was confirmed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in December 2016.

Despite the rare confirmed sightings, Mr Down has recorded these whales for many years and said usually seen between November and February.

The Omura’s whale is one of the smallest members of the rorqual whales, and about which very little is known.

Scientists only identified the Omura’s as a species in its own right in 2003.

Quicksilver Group Environment and Compliance Manager and cetacean expert, Phil Coulthard said it was unusual to see the whales during summer.

“Generally it’s unusual to see whales during our summer as we associate the humpbacks and minke whales with the cooler months, so it’s certainly a treat to see an Omura’s whale at this time of year,” Mr Coulthard said.

Omura’s whales are found in the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean, primarily in shelf waters with the majority of recordings in the Tropics.

It comes after guests and crew aboard a Divers Den vessel were treated to a rare sighting of a whale shark at Troppos on Norman Reef, earlier this year.

Originally published as Omura’s Whale sighted on Great Barrier Reef by Silversonic guests, crew