‘This was a first’: Humpback whales play close to shore in Alma Bay, Magnetic Island
Humpback whales have wowed school holiday crowds on Magnetic Island and dolphins have been pictured playing off The Strand during a sailing competition. WATCH THE VIDEO.
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Humpback whales have wowed school holiday crowds on Magnetic Island and dolphins have been pictured playing off The Strand during a sailing competition.
Tour operator Aquascene posted a video of the humpback whales in Alma Bay on Monday, July 7.
Aquascene skipper Kalvin Moore said it was the closest he’d ever seen whales get to Alma Bay.
“The whales do come close to the island, however this was a first seeing them this close to Alma Bay,” Mr Moore said.
“It was great to hear the cheers from all the swimmers on the beach as the whales were having some fun in the bay.”
Humpback whales migrate north to Townsville in the winter to calve in the warm, sheltered bays around North Queensland’s islands and coastline, and their numbers peak over August and September.
The early July arrivals were right on time to wow tourists visiting Magnetic Island for the school holidays.
“Both of our boats have been fully booked with beautiful weather on the island at the moment,” Mr Moore said.
“We started sunset whale tours last season and these tours will commence again at the end of July through till the first week in September.”
Elsewhere on the same day, a pod of dolphins decided to make a big splash in front of another group of holidaying school kids at the Townsville Sailing Club’s annual NorthSail event off The Strand.
The club ran a sailing coaching clinic for kids over July 4-5, and put their new trainees to a test with regatta race on July 6-7, which was when the dolphins decided to join in.
The weather on July 7 was unusually mild, with a low of 20 degrees and a high of 28 - the hottest day so far in July for our tropical town.
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Originally published as ‘This was a first’: Humpback whales play close to shore in Alma Bay, Magnetic Island
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