Port Stephens Dolphin Watch & Weather 07/02/12

Weather: You could be forgiven for thinking we were approaching the winter Whale Watching season in the next few days! The swell has picked up offshore which does effect the snorkelling cruise, however the inshore conditions are still great for watching dolphins. The good news that the cooler Southerly breezes should only be around for two or three days and then the lighter North Easterlys will be back by the end of the week. There are tops of 23 degrees predicted for the rest of the week and already as I sit here in the office at 8:00am the mercury is sitting on 18 degrees. There is light patchy rain being forecast for the next week, but as always, give us a call if you have any weather concerns.

Dolphins: As always the friendly Bottlenose Dolphins have been carrying about their daily routine in the waters of Nelson Bay swimming, fishing, eating and of course taking time out to come and play with Imagine! A bit of overcast sky or the odd dash of rain doesn’t deter the dolphins from having fun, and once guests are onboard they find that Dolphin Watching is still an amazing trip no matter what the weather… You can still get close to the bow riding dolphins in the dry Bownet or see how close you can be to them in their own element in the Boomnet!

The photos we post with these blogs are always current photos from the week gone by and as you can see, there have been plenty of sunny patches and some great photo opportunities. The other interesting fact is that quite a few of our photos are taken from iphone cameras!

Port Stephens Dolphin Watch and Weather 26/01/12

Sitting here in the office on Australia Day and once again Mother Nature has proved the weather forecast wrong! What an awesome day, although I wouldn’t say the sun has officially made it out, it is not from lack of trying, and best of all… no rain. The next couple of days look to be good, I think the sun will be shining tomorrow, with the wind and perhaps some more rain picking up on Sunday.

Imagine’s white whale mascot ‘Migaloo’ left the front of the office this morning to celebrate the day with a cruise around the Nelson Bay forshore.

Despite a bit of rain at the start, this week has been excellent for Dolphin watching and we have had heaps of people getting into the Boomnet and then trying the new ‘Jetnet’ craze.

Have you lazed around and enjoyed the Dolphins from the Bownet on board, or enjoyed a quiet relaxing sail…? and then thought, hmm something’s missing! Well a Jetnet in the Boomnet could be the thing for you!

We are always asked how is the dolphin spotting or snorkelling during the overcast light rainy days? Well the straight answer is great! The Dolphins and fish are already wet, so they are cool with it…. you are going to get wet anyway and have fun!

Port Stephens Dolphin Watch & Weather 04/01/2012

Welcome to another great new year in Nelson Bay, we will try to keep weekly updates coming for the dolphins, snorkeling conditions, general weather and any other important info.

Weather: A bit of wet weather at the end of 2011 but for the 1st week of 2012 the weather is forecast to be excellent with temps averaging around 27 degrees. With such hot temperatures it is not uncommon to have a late afternoon thunderstorm here and there but the sun is always shining the next day!

Dolphins: As always the Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins have been great for viewing and still remaining friendly. Whilst there will not always be too much new news about these guys, we will never get tired of telling you how friendly and complex they can be as well as giving you some of our favorite interaction stories!

Snorkelling: Conditions have been excellent, the water temp is sneaking up from last week around 18 – 20. At the moment the Dolphin Watch + Snorkelling (Marine Discovery – Sail, Swim, Snorkel ) is booking out around 2 days before so do try to plan your days and bookings are a must!

As always the $35 Seafood Dinner Cruise is heading out to capture the best light of the day, we love people to try and book for this one before 3:00pm if possible

Dolphin Watch, Sailing, Snorkelling and Seafood Dinner!

Dolphin watching in the bay:

Meet the dolphins from the calm boom net or hold on tight for a wild jet net ride! Relax a foot above the water under sail in the dry bow net or give yourself a ‘titanic’ thrill at the end of the bow sprit! Imagine has very friendly crew, 360 degree views and we love to go Sailing when conditions permit.

Port Stephens has around 90 friendly resident Bottlenose Dolphins that live in pods of 4 – 12. We quite regulary get to visit with at least two different pods per cruise!

Snorkelling Cruise :

Dolphin Watch + Snorkelling (Formerly Marine Discovery, Sail Swim Snorkel)

With two Islands to pick from depending on the conditions, Snorkeling is quite good. Lots of different species of fish including a big Groper and even a few exotic tropical species have found their way south on the warm currents. There’s even a turtle making regular appearances at cabbage Tree Island. Lighthouse Cove on Fingal Island is once again a hot spot for snorkeling. Some of the crew have even made friends with a Banjo Ray.

Don’t have your own snorkelling gear…? Not a problem at all as Imagine carries enough Masks and Snorkels for everyone to use for free.

Seafood Dinner Cruise

The daily $35 Seafood Dinner Cruise dinner has proven to be a winner both for families on a budget or couples wanting something a bit different than a land based restaurant. If the weather permits guests can have a swim before dinner so to bring the swim suits! We like to say ‘ it’s the biggest pool in town’. This is a two hour cruise every evening of the week and we will run it until the end of Easter so long as the weather holds up. It’s at the best time of the day and we are usually the only vessel out on the bay and certainly the only one sailing, it’s unbelievable!…..

So what’s the menu..? We have a set menu of BBQ Fillet of Fresh NZ Hoki and Butterflied Garlic King Prawns on a bed of Salad and Mash while at anchor. We then hoist the Sails to enjoy a slice of Cheesecake for dessrt while the sun is going down!

PS: We have a licensed bar ( No BYO)

The Whale watching week that wasn’t!

Saturday 23rd July

Did anyone notice the weather this week..? The Nelson Bay Whale Watching cruise boats were tucked up in the safety of their docks for most of this week as the Port Stephens coast played host to some extreme weather conditions. But do not despair…!

We grabbed a screen shot from a weather site today that shows by Monday we should be back to some excellent Whale and Dolphin watching weather as the huge swell and seas and strong winds ease.

What do Whales and Dolphins do in bad weather?

Many people wonder what happens to the whales and Dolphins when the seas are rough..? Well the short answer is not to much at all! Like most animals, Humpback Whales and Dolphins are very well adjusted to their climate. The Humpbacks spend half of the year in the freezing waters of the Antarctic which makes them fairly comfortable in the wind and rain. Both Dolphins and Whales are born with and then continue to grow a warm layer of fat to protect them from the cold water. However I do suspect that like myself they do prefer the warm sunshine.

This week while most people were snuggled up in doors staying dry, the Humpback Whales would have continued their northern migration past Port Stephens. When the swell is larger, it is not uncommon to see the Humpbacks having a bit of a surf in the swell to help them along! The sightings before this rough weather week have been excellent and in this week to come we are sure the sightings will be great!

Free Movie Pass!

Free ‘Oceans’ Movie pass with every Midweek Adult Whale Watch direct booking by calling us on 02 4984 9000.

Whale Watching departs daily at 10:30am and 2:00pm (3 hours)

Nelson Bay Cinema
Cinema Mall, Stockton Street, NELSON BAY
Starting: Thursday 28th July end Wed 3rd August
Times: 11:45am, 3:15pm and 6:45pm (102 mins)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oceans/105670462800308

See you on the water!

Dolphin Watch, Sailing, Snorkelling, Sunsets

Do you like what your listening to…?

Imagine is blessed and proud to have two very talented musical friends!

Centered around the vocals of Dale Buchan and Josephine Cubis, The Firetree are an independent band from Byron Bay, Australia. Their energetic live shows blend their trademark indie folk sound with a genuine rock edginess which has earned the duo a loyal fanbase in Australia.

The Firetree have recently released their highly anticipated debut EP, The Space Between. Recorded at Studios 301 in Australia with acclaimed producer Murray Burns The song used for this video is track 2. Sun and Moon

Dolphin, Cruises and weather updates 29/01/11

Dolphin watching in the bay:

We are almost certain now that 3 dolphin calves have been born in the last 2 months to the main three female groups in the bay. Summer is the time most baby dolphins are born so this is a great time to see these little guys out and about with their mums. The bay waters have been clearing after all the rain a couple of weeks ago and with lots of bait fish around the bay is literally teeming with big fish and the dolphins are gathering together to hunt in large numbers.

Snorkeling Cruise:

The sea has continued to clear and warm up after the big wet and the visibility on the Snorkeling cruise is improving by the day. The days are warm and The sailing has been great with the big blue drifter being used daily. Cabbage tree island has become our main snorkeling point as it provides good shelter from the prevailing easterly swell. We have seen a number of big Gropers and a turtle quite regularly turns up and Didj has even made friends with a Banjo Ray.

Sunset dinner Cruise:

The daily dinner cruise has proven to be a winner especially as folks can have a quick dip before dinner or they can simply lay back in the bow net with a champers. BBQ Prawns and fish in a Cognac sauce on a bed of mash and rocket with a crusty bread roll followed by French Vanilla cheesecake with berries, and all for just $35 per adult or $100 for a family of 4, this has got to be the best value dinner cruise on the east coast!

Swim with Dolphins:

This weekend we have one swim scheduled for Sunday morning at 6am so anyone wanting to experience one of the most amazing interactive adventures with intelligent wildlife should check this cruise out: http://www.imaginecruises.com.au/cruises-tours/swim-with-dolphins/

Imagine received a really nice compliment recently from one of our guests. Kirsty Dunphey, Telstra’s Youngest ever Young Australian Business Women of the year travelled on one of our cruises late last year unknown to us and had a few words to say regarding our company’s ethics towards our guests which you might find of interest. It’s interesting to note how important Twitter can be to tourism business.

Check the link: http://www.smartcompany.com.au/gen-y-millionaire/20110127-whale-sized-expectations.html

Sea conditions predicted for this weekend and the following week:

Pretty good conditions for getting onto and into the water this weekend. An 11 knot easterly breeze and 1.5 to 2 metre swell is forcast for Saturday flattening out a bit on Sunday and dropping further throughout the next week as the winds shift back to the northeast. Warm and mostly dry in the bay for most of the week and the sea is continuing to clear. High tide is around 05:50 on Saturday morning and dead low at 12:50 midday.

The Skipper’s HOT TIPS for safe swimming and sailing:

TIP 1: If you have any concerns with weather and sea conditions you should always check in directly with your cruise operator, Imagine uses three main online meteorological sources in making our sea condition predictions plus we interpret local conditions that may affect the areas we travel when looking for dolphins or finding a safe anchorage. Imagine’s office is open between 9:00am and 4:30pm, 7 days a week and the number to call is 49 815 373 or 49 849 000

TIP 2: Although it’s warm at the moment it can still be cool offshore so take a light jumper of jacket with you as well as your swimmers and a towel. This is now the season for Blue bottle stingers so consider wearing a rashy when you go in the water and keep a good look out for those bubble like floaters and avoid them. Best way to treat a sting is by applying to the stung area the hottest water that you can bear on a towel for a good 10 minutes. The heat followed by a cold compress usually does the job( you can use a cold can of beer or soft drink the same way). Flat shoes with a reasonable grip is the way to go on board any boat, no stilettos girls!

TIP 3: If you have any doubts about how your tummy is going to stand up to a few hours at sea, take a motion sickness pill. Imagine has them free on board including safe ones for pregnant ladies and chewy strawberry ones for kids, don’t risk it, the best time to take them is half an hour before boarding or at the latest straight away when you get on board.

Dolphins, Cruises and weather updates 14/01/11

Dolphin watching in the bay:

Pods of dolphins have been sighted all around the eastern harbor last week and most of the big female groups have calves. Sightings are good and as there are lots of bait fish around fishing behavior is common and with the boat traffic dropping off they seem a little more relaxed. Check out little Rocky the orphan male dolphin that has made the Marina home, this little guy now around 3 years old almost certainly lost his mum 1 ½ years ago and just started hanging out inside and around the Marina breakwaters. He is like the ambassador of the bay and can often be seen from the docks, fishing around the berthed boats and cruising around the marina entrance.

Snorkeling Cruise:

We have been very very lucky in the Port Stephens so far this year, despite the deluging rain and floods further to our north, the light rain we experienced earlier this week has not muddied the waters of the bay or offshore to spoil the visibility on the Snorkeling cruise. Our happy guests are amazed at the variety of fish species they have seen and the island coves where we anchor up to snorkel provide calm waters and shelter from the prevailing breezes. The sailing has been great and the seas warm for swimming.

Sunset dinner Cruise:

Although we haven’t seen as many sunsets as we would like over the last week, most people who have braved the often damp evenings have given this cruise rave reviews. The ability to have a sail and a dip at sunset while waiting for the BBQ dinner to cook, or simply lay back in the bow net with a champers has proven to be a winner. BBQ Prawns and fish in a Cognac sauce on a bed of mash and rocket with a crusty bread roll followed by French Vanilla cheesecake with berries, and all for just $35 per adult or $100 for a family of 4, this has got to be the best value dinner cruise on the east coast!

Swim with Dolphins:

We operated swims with big pods of Common dolphins on both Saturday and Sunday last week and both times the dolphins were very interactive and with clear water the vis was great and the experience mind blowing. Check out pics and videos on www.dolphinswimaustralia.com.au . This weekend we have two swims on both Saturday and Sunday scheduled so if you want to have the ultimate dolphin encounter log on and book your place. We only take a max of 20 participants so spots are limited. If you want to check it out first before jumping right in we can take you as an observer and even without being in the water this is an amazing experience. You will need to read the online terms and conditions and fill out the request.

Sea conditions predicted for the following week:

Breezy north easterly winds will continue throughout this weekend and into next week with seas of between 1 and 2 metres. These are predicted to turn south east and ease next Tuesday which will see a flattening of the sea. The torrential rains recently experienced in south east Queensland and northern NSW are a direct result of massive evaporation from the extreme sea temperatures combined with strong onshore winds and far north Queensland could get another deluge with a cyclone currently moving inshore. High tide is around 5am on Saturday and low at 12 midday (every day you add approximately 50 minutes), next Thursday is the full moon and for the next couple of days following the high tides will be some of the highest of the year.

The Skipper’s HOT TIPS for safe swimming and sailing:

TIP 1: If you have any concerns with weather and sea conditions you should always check in directly with your cruise operator, Imagine uses three main online meteorological sources in making our sea condition predictions plus we interpret local conditions that may affect the areas we travel when looking for dolphins or finding a safe anchorage. These weather channels are updated quite regularly during the day as things do change, so it is a good idea to check in with us if you have any doubts. Imagine’s office is open between 9:00am and 4:30pm, 7 days a week and the number to call is 49 815 373 or 49 849 000

TIP 2: Although its very warm at the moment it can still be cool offshore so its good to take a light jumper of jacket with you as well as your swimmers and a towel. This is now the season for Blue bottle stingers so consider rashy when you go in the water and keep a good look out for those bubble like floaters and avoid them. Best way to treat a sting is by applying the hottest water on a towel to the sting that you can bear. 10 minutes of heat followed by a cold compress usually does the job( you can use a cold can of beer or soft drink the same way). Flat shoes with a reasonable grip is the way to go, no stilettos girls!