Imagine Cruises Port Stephens NSW

Sightings every day!

Author: Rick Reynolds     19th June 08

This week has sent a very clear picture as to why we call Port Stephens the Humpback "Whale Highway". Tuesday the 17th was a great example when Yves and myself went out on Imagine and explored the highway with our passengers.

Imagine was the only boat to head offshore and as soon as we got to the Point Stephens lighthouse on Fingal Island we were greeted by three Humpback whales! As we moved along with this huge mother and two younger whales we noticed both ahead of us as well as behind we had more pods of whales!

The afternoon was nearly an exact mirror image of the morning cruise. We had whales everywhere and the only difference was that this time we saw two 40 ton Humpbacks breach completely out of the water! Everyone on board got to see this amazing sight before we headed back into Port Stephens to look for some Bottlenose dolphins.

Great sightings of Humpback Whales in June!

Author: Rick Reynolds     13th June 08

With the June halfway point approaching, Humpback whale sightings have been excellent! We have seen whales on every cruise in June so far and even some big breaches for Ray Alley's camera.

June and July are great months to come and check out the whales!

Dolphins found dead off Cornish coast 'committed suicide', wildlife expert claims

Author: Daily Mail Reporter     13th June 08

Source of Story - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1025219/Navy-ships-sonar-led-26-dolphins-death.htmlA leading scientist has compared the deaths of 26 dolphins in Cornwall to a "mass suicide" - a natural phenomenon found in the species.

Veterinary wildlife pathologist Vic Simpson, who has examined the bodies, says the animals died after they inhaled debris and mud that clogged their insides.He said the scenes in the River Percuil, where 26 dolphin carcasses were washed up on Monday, looked like "some sort of mass suicide".Experts say dolphins have been known to take their own lives whilst living in captivity after becoming distressed and confused at their conditions.In several cases the creatures repeatedly slammed their head against sides of a pool - or simply stopped coming up for air.The largest known cases of dolphin suicide was in September and October last year when 152 striped dolphins washed up on the coast of southern Iran.Locals who battled to save them by taking them back out to sea were distraught when the dolphins refused and persistently re-beached themselves to die.The best known case of dolphin suicide is that of a dolphin named Cathy, one of the bottle nose dolphins that performed in the television series Flipper.She is said to have died of self induced asphyxiation in the presence of her trainer Richard O'Barry.

Mr Simpson, who founded the Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre in Truro, is still working at the scene on behalf of the Zoological Society in London.He said: "On the face of it, it looks like some sort of mass suicide - but the question is why?"The dolphins had swallowed and inhaled big chunks of mud from the estuary. Their lungs and stomachs were full of it. That is very bizarre indeed."We have seen strandings on beaches, sometimes with five to seven dolphins - but never on a scale like this."It could be a bacteria or viral infection that we're dealing with. Some algae produce toxins that can prove fatal. But it is really far too early to say."Despite the efforts of marine experts, volunteers, fire crews and coastguards, 26 common dolphins died in the worst incident of its kind in the UK for 30 years.

Tests have so far revealed the mammals were well-fed and that there were no obvious signs of disease or poisoning - causing experts to consider other possibilities.British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said many of the dolphins had no fish in their stomach, which adds weight to the theory that they were panicked by an underwater disturbance.A common reason for the animals being stranded is when they are chasing fish - but if they were feeding, there would be clear evidence of it, a BDMLR spokesman said.The Royal Navy has admitted it was carrying out a live exercise in Falmouth Bay prior to the stranding but has denied it would have affected the dolphins because it was a short-range device.An MoD spokesman said: "A survey vessel was conducting trials using a high definition, short-range side scan sonar for sea bed mapping trials approximately 12 nautical miles off the coast of Falmouth at the time of the incident."It is considered extremely unlikely that this operation could have affected the mammals in any way."Officials also denied reports that the Navy was carrying out gunnery practice at the time of Monday's mass beaching in the Falmouth Bay area. Several residents reported hearing loud explosions late on Sunday.Other theories are that the dolphins died chasing fish or escaping a natural predator, possibly a killer whale.In all, more than 100 deep-sea-dwelling common dolphins strayed into Falmouth Bay. More than 30 became stranded and dozens more became distressed in shallow water, in one of the worst scenes to confront coastguards and animal rescue groups for years.Although many dolphins were saved, 24 died and two were put down.

The Humpbacks are coming!

Author: Frank Future     5th May 2008

The Humpbacks are coming!

Summer is over and now is the time to plan a sail with Imagine Cruises in Port Stephens to see the northern migration of the Humpback whales. Right now the whales are swimming north away from the freezing waters of the southern ocean where for the last four months they have been gorging themselves on krill, a tiny shrimp like creature that abounds in those Antarctic waters. The Japanese whalers have returned home and fortunately, at least for this year our Humpbacks are safe. The weather this summer was a bit unsettled and long-range forecasts are suggesting this winter may be better than last. Imagine Cruises begins operating two whale watch cruises daily from the 20th May all the way through to November. As the population has virtually doubled in the last five years we are seeing whales pretty much every month including the months of August and September when ten years ago we hardly saw a whale.

The first whales to arrive are the adults.Travelling continuously both by day and night, the Humpback whales conserve their energy supplies by swimming slowly and by keeping close inshore to avoid the strong south setting East Australian Current. (Remember the EAC in Finding Nemo?) Over the twelve years Imagine has been operating whale watch cruises we have noticed that the very first whales to travel past Port Stephens on their 10,000 kilometre round trip to the Barrier Reef are usually the sexually active adults. These are big animals over 14 metres in length and up to 40 tonnes and as they are looking to mate, there are often pairing off and animated.The cows are generally larger than the bulls sometimes measuring over 16 metres in length and 50 tonnes and those carrying calves are heavier again. The sub adults and juveniles who have now left their mother’s side we usually see in the later period of the northern migration, normally around August. These guys are fun and can often be encountered in pods of four or more, they’re very curious and boat “muggings� are common giving our guests an amazing up close experience as we can’t move until they decide to let us go! The calves of last winter that measured 3.5 metres and 1.5 tonnes at birth have now nearly doubled in length and are four times the weight. Suckling at over 300 litres a day for the last 9 months, these little suckers will be tagging along very close to their mothers keeping a wary eye open for bossy amorous adult males who might be interested in making out with mum.

How many and how old are they?

The East coast Humpback population known as group 5 is estimated to have now recovered to nearly 8,000 animals from a tiny remnant that might have been just a few hundred when whaling finished on Australia’s east coast. Marine mammal scientist Wally Franklin considers the original population size might have contained more than 20,000 animals on the east coast before whaling reduced their numbers to just a few hundred by 1963.Virtually all the whales we see today are less than 40 years old and we don’t know exactly how long they live but it is generally accepted that most of the great whales live over 60 years and some like the Bowhead we do know can live for over 130 years!

Why is Port Stephens such a good place to watch whales?

Although there are many good points along both the east and west coasts of Australia to watch whales, Port Stephens is one of the best spots because our season lasts from May to November. Whether you stand on a headland or cruise with Imagine there is a very good chance you will see at least one and usually quite a few more as they travel very close to the shore heading north to avoid a very strong south setting current. Imagine Cruises sails two 3-hour trips every day out of Nelson Bay 7 days a week. For a truly memorable experience remember to dress warmly & bring your camera!

How close can we get?

New Australian regulations permit us to approach adult whales to within 100 metres, and adults with calves to within 300 metres. However if a whale approaches us, and they are often very curious around boats, so long as we are stopped in the water it is quite possible and legally permissible to stay with an animal right alongside. It is important though to understand that these are very large wild animals and we exercise caution and sensitivity while we are in their presence. Just like humans, these animals have times of the day when they might be resting or suckling or mating and we are careful not to disturb them during these periods.

Want to come and watch these amazing creatures? Just click on the Booking enquiry form to the left of the page!

Get ready fo the whaes in 2008

Author: Yves Papin     25th April 2008

Over 7000 Humpback whales will soon be travelling the whale highway just off the entrance of Port Stephens. This awesome migration starts mid-May ending mid November. The whales migrate annually through the scenic Port Stephens and Great Lakes Marine Park, the largest in NSW.

A good spot to watch the whales from land is Boat Harbour but the best way is to experience the 30 to 45 tons giants at close range from a boat. They depart twice daily from D’Albora marina in Nelson Bay.

Imagine cruises has a long history of whale watching with over12 years of experience. The team is dedicated to their protection and likes to share this passion with their guests. The magnificent 55ft sailing catamaran offers very high quality cruises, “sailing with the whales is an experience of a life time, its so quiet you can hear them blow!� Says skipper Yves Papin. “The islands off Port Stephens are the best location for whale watching and we always see lots of dolphins� “Humpback whales are so friendly they can come right up to the boat� confirms crew and office manager Rick Reynolds…Imagine has a limited capacity of 47offshore and it is recommended to book early as the cruises always fill during weekends so try to make it mid week if you want to sail with out the crowds!

At $60 per adult and a discount price of $150 for a family of 4, sailing with the whales is an experience not to be missed!

Easter School Holidays are here!!

Author: Rick Reynolds     17th April 2008

Well with a bit of rainy weather to start with the holidays are in full swing and the sun has arrived just in time!

Imagine Cruises are sailing three times a day and getting some great shows from the resident Bottlenose Dolphins of Port Stephens.Over the las two weeks the crew have spotted two newborn baby dolphins and they are so cute to watch!

We have especially had some great days with dolphins surfing on the entrance bar as well as what looks to be an increase in the spotting of "Little (Fairy) Penguins"

So come and enjoy the sun and the beautiful waters of Nelson Bay.

Silly Season Sum up !!

Author: Rick Reynolds     27th Feb 2008

It has been quite a while since our last update due to a very busy and successful Christmas and holiday season!

Coming off of a great 2007 Humpback Whale season we dove straight in to Christmas Parties, Marine Discoveries and Dolphin Watching. The snorkelling on the Marine Discoveries has been excellent and the water has been running at 22 degrees for a few weeks now, so get the swimmers and a towel and head on out to Port Stephens!!!

September October School Holidays

Author: Rick Reynolds     11th October 2007

We apologise for a drop in recording our whale sightings and news. The cursed internet gremlins have dissapeared the last few months of news items.....But not to worry..

The Humpback Whale mothers and calves have been absolutley fantastic all through the School holidays. We have had great days with lots of breaching and some very special days when the whales swam right up to the boat and circled us for about half an hour. When they are this close you can hear them breathe and even look straight into their eyes.

To add to the great Humpback Whale sightings, the waters off Port Stephens are regularly becoming the home of a pod of offshore Pacific Common Dolphin. These guys love playing on the bow of the boat and will come from miles away to have a free ride.

If you haven't experienced the Humpback Whales or the thrill of Sailling on a 16m catamaran offshore, hurry and book a spot now!

July starts with a bang!

Author: Rick Reynolds     4th July 2007

July is once again showing us that the school holidays are a great time to come and see the mighty Humpback Whales off Port Stephens.

The first few days have been great and were topped off today when Yves and the crew had some great whales lunging and breaching. A couple of the Humpbacks even decided to pay the Fingal Bay Residents a visit!

Great sightings in June and looks like a great July too!

Author: Rick Reynolds     30th Jun 2007

June finished up to be a great month as far a sighting Humpback Whales. There were a few days Imagine was unable to go out due to the storms, rain and extremely high winds. This was all forgotten thanks to the great sightings we had that ended the month of June.We will update the exact sighting statistics when we have tallied the numbers.

Weapon fragment found in whale reveals creature over a century old

Author: Ayesha     20th June 07

WRITTEN BY ERIN CONROY
Associated Press Writer BOSTON …

A 50-ton bowhead whale caught off the Alaskan coast last month had a weapon fragment embedded in its neck that showed it survived a similar hunt — more than a century ago. Embedded deep under its blubber was a 3 1/2-inch arrow-shaped projectile that has given researchers insight into the whale's age, estimated between 115 and 130 years old. "No other finding has been this precise," said John Bockstoce, an adjunct curator of the New Bedford Whaling Museum.Calculating a whale's age can be difficult, and is usually gauged by amino acids in the eye lenses. It's rare to find one that has lived more than a century, but experts say the oldest were close to 200 years old. The bomb lance fragment, lodged in a bone between the whale's neck and shoulder blade, was likely manufactured in New Bedford, on the southeast coast of Massachusetts, a major whaling center at that time, Bockstoce said. It was probably shot at the whale from a heavy shoulder gun around 1890. The small metal cylinder was filled with explosives fitted with a time-delay fuse so it would explode seconds after it was shot into the whale. The bomb lance was meant to kill the whale immediately and prevent it from escaping. The device exploded and probably injured the whale, Bockstoce said. "It probably hurt the whale, or annoyed him, but it hit him in a non-lethal place," he said. "He couldn't have been that bothered if he lived for another 100 years." The whale harkens back to far different era. If 130 years old, it would have been born in 1877, the year Rutherford B. Hayes was sworn in as president, when federal Reconstruction troops withdrew from the South and when Thomas Edison unveiled his newest invention, the phonograph.

The 49-foot male whale died when it was shot with a similar projectile last month, and the older device was found buried beneath its blubber as hunters carved it with a chain saw for harvesting. "It's unusual to find old things like that in whales, and I knew immediately that it was quite old by its shape," said Craig George, a wildlife biologist for the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management, who was called down to the site soon after it was found. The revelation led George to return to a similar piece found in a whale hunted near St. Lawrence Island in 1980, which he sent to Bockstoce to compare. "We didn't make anything of it at the time, and no one had any idea about their lifespan, or speculated that a bowhead could be that old," George said. Bockstoce said he was impressed by notches carved into the head of the arrow used in the 19th century hunt, a traditional way for the Alaskan hunters to indicate ownership of the whale.Whaling has always been a prominent source of food for Alaskans, and is monitored by the International Whaling Commission. A hunting quota for the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission was recently renewed, allowing 255 whales to be harvested by 10 Alaskan villages over five years.After it is analyzed, the fragment will be displayed at the Inupiat Heritage Center in Barrow, Alaska.

Entangled Humpback Calf

Author: Rick Reynolds     14th June 07

Yves and the crew had an entangled 1 year old Juvenile Humpback on the afternoon cruise yesterday. Whales are very intelligent animals but sometimes the inquisitive calves like to play around things that are very dangerous such as fish trap buoys attached to long lengths of rope.

Yves has had experience with this type of situation before and called the National Parks and Wildlife Service straight away. Unfortunately the officers were all busy with helping after the flooding in Newcastle and the Pasha Bulker coal ship washed up on Nobby's Beach. They will send a spotter plane out today and hopefully will find the young whale.

Whales are very powerful but fishing buoys and lines put great strain on them and can prevent them from being able to dive and breath properly. The whale looked to be fine and swimming quite quickly but we do hope the National Parks find it and can help out.

Does the bad weather Stop the Whales?

Author: Rick Reynolds     13th June 07

Does the bad weather Stop the Whales?

Definitely not! While the weather has not been the best this week it certainly has not stopped the whales from continuing their migration along the NSW coast.

After the flooding rains of the weekend, The sun has finally come out. Imagine has returned to the ocean and we have been spotting plenty of whales on every trip!

Official opening of Whale Watching in Port Stephens

Author: Rick Reynolds     3rd June 07

A great cruise on Friday morning brought with it a great official opening cruise for the 2007 whale watch season in Port Stephens.

Four Humpbacks kept the press and passengers entertained from nearly the moment we got outside the heads. To top the cruise off we even had a visit from a super pod of Pacific Common Dolphins!

The proceeds from the opening cruise will be donated to Whale and Dolphin Watch Australia (WADWA). This organization of mainly Australian Whale watch operators regularly sends a representative to the International Whaling Commission. This year like many before , our very own Frank Future was the man along with 3 girls Ayesha Future, Skye Bortoli and Caitlin Frerk who make up Teens Against Whaling. The group headed of to Anchorage Alaska to have Australia's message heard.

Whale Sightings 27th 28th 29th 30th

Author: Rick Reynolds     31st May 07

Great Humpbacks on all of our cruises this week. A couple of big days of breaching and tail slapping and plenty of photo opportunities for everyone!

Yves had some great whales on Wed just off Boat Harbour which is about as far down south as we can go on a cruise, it takes in the great scenery of One Mile Beach and Samurai as well as the rocky coastline.

Whales already!

Author: Rick Reynolds     26th May 07

Well, the whales have decided to appear a few weeks before our official opening cruise on June 1st.
There have been a couple of Humpbacks out and about in the glorious sunshine just outside the heads.

On Friday the crew were treated to a special rare sighting of a Fin Whale! Fin Whales are the second biggest whale in the world. As usual there were hundreds of offshore common dolphins escorting Imagine on its expeditions for the day.

Opening of the 2007 Whale Watching Season

Author: Rick Reynolds     24th May 07

Friday June 1st 07 will be the official launch day of the 2007 Whale Watch season in Port Stephens. With around Seven thousand Humpback Whales expected to migrate along the Port Stephens coast this year, operators are picking this to be the best season ever.

The day will begin with a Media Launch 9.00am on the Nelson Bay Foreshore prior to the participating Vessels departing on the Inaugural Whale Watching Cruise for the 2007 season. This is an open to the public fundraising press cruise in the morning from 10:00 — 1:00 with seats available onboard the three whale watching vessels Imagine Cruises, Spirit of the Bay and Moonshadow Cruises.

The cruise will run from 10:00am — 1:00pm (boarding 9:45pm)
Cost $30 per adult $15 per child

As well as opening and celebrating the 2007 season, the day will be aimed at raising much-needed funds and awareness for Australia's population of Humpback Whales. Most of the funds will be directly contributed to Whale and Dolphin Watch Australia Inc (WADWA) who's efforts this year are concentrated on bringing an end to the Japanese Whaling fleet that is about to start hunting up to 50 of the Australian population of Humpback Whales. This is a very real threat to not only the whales themselves but also the Australian tourism industry.

The Secretary of WADWA Frank Future along with the "Teens against Whaling" which consists of Skye Bortoli (14), Ayesha Future (17) and Caitlyn Frerk (8) will be attending The International Whaling Commission's (IWC) 59th annual meeting in Anchorage ALASKA.

The Girls, along with Frank and the help of organisations such as WADWA, International Alliance of Commercial Whalewatchers, IFAW and Greenpeace are determined to try and bring an end to Japanese whaling under the disguise of scientific research and end commercial whaling worldwide. This year Japan also plans to kill up to 50 Humpback whales that are part of the Australian population. Close to 40,000 signatures have been collected internationally in support of their ambitious quest. By holding fashion parades and auction nights, washing countless cars, and family fun days these hard working school girls have also raised over $12,000 to help fund their mission.

Skye is a dedicated conservationist who is determined to create awareness and hopefully bring a stop to what is often referred to as 'scientific whaling'. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Last year she won the prestigious Girlfriend of the Year 2006 award, Port Stephens Young Citizen of the Year, and Young Campaigner of the Year from the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

WADWA is the national incorporated association of Australian commercial whalewatchers and part of the:
International Alliance of Commercial Whalewatchers. The International Alliance of Commercial Whalewatchers is a network of commercial operators from around the world, gathered together for the purpose of promoting and ensuring the sustainability of the whale and dolphin watch industry.

WADWA's working relationship with both, The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace has helped enormously to build the profile of whale watching through the Australian media. WADWA continue to work closely with IFAW as part of their commitment to promote our industry and their shared environmental values.

WADWA's main aims include: To unite whale watching tour operators, associated businesses, along with interested persons to provide a united front against whalers who want to lift the ban on killing whales. Represent the interest of people from all states of Australia that have a commercial interest in watching or interpreting the actions of whales and dolphins. To Lobby local, state and federal governments for the whale watching industry and perhaps the most important to have a voice on whaling at the International Whaling Commission.

Help us promote Whale Watching in Port Stephens & raise funds for the Australian Humpback Whales.

For any enquiries please phone Imagine Cruises 02 4984 9000. Book early as seats will be limited!

Looking forward to seeing you on the water.

Healthy sighting, new generation of Humpback whales on the rise.

Author: Yves Papin     16th October 2006

This month of October has been just great so far; with a lot of hot weather and more than the usual number of mothers and calves humpback whales visiting the waters off shore Port Stephens. We usually see at least one newborn calf on nearly every cruise and some days we spotted up to 3 to 4 calves with their mums. We are very much looking forward to the rest of the season finishing on the 15 of November, another month to go from now!

Ocean bliss

Author: Captain Seahorse     16th September 2006

Whale spirit visited me today.

Around the stern it stayed,

it was a big one, an old one.

It felt my heart with strength, peace and beauty

It was alone, inquisitive and very proud.

The world became one as we breath

the same air and share the same moment

Whale spirit made me belong,

a particle of light, a tiny part of a timeless universe

perfectly fitted

Mothers and Calves already!

Author: Rick Reynolds     9th September 2006

Imagine is having a fantastic time trying to work out if the Humpbacks know what time of year it is!

During the last six weeks we have seen whales travelling North and South, including around 11 brand new Humpback calves and their mothers.

The calves are always so much fun to watch as they copy mums behaviour and constantly thrill passengers with their akward breaching and tail slapping for the first time.

Contrary to stories from Sydney, we still have a good number of whales passing Port Stephens.......in both directions!!

3 whales in heaven

Author: Yves Papin     6th September 2006

Rained buckets, strong winds and up to 6 metre swells kept "Imagine" in port for a week. Then within a day, it all cleared up and we were back at sea with not a breath of wind for our sail. We were motoring for less than an hour at 10 knots on flat seas when Roger spotted a huge splash about 1mile away; a breach! Two minutes later we all spotted 2 big blows at less than 800 metres. The joy of this first contact was sending tremors of excitement through the passengers and crew. "I better do the right thing", I thought, one of the two engines was shut down and I started moving "Imagine" in a long arc behind the whales. Ahead of us Broughton Island was drying up, misting above the glistening sea. The Humpbacks sounded 3 times at 5 minutes intervals then disappeared for 10. Something was happening — I went out of gear and we waited. A big blow came cracking at 50 metres behind us, then another one, then a third one. The whales started playing on the surface and made way toward the boat. What could we do? I stopped the remaining engine and now we could hear the water being pushed by the 3 giants. One of them put its tail up; it was a monster! An oldie with a tail this large, it had to be over 50 years of age. Another quick dive and they appeared meters from the stern intertwined like mating eels. Moving along our flank less than 2 metres deep, the white of their under belly was shining bright in the dark water. There was nothing being said but the air was thick with contained emotions. I left the helm to stand on the bow rail as the 3 whales kept playing just meters from us, huge, serene and fearless at peace with the world. Another sounding and this time we thought they were gone. So we all started to relax, chatting away about the experience. Suddenly they reappeared from the deep nearly touching the starboard hull one of their blow sending spray all over us, like a holly mist, a blessing from mother earth, a wonderful feeling penetrating our heart from our wet smiling faces.
I have been out here so many time and in 10 years, we have had many wonderful moments with whales but this 6 of September 06 I will particularly cherish. I didn't wanted to wash for 3 days but I finally did!

Whale Spirit

Author: Captain Seahorse     6th September 2006

Whale spirit is a very old spirit.

Humpback spirit has wisdom

It takes life in all its beauty

and faces a painful death without scare

For it love life without fear.

Powerful it is intimately connected

to a vast magical and complex underwater world

it visits each migrating season.

It lives at once with its past,

making present life full and much vibrant.

Humpi spirit has the power of a 40 tonnes body.

Loving crashing it in awesome breaches

and riding across untamed oceans.

Whale spirit has a playful and inquisitive baby

making its mum proud

Great Whales in August

Author: Rick Reynolds     30th August 2006

August proved to be a great month for Humpbacks this year with the sightings coming in at just under 80%.

The last day provided excellent photo opportunities with 2 Humpbacks breaching over 50 times during the afternoon cruise.

Humpbacks in June and July going off....

Author: Rick Reynolds     28/7/06

The mighty Humpbacks are swimming past faster than we can take people out to see them. June and July offered some of the best whale watching sights we have come to expect from our huge visitors, as they cruise past on the Whale Highway of Port Stephens.

With July coming to an end and August fast approaching we will be hoping for brilliant sighting success like in 2004 when August was better than July!!

August is a great month to have a chance to see sei, brydes, fin, southern right, minkie and, of course, Humpback Whales. Even the Green Sea Turtles, Fairy (little) Penguins and a couple of Australian Fur Seals have been hanging around enjoying the show!!

Larger than life...What a show!

Author: Didj & Yves     15/06/06

After a wet and windy spell of weather for the start of the season, we can once again enjoy calm seas, sunshine and the great company of our offshore friends, the Humpback whales.
This midweek gave us fantastic sightings of whales and dolphins on all cruises.
Wednesday morning we were lucky enough to cross the pass of a large pod of killer whales of over 150 strong. What a sight of power and grace on the same morning we cross the pass of 4 friendly humpbacks, one of them came to meet us and stayed for a 1/2 hour diving under the boat making our passenger go mad with excitement!
Wednesday afternoon was indeed as spectacular with whales breaching all around us. One took the breath of every one when it exploded 100metres from the bows in a superb full breach, as it landed in a huge splash the crowd went wild! Fantastic.
Oceanic dolphins have been really good this week cruising our offshore water in large numbers; they are so entertaining that they often steal the show from the stars.
The action has not been limited to the water with several species of birds actively fishing, large flocks of Australian gannets involves in high speed dive, large number of yellow nose albatross and lots of sheer waters.
The northern "Megaptera" migration is now well under way with some of the best action to be expected in the next few weeks, so off the couch, out of the office come to Port Stephens and join the crew of Imagine to welcome the whales!
Just remember that weekend are busy so plan for midweek if you can.

Whales! Whales! Whales!

Author: Roger     07/06/06

It has been a wet start to the whale watching season in Port Stephens this year but today ... wow! Blue sky, gentle breeze and a long swell ... and three whales that decided to put on one of those once-in-a-lifetime shows! Looked very much like a mother, a juvenile (perhaps one of her offspring from a few years ago) and a calf from last year. Picked them up just off One Mile Beach with just on other whale watch boat and 17 lucky folks on board. Followed the pod at between 300 and 400 metres for almost an hour and a half and witnessed breach after breach after fluke wave after double breach ... and when we left them off Cabbage Tree Island they were still performing. Stunning! The long weekend is looking very busy so give us a call as soon as you can to book your seat.

Port Stephens Whale & Blues Festival 2006

Author: Roger     02/06/06

It's here again! The 2006 Whale Watching season kicks off today with our 3 day Whale & Blues Festival in the Nelson Bay CBD and down on the foreshore. Official launch is this morning at 9:30 and at 10 am all the Whale Watch boats including Imagine are offering special $40 cruises in support of the Festival and whale research through WADWA (Whale and Dolphin Watching Association) and IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare). Then there's blues music all day with John Wilson (Country Blues) and the Blues Bombers.

Saturday and Sunday in addition to regular Whale Watch cruises, there will be things to see and do for all members of the family. IFAW present Venus and Comet, lifesize humpback mother and calf. There are static displays from Hunter Water, Native Animal Trust Fund, NPWS, Scouts and Sea Guides, ORRCA and Greenpaeace. And there are special workshops offered ... 'Whale & Dolphin Assisted Theray', face painting for kids, a Lantern Parade, a blues harmonica workshop, demonstrations of cetacean rescues from ORRCA and of course lots of blues music all day, both days. 'Time Travel, Lemon Squeezin' Daddies', Tom Flood, 'Thread', Mick King & Rick Malik, and Phil Edgeley & Tom Ford will play at various venues and times both days.

And finally, there's a special Blues Cruise on Imagine on Saturday evening. Mick and Rick, accompanied by Captain Frank on harmonica, will entertain guests on Imagine from 5:30 to 7:30pm! Come on down and join the fun with the whales!

Sail with the Whales...

Author: Yves Papin     21/04/06

Whale watching in Port Stephens have just started and will go for a near 6 months. For the occasion Imagine is providing 2 cruises daily. Come and witness the awesome migration of over 6000 Humback whales,you do not want to miss out on the show, these 40 to 50 tonne gentle giants are famous for their amazing behaviour and are passing just off Port Stephens. If you plan to come on a weekend book early. We recommend you come mid-week, if you can make it, you will have the whales for youself!
See you onboard.
Yves

Over 10,000 whales on the move!

Author: Yves Papin     21.04.06

Humpback Whales have been feeding on krill and small fish during the warm months of summer in the Antarctic Ocean. Over 10,000 have already reached the Great Bite of Australia and have now started to split into two main groups to migrate along the coasts of Australia.

Over 5,000 will migrate along the East coast passing very near Port Stephens, north of Newcastle. They are on their annual migration to the South Pacific where the pregnant females will give birth. Port Stephens is strategically positioned along the "whale highway," a narrow corridor where all the whales migrate in great numbers close to the shores.

Some of the 40 tonne Humpbacks have come within metres of the rocks at Boat Harbour! This is one of the best spots to watch them from the coast. The top of Tomaree headland, if you are ready for the steep walk, offers beautiful views and is not a bad either. The best place to see whales of course is from one of the boats that depart the little town of Nelson Bay daily. One of them, "Imagine" offers opportunities for exceptional sightings under sail for whale watch enthusiasts who like it when the engines are stopped and the vessel sails gently with pods of whales. The crew are naturalists dedicated to the protection of cetaceans.

The whale watching season starts at the end of May and will finish by mid-November. The best months are June, July and October to mid November; but my favourite time is early June when there is a lot of courting, chasing, breeching and even multi-breechings. October to mid November is also very special time as the mothers return with their newborn calves. The new generation 1 tonne babies drink a lot of milk, 300 to 500 litres a day and will grow to 5 tonnes before reaching the antarctic! They can be very active and inquisitive and always a joy to look at.

If you are in Sydney or country New South Wales, Port Stephens is a must to watch whales from the shores or take a trip on the boat. Imagine departs 10am and 1.30pm daily for a 3 to 3.5 hour cruise. The weekends are quite crowded so plan ahead and enjoy your private time with the whales.

Captain YVES

Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park

Author: Roger     28/02/06

In December 2005 NSW State Government Ministers, Hon. Bob Debus, Minister for the Environment and Hon. Ian Macdonald, Minister for Primary Industries, declared the formation of Australia's newest and largest Marine Park, the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park. The park is more than 97,000 hectares of NSW coastline between Cape Hawke (Foster) in the north and Birubi Point (Anna Bay) in the south, includ the Myall Lakes. It is a valuable addition to the network of Marine Parks at the Solitary Islands, Lord Howe Island, Jervis Bay and Cape Byron.

The Marine Park Authority has formed an Advisory Committee consisting of some 20 representatives of all interest groups; recreational and commercial fishermen, conservationists, tourism operators, indigenous people. local government and community groups. In due course this group will reach a consensus recommendation to the MPA for the establishment of sanctuary, habitat protection and general use zones throughout the Marine Park. Our own skipper, Frank Future, has been appointed to the Advisory Committe to represent the interests of tourism operators in the region.

We're excited about the prospects for sustainable tourism and the conservation of dolphins, whales and other aquatic species that are provided by the declaration of the Marine Park. If you're interested in more information or want to participate in the public consultation process, you can go to the MPA website. http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/psglmp/psglmp.htm

2006 Girlfriend of the Year!

Author: Roger     24/02/06

Girlfriend Magazine today announced that whale-conservationist, Skye Bortoli from Port Stephens, NSW, is the winner of the 4th Annual Girlfriend of the Year competition. Vowing to make the ocean safer for our gentle giants, Skye is dedicated to educating people on the dangers that threaten whales around the world - from violent hunts to deadly pollution. Twelve-year-old Skye has been a friend and supporter of Imagine for several years as she shares our passion for whales and dolphins. She was one of six finalists out of 1500 entries in the competition that seeks inspriational young people who deserve recognition for commitment to their dreams.As testament to her selfless nature and dedication to our wildlife and the environment, Skye plans to divide her $3,000 prize money between the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and dolphin research through the DREAM Fund. Mick McIntyre, Director of IFAW Asia Pacific says: "Skye is a passionate advocate for whales and inspires others to get involved and take action to save these magnificent creatures." All of us at Imagine Cruises congratulate Skye on her achievement and hope we can continue to help her achieve her dreams.

3rd Annual Salt Water Blues & Whale Festival

Author: Roger     21/02/06

This just in! Dates are finalised for Nelson Bay's 3rd Annual 'Salt Water Blues & Whale Festival'! Mark it down ... June 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 2006! Blues bands, art, food, education and of course ... lots of Whale Watch Cruises on Imagine. Bigger and better than ever before. A weekend you won't want to miss! Call or email us to find out more.

Sunset Sizzle!

Author: Roger     01/01/06

Try our new Sunset Sizzle cruise! Until the end of January, every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening at 7pm, we'll sail off into the sunset, fire up the barbie and provide you with a traditional Aussie steak or sausage sanga! Maybe anchor up and go for a swim ... or visit Fame Cove or North Arm Cove. A lovely way to enjoy the evening in Port Stephens. Give it a try!

End of the whale season

Author: Rick Reynolds     15 Nov 2005

Hi Everyone,

Well today marked the last whale watch for Imagine Cruises this season and being the last day the Humpback Whale mothers and calves and Common Pacific Dolphins put on a spectacular display of Breaching, Tail Slapping and all round happiness.

While watching the common dolphins we even had a friendly hammerhead shark that circled around Imagine and then disappeared into the depths.

No more whales, but don't forget that Imagine Cruises will be running 2 dolphin watches daily throughout the rest of November and into December.

Good weather and good whale sightings

Author: Rick Reynolds     22 Oct 2005

Port Stephens has had a spot of bad weather over the last two weeks causing us to cancel a few cruises due to rough seas, however this does not mean the mighty Humpback Whales and their newborn calves are not around!

With the sun bringing a pleasant change in the weather, Imagine set sail over the last two days. The passengers on board were treated to an excellent display of breaching and tail slapping by some Humpback mothers and their young calves.

Imagine will be running 2 trips until the end of October and then a morning cruise until November 15th. So come and catch the whales while they are still here!

Breaching Humpback Whale Babies

Author: Rick Reynolds     6 Oct 2005

Today on the 1:30 cruise, I had the best viewing of a Humpback mother and calf that I have personally seen this season.Our new skipper Jane and the rest of the crew did a great job finding the Humpbacks just off from Fingal Island where the whales were breaching and tail slapping for what seemed like hours.

Humpback Whale Sightings

Author: Rick Reynolds     1 Oct 2005

I have just compiled the statistics for the Humpback Whales' Northern migration for 2005 and have come up with some positive results.

Imagine's 2005 sightings were well up from last year with 92% in June and 100% in July, that's right 100%!! We can only hope that the Southern migration sightings will improve like this and if the first day of October is anything to go off, we can certainly say that the Southern migration has started and there should be an abundance of Humpback mothers and Calves around the beautiful waters Port Stephens.

Humpback Whales + School Holidays = FUN!

Author: Rick Reynolds     24 Sept 2005

Just in time for the school holidays we are having great sightings of Humpback Whale mothers and calves. There were some playful calves this week with plenty of Breaching and tail slapping!We still have a few whales heading North but in the next few weeks all of the Humpback Whales will realise how hungry they are and undertake their huge migration back toward the waters of the Antarctic.

Humpback Whale Mother and Calf sighted!

Author: Rick Reynolds     17 Sept 2005

Yves and the crew broke a three day drought of whales yesterday, when they came across a Humpback mother and her newborn calf. Along with practicing some huge breaches, the whales also opened their mouths. This is something that is rarely seen on a whale watch in Port Stephens as the Humpback whales do not normally feed at this time.

Humpback Whales and False Killer Whales!

Author: Rick Reynolds     15 Sept 2005

Everyone who came on board for the 1:30 Whale Watch on Sunday had the suprise of their lives when not only did Imagine find four Humpback Whales, but also around 12 False Killer Whales!

Not to be mistaken for Killer Whales(orcas), False Killer Whales tend to dine on bigger fish such as tuna or squid that are abundant in the waters off Port Stephens during this time of year.

Return of the Humpbacks countdown!

Author: Rick Reynolds     10 Sept 2005

Imagine Cruises is gearing up for what looks to be a very busy Southern migration of Humpback Whale mothers and calves. Sightings off Port Stephens were exceptional during the Northern Migration period in June July and August, we had 100% success in July. The peak time for the Southern migration tends to be October to mid November, however we have had good sightings so far in September and hope that they will continue. We can hardly wait to see and share the antics of those tiny Humpback calves as they experience life for the first time in the beautiful waters of Port Stephens.

We have also been lucky to have seen Minkie Whales and Sei (say) Whales feeding on fish off Port Stephens in the last two weeks. Normally Minkie Whales tend to disappear as soon as we see them but we were blessed when they decided to come along side Imagine for a closer inspection.

Imagine Cruises Port Stephens News

Author: Webmaster     10 Sept 2005

This news page is a new addition on the Imagine Cruises website - keeping you informed about whale sightings throughout the annual whale watching season and general items of interest from Port Stephens on the NSW East Coast of Australia.

You can also sign up for the Imagine Cruises periodic newsletter for the latest information on dolphin and whale research, whale sightings in Port Stephens, conservation and eco-tourism news.