Auckland: Dolphin and Whale Watching

We went to sea on a dolphin and whale-watching cruise today. That was in the afternoon.

But first, in the morning, we wandered around Auckland a bit. We also sat for a while in a lovely little park, Albert Park, near downtown. We sat in the park because that’s what old men do, isn’t it? I wouldn’t want to upset the balance of the universe.

Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari

The dolphin and whale-watching “safari” lasted four and a half hours. Safari is the name the tour company gave it, not me. They promised that if we didn’t see any marine mammals they would give us a coupon to take the tour again any time in our lives. And we’d keep getting coupons until we saw some. Because I’m an older guy who lives on the other side of the planet, they probably didn’t put much at risk with that guarantee.

After we got well into the harbour on the 20-foot catamaran, we got a great view of Auckland. Then we continued further out into the ocean.

The captain of the boat explained over the loudspeakers that he wasn’t looking for whales or dolphins. He was looking for birds. Sea birds eat the same food as whales and dolphins. He explained that it’s much easier to spot birds above the water than marine mammals below it. But, because of the food source, they’re often in the same place.

It took a while before we spotted our first pod of dolphins. There weren’t many in the pod.

And they didn’t jump very high. Consequently, they weren’t out of the water very long. I tried to get a picture but I wasn’t fast enough. I could have included a picture in which, if you look very carefully, you can find one fin of one dolphin. However, it would have been something akin to a marine version of Where’s Waldo? As much fun as that might be, I didn’t post that picture because, well, see below. Or, sea below, if you’re into puns.

After leaving the pod behind, the captain told us that on the morning cruise they spotted “killer whales,” as he called them. He said that is very rare. According to the captain, since their company’s inception, they spotted killer whales only eight times.

To try to give us the benefit of that treat, the captain set out for where he thought they might be. He spotted several large schools of krill, one of the whales’ favourite food, but no whales.

After a while, we came upon a really large pod of dolphins. They jumped out of the water several at a time in front of, beside, and behind the boat. Their jumps weren’t any higher or longer than those of the dolphins in the first pod. But, because there were so many of them, jumping in such large numbers, so frequently, I managed to capture a few in a couple of pictures, pretty much by luck.

Common Dolphins

Several times over the ship’s speaker system, which included loudspeakers throughout the boat, the captain and one of the other crew members who also provided some commentary referred to the dolphins we saw as “common dolphins.” I have a theory. I think that’s why they didn’t jump very high.

Being called “common dolphins” during every cruise probably damages their self-esteem. I’m sure that if the crew called them, say, “royal dolphins” they would leap out of the water to great heights and put on an awesome acrobatics show.

Or, for the benefit of monarchists who don’t want to assign a royal moniker to just any dolphin, maybe call them “supreme dolphins” or something of that nature. It would probably have the same effect.

In my opinion, the captain and crew should loudly call out over the ship’s speakers, loud enough for all the sea to hear, “There before us are the majestic supreme dolphins.” Then, when the dolphins do impressive jumps, the crew can add a few, “Good job, dolphins! Good job!”

That would build up the dolphin’s egos and spur them to live fuller lives. But hearing themselves regularly referred to as “common dolphins” has to be a soul destroyer for them.

If the crew wants to say among themselves, sotto voce so the dolphins can’t hear, “You know, they’re actually rather common,” well, sure, it would be rude to speak of them behind their backs. But, as long as the dolphins don’t hear, their self-esteem will be protected.

Killer Whales

We never did see any “killer whales.” It shouldn’t surprise you that I also have a theory about why we didn’t see any.

“Killer whales?” Really? Shouldn’t that, at the very least, be, “alleged killer whales.” Has a single whale ever been convicted of murder in a court of law by a jury of its peers? I think not.

Why would they show up in front of us if they wouldn’t get a fair trial? I’m sure if the captain referred to them lovingly and non-judgementally by their other name, orcas, they would have flocked and frolicked around us. But, alas, no.