Today's whale watch was breathtaking!  We were only two miles out when we found a very beautiful female humpback whale  surrounded by several males battling to get close to her in hopes of being selected for  mating.  We were very surprised to see the female appeared to be quite small, compared to the males surrounding her while they pushed, shoved, growled and left the water in their efforts to be noticed.

According to Mark Ferrari, a well respected whale researcher working in Hawaiian waters, the females average length is 45' and the males, 42'.  These males were all at least 40', as far as we could tell.  Females mature sexually around five years old, and the males a little later approximately 7 years of age.  We share with passengers that humpback whale females are larger than the males as a general rule.  (reverse sexual dimorphism) 

Twice two males broke away from the battle and headed over to our vessel while we watched, in neutral, and held our breaths as they came toward us.  They dove down only 15 feet deep and turned, looking up at the faces peering down into the water, then slowly and deliberately returned to the battle.

The pictures show one male rising up from the depths, verticle in the water, below the surface his pectoral fins were outstretched in a maneuver called 'the crucifix'.  His throat was filled with seawater, which he expelled slowly.  This move is said to be a physical block showing strength and size.  I don't think any of us let out a breath until he slid back into the water, cameras clicking rapidly everywhere on the deck.  Passengers hugged each other gleefully and chattered with great excitement.

I can hardly wait until tomorrow's trip out to see what nature has in store for us.  Wherever that female led the big males, it is possible, according to researchers, that they could still be competing and she may not have chosen a victor.  We also know that the movements with the males are very fluid.  As tired males no longer wishing to be involved move away, others could come in to replace them.  We know that these groups could grow, numbering more than 30 or 40!

Tomorrow, with cameras in hand and excitement in their faces, another group of hopeful visitors, crew, with our capable captain will board and head out on another marine safari, ready for whatever comes our way.

Photos Courtesy Katie Grove-Velasquez

The author is a writer, marine animal researcher, photographer, educator, and lecturer working in the Hawaiian Islands for over 13 years.  Currently she works for Maui Moloka'i Sea Cruises writing for their blog site and as a marine naturalist on board their vessel.  She also works at a privately owned Hawaiian  aquarium as part of their education team for the last 10 years.  She can be reached at reefannie@hotmail.com.