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MARINE LIFE -
WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE
Common Dolphins –
We frequently encounter large pods (up to well
over a thousand) of these powerful, quick
swimmers. Beautiful colorations and highly
photogenic!
Bottlenose Dolphins –
With their permanent grin, the most recognised
and likeable of all dolphins. We tend to see
them in smaller pods of around 30.
Orca (Killer Whales) -
The largest member of the dolphin family, easily
identified by their distinctive black and white
markings and very tall, prominent dorsal fin.
Named the Killer Whale because they helped
whalers hunt down whales. Fewer than 200 left in
New Zealand waters.
Whales -
Usually sighted in the cooler months, the most
commonly spotted species off Whakatane are the
Fin, Sei, Sperm, Pilot, Minke and Right.
NZ Fur Seals -
On our trip around Whale Island, look out for
what could be the start of a breeding colony.
Pups have been sighted on the
island, previously just a resting place for male
seals.
Sea Birds -
Gannets, shearwaters, pied shags, spotted shags,
giant petrels, the albatross and the adorable
little blue penguin.
NZ Falcon -
Only 4000 pairs of Falcon are left in the
country and some are living on Whale Island.
Fierce and fearless, they live on live prey and
dive on humans if you go near their nest.
Sharks -
We occasionally encounter hammerhead, bronze
whaler and mako sharks – usually spotted by
their fins gliding silently through the water.
Shy creatures that don’t hang about for long.
Little Blue Penguins -
The world’s smallest penguin, they grow to about
40 cm tall and weigh a little over 1 kg. They
feed at sea during the day and come ashore at
dusk to their burrows on Whale Island.
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