The Best Whales to Watch Gray Whales provide the most rewarding experience for whale watchers in that they spend the least amount of time under water between breaths. While other species average about fifteen minutes down time and can spend up to an hour beneath the water, the Grays come up an average of every four to five minutes, although they are capable of staying down for thirty. This translates into more opportunities to view these awe inspiring creatures. Spy hops, in which the whale pops his head out of the water to get his bearings and survey surroundings are frequent, often putting the whales on display for up to twenty seconds at a time. Even more impressive are breaches, in which whales come about three quarters out of the water and land with a giant splash on their backs.
Marine biologists have two theories on why whales breach.
One is to attract the attention of the opposite sex, the second is that it is the whale's way of scratching and dislodging the parasites that often cover their bodies. An important whale watching tip is that when breach occurs, chances are a couple more will quickly follow, almost always in the same spot. Dolphins are also abundant in the bay and can often be seen interacting with the whales. One morning we followed a group of twelve dolphins and four whales for over thirty minutes. They appeared to be playing and frolicking with one another, the dolphins jumping over their larger friend's pectoral fins.