Whales are not fish, but air-breathing mammals that bear their young alive. Immediately after birth, the calf is nudged toward the surface to take its first breath. Whale watchers take great care to respect their territory. A whale watchboat's engines can sometimes disturb them. To reduce stress and protect both adults and calves from possible propeller injury, watchboats follow strict guidelines about how close they'll approach.
Passengers often plead to be brought closer.
The guidelines are non-negotiable. Even so, when they choose, you'll see the whales well enough. If the wind is right, you may even get a salty shower when one of them blows to take a breath. Area watches run through late October.