Each has an almost infinite repertoire of clicks, calls and minor-key melodies that bounce through miles of ocean to tell other whales what's happening in the neighborhood. Some songs are invitations for courtship. Though a vast sea may separate them, a he and she eventually find each other. 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.