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Virgin Islands This Week / Featured Articles / USVI Whale Watching

USVI Whale Watching

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Whale watching has become an "eco-phenomenon" in many places of the world: Iceland, Galapagos, New Zealand, artic Canada and California are just a few of the places known for whale watching. But you do not have to travel halfway around the world to see whales; there's whale watching right here in the waters off both St. John and St. Thomas.

whale-watching-1.jpgBeach-goers, hotel visitors and island residents on the northeast side of St. Thomas may want to keep an eye on the water through February and March - that's prime whale watching season in the Virgin Islands although they have been spotted through April.

Whales travel near Thatch Cay, just northeast of Coki Point on St. Thomas, and St. John residents have reported whales southwest of the island as well. Other likely places to spot a whale are the North Drop, Congo and Lovango Cays. Whether you will see wales really depends on how close to shore the whales swim this year.

Humpback whales are the most commonly seen in local waters. Adult humpback whales are approximately 35 to 50 feet long and can weigh up to 65 tons. Humpback whales have dark grey bodies. Besides humpback whales the occasional pilot whale can be spotted usually in October and November. Even the occasional sperm whale can be seen once in a while.

The most obvious identifying characteristics of humpback whales are their dorsal fins. The fins are about one-third the length of the whale's body - longer than most other whale species - and the fins are mostly white. Humpback whales also have white markings on their tail.

whale-watching-2.jpgWhales travel to South America through the Caribbean to mate and calve. They pass through St. Thomas on their way back north. The calves spend their first few months of life in the warm waters of the Caribbean, building up a layer of blubber that will keep them warm in colder waters. Humpback whales are endangered, and federal rules require that humans and water craft remain at least 100 yards away from the whales. If you are traveling in a boat and see a whale, put the engine in neutral and allow the whale to pass. We don't want to harass them.

The Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John (EAST) has whale-watching boat excursions. They offer a unique opportunity to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. EAST's annual whale watches during March will be held on the 9th and 23rd.

Tickets are $55 for EAST members and $65 for nonmembers and can be purchased on St. Thomas from Dockside Book Store in Havensight and East End Secretarial Services in Red Hook. On St. John, tickets can be purchased from Connections of St. John. For details call 774-1837 or 344-9075.

Comments

Dear,
I will stay at St thoams at the beginning of january 2009 (first week in fact) and will be enjoyed to watch whales. I know that january is not the peak season for that but wonder if there is however some opportunity at this period. Could you please give me some information about if possible.
Best regards
Christophe COUPEAU
Professor
University of Poitiers, FRANCE

We will be in St. Thomas from 1/6 - 1/26/09 and are very interested in seeing whales. We would appreciate any information you can provide or refer us to.

Thanks,
Juls

We will be staying on St John the week of Feb 22, 2009.(Last week of the month) I noticed the article states that EAST's annual whale watches during March will be held on the 9th and 23rd. Do they have anything available for the week that we will be there in February? That would be so awesome to be able to see whales while we are there. We have 6 people in our group.
Thank you,
Sandra

Hi everyone -
This is Anthony for Virgin Islands This Week.
I don't think E.A.S.T. has a website - but here is their contact info:

Grethelyn D. Piper, Executive Director
Environmental Association Of St. Thomas - St. John
PO Box 12379
St. Thomas, USVI, 00801
ph. 340 776 1976

We really can't answers your questions but I guess this page is getting a lot of search engine traffic as people keep asking them here! I suggest you call them - and if anyone finds a website for them please let us know.

Sandra they probably don't have anything in your time frame because it is a seasonal issue - they go out when the whales migrate.

We are very interested in going on the whale watching tour on March 23 since we will be in St Thomas. Will it sell out and do you recommend buying tickets now to insure a place on the ship.

Here is the website for E.A.S.T.

http://www.eastvi.org

Everyone with questions about the whale watching should contact them there.

We were on a Carnival Cruise and just out side of St Thomas about 8:30a on 3/31/09 when we spotted two whales fairly close to the ship. They must have been humpbacks, but we weren't sure at the time. When another traveler asked the cruise director about seeing whales in the Carribean, he said you'd have to go on the Alaskan cruise to see whales.........Wrong!

Correction for you: The most obvious identifying characteristics of humpback whales are their PECTORAL fins, not their dorsal fins. Dorsal fins are on the back, Pectoral fins are on the sides.

Great information on the site! We will be visiting St. John 2/20-2/25/10. Does anyone know of any whale watching trips at that time?

Thanks for your help!

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