People from all over the world realise their dreams of a close encounter with these ocean mammals on local whale watching experiences.

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Whale tour operator Lee Bromley has spent the past 30 years devoted to giving people the opportunity to experience whales in their open ocean habitat.

“The greatest thrill I get in this job is to witness the reaction people have when they see whales, some for the first time.

“Often people are moved to tears, becoming very emotional and even joyful.”
Operating out of the Coffs Harbour Marina, the Pacific Explorer, a purpose-designed catamaran with a 60 square metre open deck, is the second longest (23 years) continuously operating whale watching vessel in NSW.

Whale migratory patterns have been well established, heading towards warmer water for calving before returning south with young calves who have grown sufficiently to weather the change in temperature.

On a recent voyage skipper Evan Goode relished referencing ‘the Volcano’, a landmark along the southern coastal profile, as whales frolicked with the background framing the distant signature of the escarpment from Smoky Cape to Yarrahapinni and running all the way back along the coastal strip.

Patrons relaxed as the boat gambolled on gentle swells spying for plumes of spray, pectoral waving (arms), tail flapping, and even the odd breaching whale lifting right up out of the water.

The view back towards Coffs Harbour from the open ocean on a clear blue day is magnificent, with the striking proximity of the Great Dividing Range benevolently rising above the city as a bulwark.

Not only whales, the voyage included friendly encounters with other vessels, turtles, and dolphins surfing alongside the twin-bows on the homeward leg to the marina.

By KIM SATCHELL