Ahoy there! it’s whale watch time

The giants of the sea are making an early appearance off WA’s south coast this year — and a new whale-watch operator is gearing up for its first season in Albany.

Traditionally starting in the first week of June and running until October, the whale-watching season gives people a chance to get a glimpse of the majestic creatures as they travel to warmer waters.

For the first time, Naturaliste Charters will be operating tours in Albany.

Best known for his incredible orca tours at the Bremer Canyon, skipper and director Paul Cross said he was looking forward to sailing new waters.

With humpbacks, southern rights and an occasional blue whale cruising up the coast, Mr Cross said Albany was a hotspot for whale-watching.

“We are looking forward to this season. We hope we can work together with existing operators in Albany as well as bring a different client to the region,” he said.

“We really wanted to put ourselves out there more and spend time on the Albany coast.

“There is so much to see and do in this beautiful part of the world.”

Mr Cross said in recent years he had noticed the whale season starting earlier and ending later, giving people more chances to see the whales. “In terms of the humpback population, there are potentially 5000 new humpback calves born each year, the population is increasing and we are pushing 35,000-40,000 humpbacks in WA alone,” he said.

“We now have, I think, 65 per cent of the world’s humpback population in WA alone, so the understanding is the season will be spread out.”

The tours will begin on June 1 and run until August 31.

They will operate twice daily from the Albany Waterfront Marina, leaving at 10am and 2pm.

Contact the office, which is open seven days a week, on 9750 5500, or book online.