Recent Sightings - what have you seen?

Friday 27th January 2012

After some very strong winds overnight which bought the temperature down and lots of rain with it was not surprising to wake up to another dusting of snow on the mountains! Our tours have been cancelled all day due to rough sea conditions, forecast is for a better day tomorrow - so fingers crossed for calm seas, sunshine and great sightings... Todays picture of snow on the mountains yet again!

Thursday 26th January 2012

It has been a foggy then sunny then foggy then sunny type of day here but thankfully as the day progressed the sun seemed to burn away the fog that was hanging about. On our tours this morning it was Tutu that they were viewing, he is a summer resident sperm whale that calls Kaikoura home for 4-5 months of the year. Today’s picture is of Tutu which is short for Tutumairekurai which translates to Special Ocean Dweller which is the Maori name given to the Hectors Dolphin. Tutu's dorsal fin is shaped a bit like that of a Hectors Dolphin - hence the name Tutu.

Wednesday 25th January 2012

We have had a successful day here with the return of Tiaki - after not seeing him for a few days it really is great having him feeding close inshore, only around 5 miles from home. Sea conditions have been ideal today with no swell and only a slight NE breeze. When time has been available on the tours today passengers have also been treated to sightings of dusky dolphins, hectors dolphins, nz fur seals and beautiful marine birds such as the albatross. Kaikoura really is a special place!

Tuesday 24th January 2012

After two days of being cancelled due to strong wind making for unsuitable sea conditions we managed to get out on the water today! We located a sperm whale around 8 miles offshore this morning but as the day has progressed this whale has moved to the south with our last tours viewing him around 12 miles offshore. Conditions were a bit bumpy throughout the day with jobbly seas but the forecast is for things to ease overnight. Today picture is again of the dusting of snow we were welcomed to yesterday - really does make for a great backdrop!

Monday 23rd January 2012

We have had some strange weather over the last couple of days so much so that we have a fresh dusting of snow on the Kaikoura ranges (todays picture) - which is weird considering we are in the middle of summer, but I am sure you will agree it makes for an beautiful backdrop. Strong wind from the south has meant all our tours today have been cancelled, along with most of our tours yesterday. The forecast is looking good for tomorrow but we will have to see what tomorrow brings...