Are whale watching boats safe?
Are whale watching boats safe? He said whale-watching passengers face greater risks tripping or slipping on wet decks or staircases than they are for drowning at sea. It's a very safe industry and very seldom do you ever hear of a major incident on any type of whale-watch vessel.
What to do if a orca approaches you?
If you see an orca, Natoli said, you should keep a distance of about 50 to 100 meters (164 to 328 feet) and turn off your engine or, at the very least, slow down. "Try not to approach them from the back or from the front. Stay on their side instead," Natoli told the Khaleej Times.
How often do whales sink boats?
Whales attacking ships are rare — indeed, just a handful of such incidents have ever been documented.
Do whale watching boats bother whales?
Boat-based whale watching exposes whales and dolphins to underwater noise, as well as the risk of injury from collision with the boat's hull or propeller19,20. The presence of boats can distract the animals from important behaviours like resting, socializing or feeding1,3,21.
Can a whale hurt a cruise ship?
A 2022 study found that out of 49 attacks that year, whales damaged ships in about 73% of interactions. And 25% of those had to be towed back to port. The study's author told Live Science that whales target about one out of every 100 ships passing around the peninsula.