418 Dive Log Australasia JUNE 2026.pdf

Drum and Drumsticks, Jervis Bay Ebb @seathroughthelensphotography

along the Humpback Highway. Early in the season, from May through July, the northern migration brings energetic whales travelling with purpose towards Queensland. Offshore, warmer eddies spun off from the East Australian Current attract younger males into the area, where they jostle with one another, compete for dominance, and put on spectacular mating displays. Breaching, tail slapping, and charging along the surface are common sights as the whales show off their strength and stamina. Later in the year, from September through November, the southern migration sees the mothers and babies - referred to as cows and calves - resting in the sheltered waters before continuing south towards Antarctica. They often hug

the coastline, communicating in lower frequencies that blend with the ambient noise of waves and shoreline, helping them remain less detectable to predators such as Orcas. Nearby, a male escort will often shadow the pair. He is not technically the father, but he is putting in the hard yards, protecting the cow and hoping for a mating opportunity next season. During this journey south, the mother is not simply travelling; she is raising and teaching her calf while nursing it almost constantly. Humpback milk is extraordinarily rich — often described as having the consistency of toothpaste due to its high fat content — allowing the calf to consume up to 500 litres per day and gain as much as 50 kilograms every 24 hours. It is one of the fastest growth rates in the animal kingdom. At the same time, the calf is learning how to behave like a whale — how to surface and breathe efficiently, conserve energy, navigate swell and currents, and even control its buoyancy in the water column. Watching these interactions unfold in the wild offers a rare glimpse into the intelligence, social complexity, and tenderness of these enormous animals. Of course, none of this happens without the right vessel. Our whale swim boat, the Woebe-Wan (named after the Jedi Master Obi-Wan), was purpose-built for offshore exploration. Powered by twin inboard V6 diesel engines, the Woebe-Wan is fast, reliable, and remarkably fuel efficient — essential qualities when covering large distances searching for wildlife inside the Jervis Bay Marine Park. Surveyed for small groups, the experience on board feels personal and unhurried. There is time to watch the whales properly, and the flexibility to follow conditions rather than a rigid schedule. The philosophy behind these encounters is simple: we never chase whales. Every interaction is conducted under strict permit conditions and with full consideration of the

The offshore Freediving/Snorkelling and Whale Swim boat the Woebe-Wan Ebb @seathroughthelensphotography

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DIVE LOG Australasia #418 - June’ 26

www.divelog.net.au