Words cannot express how incredible today’s offshore trip was! As the owner of Jersey Shore Whale Watch, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience countless moments on the ocean, but today’s adventure was truly something special. We headed about 40 miles offshore into deeper waters, and what we encountered was beyond what any of us could have imagined.
Our day started early with a stunning sunrise over the ocean—an experience in itself. If you’ve never seen the sun come up while being far out at sea, it’s truly a sight to behold. The way the light dances off the calm waves, combined with the anticipation of what’s to come, is a feeling that never gets old. The ocean was remarkably calm, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. It was one of those days where you’re reminded how lucky we are to be out on the water.
We were hoping for some exciting encounters, but the reality far surpassed our expectations. Over the course of the trip, we saw **13 humpback whales**, including three mother-and-calf pairs.
Witnessing the whales breach, slap their flippers, and wave their tails is always breathtaking, but having them come right up to the boat, close enough to hear the roar of their breaths, was absolutely surreal.
That’s an experience that stays with you long after the trip is over.
And the magic didn’t stop there. Not only did we see all these whales, but we also spotted **three sea turtles**! We had two loggerhead turtles make an appearance, but the real highlight was spotting our first **leatherback turtle**. For many of us, seeing a leatherback was a first, and it’s something I’ll never forget. There’s something incredibly awe-inspiring about seeing these ancient creatures gliding through the water.
On top of the whales and turtles, we were treated to sightings of numerous pelagic birds that you just don’t see closer to shore. Watching the birds soar and dive around us added another layer of beauty to the day, and we even spotted **tuna** jumping while we were whale watching. That had the crew and I thinking—we might just have to offer a tuna trip out here in the future!
I’m so grateful we were able to get today’s trip out last minute. The ocean continues to amaze me every time, and days like today are why I love what I do.
I also want to take a moment to mention that **all of our whale-watching is done following Whale SENSE safe whale-watching guidelines**. The close encounters we experienced today were because the whales chose to approach our boat while we were in neutral, allowing them to move freely. Our goal is always to ensure a safe and respectful environment for these incredible creatures, and that’s something we take very seriously.
Thank you to everyone who joined us today—it’s days like these that remind me why I love what I do, and I can’t wait to share more unforgettable trips with you all.
-Jersey Shore Whale Watching
This post was adapted from a blog, read the original here.
Leave a Reply