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URL","value":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cc27c7d6d398e2c199cc87fa0562ad44?s=96&d=wp_user_avatar&r=g","multiValue":false,":type":"string"},"author_profile_URL":{"dataType":"string","title":"Author Profile URL","value":"https://en.gravatar.com/cc27c7d6d398e2c199cc87fa0562ad44","multiValue":false,":type":"string"},"title":{"dataType":"string","title":"Title","value":"Is this the world’s most exclusive wildlife encounter?","multiValue":false,":type":"string"},"content":{"dataType":"string","title":"Content","value":"\u003Cp\u003EConsider this: 36 years of discovery, seven licences granted, four liveaboard dive tours available and maybe – just maybe – 700 people per year get to have the most magical, tingly, awesome underwater encounter in \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/explore-queensland/tropical-north-queensland\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ETropical North Queensland\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe minke whale was first recorded in 1981 by Rob Prettejohn after he dismissed the finned creature he spotted as an orca and then plunged into the waters of the \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/explore-queensland/great-barrier-reef\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003EGreat Barrier Reef\u003C/a\u003E to document his first encounter with the odd creature. (Rob is today the owner of \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/accommodation/thala-beach-nature-reserve\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003EThala Beach Nature Reserve\u003C/a\u003E, a gorgeous resort near Port Douglas.)\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg class=\"aligncenter wp-image-44215 size-full\" src=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/insert-needed-to-be-resized-rob-pettijohns-first-drawing.jpgresized.jpg\" alt=\"Rob-Pettijohns-first-drawing | Minke whales: The world's most exclusive wildlife encounter\" width=\"691\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/insert-needed-to-be-resized-rob-pettijohns-first-drawing.jpgresized.jpg 691w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/insert-needed-to-be-resized-rob-pettijohns-first-drawing.jpgresized-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/insert-needed-to-be-resized-rob-pettijohns-first-drawing.jpgresized-335x223.jpg 335w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px\" /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERob’s precision drawings, (above), along with field notes, were sent to the Curator of Mammals at \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/attraction/queensland-museum-and-sciencentre\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003EQueensland Museum\u003C/a\u003E asking what it was. The reply:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E \u003Cem\u003EYour accurate and clear description of the whale you saw makes it possible to be confident about its identification. Almost without doubt it is a minke whale.\u003C/em\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/blockquote\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERight there a new whale species, now known as the \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://blog.queensland.com/2017/04/18/facts-about-dwarf-minke-whales/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003Edwarf minke whale\u003C/a\u003E, (“an unfortunate name as they are not in any sense ‘dwarfs’,” says Prettejohn) was known and swimming with them has become one of the most elusive yet sought after nature experiences in the world.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEach year between May and August, these minke whales congregate in the remote Ribbon Reefs off \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/destination%20information/cooktown\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ECooktown\u003C/a\u003E – and nowhere else. For just a few weeks a year, a handful of tourism operators open their liveaboards to this relatively new natural encounter.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003EHere’s how to do it\u003C/h2\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe key is to book early. With just four liveaboard vessels and a six-week season, your options are tight:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/tour/eye-to-eye-marine-encounters\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003EEye to Eye Marine Encounters\u003C/a\u003E – best for the citizen scientist as profits are channelled into further minke research\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDeep Sea Diver’s Den – a 16-dive expedition\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/tour/spirit-of-freedom\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ESpirit of Freedom\u003C/a\u003E – the largest vessel with swishes cabins; and\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/tour/mike-ball-dive-expeditions\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003EMike Ball Dive Expeditions\u003C/a\u003E – a veteran dive boat where the hearty food almost eclipses the marine experiences\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAll have one thing in common: passionate crews that are almost evangelical about the minke experience. To see what happens on a liveaboard, check \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkk8CSEfzPE&t=1s\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003Ehere\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI chose Mike Ball Dive’s 10-dive encounter on the boat Spoilsport. I’m a lapsed diver; It’s been 25 years – and just a handful of dives – since earning my licence so this is going to be a mix of snorkelling, sun tanning and scuba.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELuckily the standard cabins come with comfortable metre-wide single beds, plenty of drawer space (that no-one uses) a tight but functional bathroom, and the most delicious meals, served five times a day. This is my home for the next three days.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003EDay 1:\u003C/h2\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg class=\"aligncenter wp-image-44211 size-full\" src=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/composite-1_minke-whales_onto-the-spoil-sport-boat.jpgresized.jpg\" alt=\"Spoil Sport Boat | Minke whales: The world's most exclusive wildlife encounter\" width=\"691\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/composite-1_minke-whales_onto-the-spoil-sport-boat.jpgresized.jpg 691w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/composite-1_minke-whales_onto-the-spoil-sport-boat.jpgresized-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/composite-1_minke-whales_onto-the-spoil-sport-boat.jpgresized-335x223.jpg 335w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px\" /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can gauge how good a holiday will be by the way it starts. And it doesn’t get better than an eye-popping, low-flying joy flight over the world’s greatest reef system from Cairns to \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/accommodation/lizard-island\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003ELizard Island\u003C/a\u003E where a dinghy waits to squirrel us away to Spoilsport and an incredible buffet of food.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe wind suddenly whips up and from there it’s a two-hour “brutal” trip in 25-knot winds to our first dive site.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDive site 1: The Cod Hole\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"attachment_44212\" style=\"width: 701px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003E\u003Cimg aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44212\" class=\"wp-image-44212 size-full\" src=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cod-hole.jpgresized.jpg\" alt=\"Image by Nigel Wade | Minke whales: The world's most exclusive wildlife encounter\" width=\"691\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cod-hole.jpgresized.jpg 691w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cod-hole.jpgresized-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cod-hole.jpgresized-335x223.jpg 335w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px\" /\u003E\u003Cp id=\"caption-attachment-44212\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003EPhotos by Nigel Wade\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI’ve snorkelled Thailand, Malaysia, Fiji and much of the Great Barrier Reef but nothing is as good as \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/attraction/cod-hole-dive-site\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"The Code Hole Dive Site\"\u003Ethis\u003C/a\u003E. It’s a 1920s circus down there. Blue and yellow acrobatic fish toss and tumble against a backdrop of hydrangea-coloured corals doing the Charleston in time with the tide: jiggle, jiggle, kick left and then jiggle, jiggle, kick right.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is the opening scene to \u003Cem\u003ENemo\u003C/em\u003E, only none of the characters can talk. Or at least I don’t understand them.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHidden in a shallow channel between two bommies*, I spot a pair of sweetlip, their canary yellow tips with black and white striped flanks remind me of the \u003Cem\u003EReal Housewives of Beverly Hills\u003C/em\u003E. Complete with a perfect trout pout, they do little, but they attract a lot.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGotham City\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA quick nap and a two-hour chug later and we come to our second dive site – still a snorkel for me. The light is fading and the water is cooler. It’s winter in the tropics and I’m reluctant to go in.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut it is so worth it. If the first site was a circus, this one is a mad whirlwind of the creatures found only in Dr Seuss books or \u003Cem\u003EAlice in Wonderland\u003C/em\u003E. Instead of going down the rabbit hole, I’ve duck-dived down a wacked-out world of crazy colour, organic contours and rhythmic fish gymnastics.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGnarly hard coral with crazy purple-tipped hair flies in all direction, massive outbursts of mustard-coloured brain coral meet soft tan corals and big, black fish chip away like woodpeckers against the coral. There’s a cadenza of noise and business happening here. Every fish has a role. And no one minds my presence.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003EDay 2:\u003C/h2\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Lighthouse\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"attachment_44216\" style=\"width: 701px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003E\u003Cimg aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44216\" class=\"wp-image-44216 size-full\" src=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/lighthouse-dive-site.jpg\" alt=\"Image by Darren Jew | Minke whales: The world's most exclusive wildlife encounter\" width=\"691\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/lighthouse-dive-site.jpg 691w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/lighthouse-dive-site-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/lighthouse-dive-site-335x223.jpg 335w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px\" /\u003E\u003Cp id=\"caption-attachment-44216\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003EPhoto by Darren Jew\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s down to just the two of us. The dive instructor and me. The rest have bolted into the blue and a tanned, young Brit has decided to reintroduce me to diving. The last time I donned a suit and a tank, he wasn’t even born, but Ollie will have none of that. He thinks I’m ready for a resort dive.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHe (of the 20-something invincible mindset) gives me two points to remember:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E1. Don’t stop breathing; and\u003Cbr /\u003E\n2. Don’t resurface faster than your own bubbles.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe theory is a breeze, but the doing is a head spin. I slowly let the air out of my vest and submerge to the point of “NO!”.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI panic and jab a few “up up up” signals but Ollie overrides it. Patiently we practice releasing air from the mask, losing my regulator, finding it and then sucking through it. Ollie has calmed me. And he nods that I’m ready.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOllie holds my hand. Or rather, I hold his. Kind of like a prison guard grips a fugitive. I am umbilically corded to him as he guides me over to the \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.queensland.com/attraction/lighthouse-bommies-dive-site\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Lighthouse Bommie blog.queensland.com\"\u003ELighthouse Bommie\u003C/a\u003E until I forget that I really am an oxygen-breathing creature.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELighthouse bommie is like a 16-metre high-rise tower populated by the oddest of odd residents that change ‘fashion’ at each floor. First, there are a proud and mighty lionfish. Then a little lower is a sea squirt, a cute white thing stuck to a rock with a pretty pink frill known as a sailor’s eye. Ollie grabs the white board and furiously writes down a description. Apparently, I’m looking at the biggest single-celled organism in the world.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere’s also fish… lots of them. Sweetlip, parrot fish, clusters of yellow fish and of course, trevally, hanging in the backdrop watching me, in the same way I watch the cricket: oddly bored.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI’m so lost in awe that I forget my seven-metre limit. Ollie taps me that it’s time to go back up for food and a long dream through the night.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERibbon Reef Number 9.\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\"attachment_44233\" style=\"width: 701px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"\u003E\u003Cimg aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44233\" class=\"wp-image-44233 size-full\" src=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/minke-whales2.jpg\" alt=\"Images by Takaji Ochi and Matt Cumnock | Minke whales: The world's most exclusive wildlife encounter\" width=\"691\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/minke-whales2.jpg 691w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/minke-whales2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/minke-whales2-335x223.jpg 335w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px\" /\u003E\u003Cp id=\"caption-attachment-44233\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"\u003EPhotos by Takaji Ochi and Matt Curnock\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt might sound like a bad album out of the ’80s, but Ribbon Reef Number 9 is the reason we’re here. It’s a known playground of the minke whales – for just six weeks a year – and we are one of the fortunate few hoping to tick an encounter with one off our bucket list.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s been 10 years since the dive industry banded with researchers to lobby for tourists to “swim with the minkes,” although Richard Fitzpatrick, a Cairns-based marine biologist and an Emmy-award-winning filmmaker is adamant it’s not “whale watching”, but “people watching”. The minkes are in control, he says, and they decide if they want to swim into the declared 100-metre radius. Or not.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the last six years, Minke Whale researchers have recorded some 1500 hours of minke encounters, most around the Lighthouse Bommie with the average encounter lasting 84 minutes.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter two days of anticipation, we spot the fins. We could be in luck.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOur cruise director Kerrin has three rules. “Do not wave, do not get excited, just stay calm,” he advises as we plunge off the back of the boat and grip onto a rope like last week’s washing.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELet’s be serious, Kerrin! How calm do you think I can be when a nine-metre fish with a head bigger than my own chubby body comes up to me? There’s also a 15-knot wind around, choppy seas and I’m feeling very front loaded.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMy mind gets a little desperate after a solid half hour of bobbing.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHow do you call a whale? Can it understand \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://blog.queensland.com/2012/07/25/how-to-speak-whale/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003Ewhale speak\u003C/a\u003E? I’ve watched \u003Cem\u003ENemo\u003C/em\u003E. Like if I go, “here minke, minke, minke, come here before I sinkie, sinkie, sinkie”, will one come to me?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe water is slightly hazy, and I’m feeling bilious from the washing machine action and I flip over on my back to clear my mask. Returning to the uncreatively named ‘dead man’s float’, I nearly gag. There in front of me is a massive submarine with fins and white stripes around them. There’s barely a movement. Hardly a flip of the tail and it’s gone – like a ghost. Did I really see it?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI wait again and she reappears from my right (I decide it must be a woman with sleek curves like that!), this time with a mate in tow. We lock eyes – I know we do because she twists her body and exposes her brilliant white belly to maintain our line of sight. She’s playing with me. Eying me. Kind of how a bloke eyes you in a bar (or at least they did 20 years ago. Anyone eyeing me now just wants to mug me).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOver and over for the next hour or so, my minke eggs me to release the line and swim after her. It’s ethereal. It’s effortless. It’s out of this world. And it’s a very private encounter.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESomething powerful had just happened and I call it quits and go quietly to the cabin to think it over. My co-divers are more resilient and stay for another 30 minutes, each claiming even closer encounters than the one I had (I think they’re hardly fisherpeople!). Still, I sleep on it all.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003EDay 3:\u003C/h2\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteve’s Bommie\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg class=\"aligncenter wp-image-44213 size-full\" src=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/steves-bommie.jpgresized.jpg\" alt=\"Steve's-Pommie | Minke whales: The world's most exclusive wildlife encounter\" width=\"691\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/steves-bommie.jpgresized.jpg 691w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/steves-bommie.jpgresized-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.queensland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/steves-bommie.jpgresized-335x223.jpg 335w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px\" /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s hard to get excited when you’ve ticked the number 1 thing off the bucket list but the next day the reef serves me another ace. I’m at Ribbon Reef Number 2 at Steve’s Bommie, a brilliant dive site named after a bloke who died. We’re not sure who he was, but it’s clear that it’s not Steve Irwin. This Steve must also have been a top bloke for someone to go to all that effort to build a plaque and bolt it to the sea floor 25 metres below. The site is full of macro marine life. Mighty, mighty lionfish, reef sharks, stonefish (yech!) and nudis. It’s a wonderful tribute to the unknown diver and three days of strange encounters.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI want this experience to continue, but it’s the end of the minke season and I have to wait another year, says, one of my colleagues, or get my scuba suit down to \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://blog.queensland.com/2017/05/02/everything-you-need-to-know-about-whale-watching-in-hervey-bay/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003EHervey Bay\u003C/a\u003E where two operators have been given the all clear to swim with the humpbacks.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESheesh. I’ve got the seven-metre whales down pat, why not try a bigger 12-metre baleen?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E*A “bommie” is a derivative of an Aboriginal term for a submerged pinnacle of which there are many in the region.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003EHave you ever had an encounter with a minke whale? Is it on your bucket list? Share with us in the comments below.\u003C/h2\u003E\n","multiValue":false,":type":"text/plain"},"date":{"dataType":"calendar","title":"Date","value":1496971287000,"multiValue":false,":type":"calendar"},"date_modified":{"dataType":"calendar","title":"Date Modified","value":1580941500000,"multiValue":false,":type":"calendar"},"excerpt":{"dataType":"string","title":"Excerpt","value":"\u003Cp\u003EDiscover one of the world’s best and most exclusive underwater experiences. \u003C/p\u003E\n","multiValue":false,":type":"string"},"slug":{"dataType":"string","title":"Slug","value":"minke-whales-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter","multiValue":false,":type":"string"},"featured_image":{"dataType":"string","title":"Featured Image","value":"/content/dam/teq/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/minke-whale-encounter.jpg","multiValue":false,":type":"string"},"post_thumbnail":{"dataType":"string","title":"Post Thumbnail","value":"/content/dam/teq/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/minke-whale-encounter.jpg","multiValue":false,":type":"string"}},"elementsOrder":["global_id","status","URL","author_first_name","author_last_name","author_name","author_URL","author_avatar_URL","author_profile_URL","title","content","date","date_modified","excerpt","slug","featured_image","post_thumbnail"],"model":"teq/models/blog"},"editorial_introducti":{":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-introduction"},"editorial_hero_banne":{"title":"Meeting minke whales: the world's most magical wildlife encounter","layoutVariation":"standardWidth","tag":{"colour":"#365ABD","text":"Feature"},"breadcrumbItems":[{"active":false,"title":"Home","url":"/content/teq/gb/en/home.html"},{"active":false,"title":"Nature and Wildlife","url":"/content/teq/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife.html"},{"active":false,"title":"Whales","url":"/content/teq/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales.html"},{"active":true,"title":"Minke whale world's best wildlife encounter","url":"/content/teq/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter.html"}],"gallery":{"mediaCollection":[{"mediaType":"image","mediaProps":{"fileFormat":"","sku":"","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/hero-banner/2017_TNQ_MinkeWhale_MarineLife.jpg","alt":"Minke Whale, Tropical North Queensland","title":null,"link":null,"mobileSrc":"","attribution":null,"quality":60},"mediaPropsSlide":null}]},":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-hero-banner"},"editorialauthor":{"name":"Danielle\t Reckless","resourcePath":"/content/teq/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter/jcr:content/root/responsivegrid/editorialauthor","publishedDateISO":"2020-05-08T12:30:28.927Z",":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorialauthor","image":{"src":"/home/users/s/sFtW-IQZu3K6kGRtkpU5/profile.profile.image","alt":"Danielle\t Reckless"}},"editorial_description":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EIt's one of the most rare and magical underwater encounters in the world - and just a few hundred people get the opportunity each year to experience it. Right here in Queensland. \u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWe're of course talking about the \u003Ca title=\"dwarf minke whale facts\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/facts-about-dwarf-minke-whales\" target=\"_self\"\u003Edwarf minke whale\u003C/a\u003E, among the most elusive mammals on earth. Discovered only 40 years ago in the waters of the outer Great Barrier Reef, these creatures continue to excite scientists as they return to our neck of the woods each winter - the only known place in the world where they predictably meet. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you're hoping to jump in and experience \u003Ca title=\"swim with dwarf minke whales\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/swimming-with-dwarfe-minke-whales\" target=\"_self\"\u003Ethis unusual meeting yourself,\u003C/a\u003E read on. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003EDiscovering the minke whale\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"image80d9fdeb-7432-49b8-a99f-5a47b146c55f":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/great-barrier-reef/blog-images/2020_GBR_MinkeWhaledrawing_whales_robPettijohns.jpg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/great-barrier-reef/blog-images/2020_GBR_MinkeWhaledrawing_whales_robPettijohns.jpg","alt":"Rob-Pettijohns-first-drawing | Minke whales: The world's most exclusive wildlife encounter","srcUriTemplate":"/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/image80d9fdeb-7432-49b8-a99f-5a47b146c55f.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1642006130648/2020-gbr-minkewhaledrawing-whales-robpettijohns.jpeg","uuid":"015caa52-5fe1-4b22-a1bd-23cfc6af30d2","lazyEnabled":false,":type":"teq/components/image"},"editorial_descriptio":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EThe dwarf minke whale was first recorded in 1981 by Queenslander Rob Prettejohn, after he dismissed the finned creature he spotted as an orca and then plunged into the waters of the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.queensland.com/places-to-see/experiences/great-barrier-reef\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Great Barrier Reef\"\u003EGreat Barrier Reef\u003C/a\u003E to document his first encounter.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERob’s precision drawings, (above), along with field notes, were sent to the Curator of Mammals at \u003Ca href=\"https://www.queensland.com/things-to-do/attractions/p-56b25d4b2880253d74c449d4-queensland-museum\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Queensland Museum\"\u003EQueensland Museum\u003C/a\u003E asking what it was. Soon after a new whale species, now known as the dwarf minke whale (though they can weigh up to six tonnes) was documented, and swimming with them has become one of the most elusive yet sought after nature experiences in the world.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EToday, divers from around the world make their way to the remote Ribbon Reefs off Cooktown between May and August for a chance encounter. And Rob? He's continuing his passion for protecting Queensland's environment as the owner of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.queensland.com/plan-your-holiday/accommodation/p-57342d0894cdc27568dd9149-thala-beach-nature-reserve\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Thala Beach Nature Reserve\"\u003EThala Beach Nature Reserve\u003C/a\u003E near Port Douglas.\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003EHow to swim with dwarf minke whales\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"image":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2017_TNQ_DwarfMinkeWhale_Marinelifeencounters_JemmaCraig_136378.jpg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2017_TNQ_DwarfMinkeWhale_Marinelifeencounters_JemmaCraig_136378.jpg","alt":"Swimming with dwarf minke whales Queensland | minke whales","srcUriTemplate":"/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/image.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1642006130687/2017-tnq-dwarfminkewhale-marinelifeencounters-jemmacraig-136378.jpeg","uuid":"a59d4707-be80-4e56-a282-ac97a0e180e3","lazyEnabled":false,"title":" ",":type":"teq/components/image"},"editorial_descriptio_1348391848":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EFor just a few weeks a year, a handful of tourism operators open their liveaboards to this relatively new natural encounter. There are strict guidelines in place for \u003Ca title=\"swim with dwarf minke whales\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/swimming-with-dwarfe-minke-whales\" target=\"_self\"\u003Eswimming with dwarf minke whales\u003C/a\u003E to ensure that these interactions are sustainable. The combined conservation efforts of the operators and visitors are important to the continuation of the whales making their annual journey through the Great Barrier Reef - and you can help be part of the research on your visit. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBe sure to book early as just four operators host liveaboard dive trips from Cairns that offer the chance to swim with these whales. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https://www.queensland.com/things-to-do/tours/p-56b25e012cbcbe7073ad7664-mike-ball-dive-expeditions\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Mike Ball Dive Expeditions\"\u003EMike Ball Dive Expeditions\u003C/a\u003E – a veteran dive boat where the hearty food \u003Ci\u003Ealmost \u003C/i\u003Eeclipses the marine experiences. The team has supported James Cook University's Minke Whale Project for 27 years, and offers 3-night, 4-night and 7-night trips.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003EEye to Eye Marine Encounters – dedicated 7 day minke whale expeditions, with some profits channelled into further minke research\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca title=\"Divers Den\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/tours/p-56b25dd4d5f1565045da05f1-divers-den\" target=\"_self\"\u003EDiver’s Den\u003C/a\u003E – offer four-day, four-night Minke whale expeditions every year during June and July, open to both snorkellers and divers.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https://www.queensland.com/things-to-do/tours/p-56b25ecdaeeeaaf773cf1284-spirit-of-freedom\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Spirit of Freedom\"\u003ESpirit of Freedom\u003C/a\u003E – the largest vessel with very comfortable cabins to enjoy on a three-day liveaboard experience.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWhichever boat you choose, you'll be well-looked after by a passionate crew, and enjoy science-led education and research along the way.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ENew to liveaboard diving? Here's \u003Ca title=\"liveaboard diving first timers guide\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/adventure/diving-and-snorkelling/liveaboard-diving-first-timers-guide\" target=\"_self\"\u003Eeverything you need to know.\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003EGet a taste of your minke whale experience\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMike Ball's 3-day, 10-dive expeditions is one of the most popular ways to explore the reef and meet dwarf minke whales along the way. Let's take a closer look.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EDay 1: Fly to Lizard Island and jump on board\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"image_2144288814":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/web-images/2019_TNQ_GreatBarrierReef_LizardIsland_ReubenButt_140354.jpg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/web-images/2019_TNQ_GreatBarrierReef_LizardIsland_ReubenButt_140354.jpg","alt":"Scenic flight to Lizard Island | minke whales","srcUriTemplate":"/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/image_2144288814.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1642006130709/2019-tnq-greatbarrierreef-lizardisland-reubenbutt-140354.jpeg","uuid":"5ead0bec-e8f5-47db-856b-a306722fb2bb","lazyEnabled":false,":type":"teq/components/image"},"editorial_descriptio_874234704":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EA dive expedition doesn’t get better than starting with an eye-popping, low-flying joy flight over the world’s greatest reef system from Cairns to \u003Ca href=\"https://www.queensland.com/places-to-see/experiences/islands/the-mind-blowing-tropical-island-youve-probably-never-heard-about\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Visit Lizard Island\"\u003ELizard Island\u003C/a\u003E, where a dinghy waits to squirrel you away to \u003Ci\u003ESpoilsport\u003C/i\u003E and an incredible buffet of food.\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESettle into your home for the next three nights: the standard cabins come with comfortable metre-wide single beds, plenty of drawer space, a tight but functional bathroom, and the most delicious meals, served five times a day. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EKick off your first three dives\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"image_623114246":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2021_TNQ_MikeBallDiveExpeditions_CodHole_DivingSnorkelling_TomParkPhotography_145608.jpg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2021_TNQ_MikeBallDiveExpeditions_CodHole_DivingSnorkelling_TomParkPhotography_145608.jpg","alt":"Scuba Diving at The Cod Hole Dive Site, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions | minke whales","srcUriTemplate":"/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/image_623114246.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1642006130732/2021-tnq-mikeballdiveexpeditions-codhole-divingsnorkelling-tomparkphotography-145608.jpeg","uuid":"a3d5a9ac-ff93-4da0-8a45-f43580267b52","lazyEnabled":false,"title":" ",":type":"teq/components/image"},"editorial_descriptio_1197798605":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EThe action starts straight away, with three dives today.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDive sites depend on the conditions on the day, but you'll probably begin at \u003Ca title=\"Cod Hole Dive Site\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/things-to-do/attractions/p-56b2658b2880253d74c4dd30-cod-hole-dive-site\" target=\"_self\"\u003EThe Cod Hole\u003C/a\u003E. Descend to meet blue and yellow acrobatic fish that toss and tumble against a backdrop of hydrangea-coloured corals, while giant potato cod - a member of \u003Ca title=\"Queensland Great 8 marine creatures\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/experiences/great-barrier-reef/marine-life/where-to-find-queenslands-great-8-marine-creatures\" target=\"_self\"\u003EQueensland's Great Eight\u003C/a\u003E - meander by.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EYou'll get the opportunity for two more dives today, including a night dive.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EDay 2: Get low\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"image4ceb274a-9081-4271-996c-10d6213362ed":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2021_TNQ_MikeBallDiveExpeditions_LighthouseBommie_DivingSnorkelling_TomParkPhotography_145601.jpg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2021_TNQ_MikeBallDiveExpeditions_LighthouseBommie_DivingSnorkelling_TomParkPhotography_145601.jpg","alt":"Scuba Diving at Lighthouse Bommie Dive Site, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions | minke whales","srcUriTemplate":"/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/image4ceb274a-9081-4271-996c-10d6213362ed.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1642006130758/2021-tnq-mikeballdiveexpeditions-lighthousebommie-divingsnorkelling-tomparkphotography-145601.jpeg","uuid":"2a1b6ecc-f21b-4b86-82f1-1126411fd4f9","lazyEnabled":false,"title":" ",":type":"teq/components/image"},"editorial_descriptio_362654388":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EToday's itinerary offers the opportunity for four dives plus a night dive - and hopefully an encounter or two with some minkes. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ELighthouse Bommie is a dive not to miss on the Ribbon Reefs: a 20-metre giant coral tower populated by the most vibrant marine life. Lionfish, sweetlip, parrot fish and trevally circle around in a flurry of activity that'll leave you spellbound. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"imagef2926bb5-176c-4800-a0c9-97b32c54a9ec":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2017_TNQ_DwarfMinkeWhale_Marinelifeencounters_JemmaCraig_136359.jpg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2017_TNQ_DwarfMinkeWhale_Marinelifeencounters_JemmaCraig_136359.jpg","alt":"Dwarf minke whale near liveaboard vessel | minke whales ","srcUriTemplate":"/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/imagef2926bb5-176c-4800-a0c9-97b32c54a9ec.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1642006130797/2017-tnq-dwarfminkewhale-marinelifeencounters-jemmacraig-136359.jpeg","uuid":"2ffb6699-299a-4093-a685-f189314f2ac8","lazyEnabled":false,"title":" ",":type":"teq/components/image"},"editorial_descriptio_1266166058":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile nature offers no guarantee, the odds are that if you're here on the Ribbon Reefs at the right time, magic happens. It’s a known playground of the dwarf minke whales – for just six weeks a year – and you'll be among the fortunate few hoping to tick an encounter with one off your bucket list.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s been 10 years since the dive industry banded with researchers to lobby for tourists to swim with the minkes although Richard Fitzpatrick, a Cairns-based marine biologist and an Emmy-award-winning filmmaker is adamant it’s not “whale watching”, but “people watching”. The minkes are in control, he says, and they decide if they want to swim into the declared 100-metre radius. Or not.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the last six years, minke whale researchers have recorded some 1500 hours of minke encounters, most around the Lighthouse Bommie with the average encounter lasting 84 minutes.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIt’s ethereal. It’s effortless. It’s out of this world. And it’s a very private encounter.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAn average interaction consists of 2 – 3 whales for approximately 90 minutes. The largest minke pod seen was 28 whales, the longest encounter 10 hours. However, minke whales are wild animals and can be unpredictable; so enjoy every moment.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EDay 3: Enjoy your final day on the water\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"imagec065d599-0c6c-4e61-917a-fed4aa4bcf2d":{"componentName":"teq/components/image","src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2021_TNQ_MikeBallDiveExpeditions_StevesBommie_DivingSnorkelling_TomParkPhotography_145604.jpg","fileReference":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/images/destinations/tropical-north-queensland/blog-images/2021_TNQ_MikeBallDiveExpeditions_StevesBommie_DivingSnorkelling_TomParkPhotography_145604.jpg","alt":"Scuba diving at Steve's Bommie Dive Site, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions | minke whales","srcUriTemplate":"/gb/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/minke-whale-worlds-best-wildlife-encounter/_jcr_content/root/responsivegrid/imagec065d599-0c6c-4e61-917a-fed4aa4bcf2d.coreimg{.width}.jpeg/1642006130835/2021-tnq-mikeballdiveexpeditions-stevesbommie-divingsnorkelling-tomparkphotography-145604.jpeg","uuid":"08c92daa-69e1-4a19-ad97-038e55917bb6","lazyEnabled":false,"title":" ",":type":"teq/components/image"},"editorial_descriptio_1152517884":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EThere's plenty more diving on the schedule today, with up to three dives on the cards. Don't worry if you're a novice diver or just getting a little tired from all the adventure - one of the best things about liveaboard dive trips is if you're not feeling up to a dive, you can kick back and relax on deck instead, soaking up Great Barrier Reef views.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe final day of diving calls for a descent to one of the \u003Ca title=\"world's best dive sites in Queensland\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/adventure/diving-and-snorkelling/the-11-queensland-dive-sites-named-some-of-the-best-in-the-world\" target=\"_self\"\u003Eworld's best dives sites\u003C/a\u003E: \u003Ca title=\"Steve's Bommie dive site\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/things-to-do/attractions/p-56b2658bd5f1565045da8a8c-steves-bommie-dive-site\" target=\"_self\"\u003ESteve's Bommie\u003C/a\u003E. Far outside the reach of diving day trips, this remote spot is all for you. Starting at 33 metres and almost breaching the surface at 3 metres, it's a dream for macro photography and big fish spotting, with lionfish, reef sharks, stonefish and nudibranchs among the marine life to encounter.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAs the sun sets on your last night on board \u003Ci\u003ESpoilsport\u003C/i\u003E, grab a glass of bubbly and get ready for a BBQ party night - your fiercest tropical print is invited too. Cruise back to Cairns overnight, where there's \u003Ca title=\"things to do Cairns for first timers\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/traveller/first-time-visitor/best-things-to-do-cairns-for-first-timers\" target=\"_self\"\u003Eplenty more to explore on dry land.\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWhere to from here? This incredible marine encounter might inspire another. You can swap minkes for mighty humpacks \u003Ca title=\"swim with whales Queensland\" href=\"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/experiences/nature-and-wildlife/whales/swimming-with-whales-in-queensland\" target=\"_self\"\u003Ewith whale watching and swim-with-whale experiences at Hervey Bay and the Sunshine Coast. \u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"spacer_copy":{"paddingSize":"small",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"editorial_card_carou":{"maxNumber":20,"region":"","town":"","title":"You may also like","componentID":"editorial-card-carousel_1871114461","areaName":[],"notch":false,"goodToGo":{"src":"","alt":"","link":null,"quality":0.0},"publicClassificationPathKey":"whales","stamp":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/BOQE-2026-Stamp_Teal.png","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-card-carousel","button":{"label":null,"target":null}},"spacer":{"paddingSize":"small",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"subscription_form":{"layoutVariation":"fullWidth","componentID":"subscription-form_1764849508","steps":{"birthday":{"submitFailLabel":"Something went wrong. Please try again later.","submitButton":{"label":"Continue"},"birthdayMonthLabel":"Month (MM)","birthdayYearLabel":"Year (YYYY)","skipButton":{"label":"Skip"},"subtitle":"","submitSuccessLabel":"Birthday updated.","title":"When should we deliver your birthday present?","birthdayLabel":"Birthday (DD/MM/YYYY)","birthdayDayLabel":"Day (DD)","validation":{"birthdayDayValidation":"Please enter a valid date (DD)","birthdayYearValidation":"Please enter a valid year (YYYY)","birthdayMonthValidation":"Please enter a valid month (MM)"}},"success":{"subtitle":"Now we know a little about you, we'll be able to serve you tailored inspiration to help book your next adventure.","icon":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/icons/form-icons/icons-glasses.svg","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"title":"Time to explore"},"location":{"regionDefaultLabel":"Select Region","submitFailLabel":"Something went wrong. 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