The Wanderlust guide to marine wildlife watching
Inspired to seek out the wildlife superstars of the world’s Big Blue? Here’s our guide to wildlife watching in the ocean
It’s the last great frontier in the world and it’s teeming with wildlife both great and small. Want to experience the world’s oceans up close? This is our guide to meeting its fascinatingly diverse inhabitants…
Looking for inspiration?
Want to watch wildlife on the Big Blue? Then you’ve got some decisions to make. The world’s oceans cover 71% of the planet and lap against over 356,000 kilometres of coastline. Where do you start?
Jo Price can point you in the right direction with her list of the planet’s top 5 underwater wildlife encounters, from whales sharks in Ningaloo to manta rays in the Maldives. Mark Carwardine lists his favourite underwater encounters too, from killer whales in Norway to more gentle meetings with manatees in Florida.
Paul Bloomfield reveals the 10 best places to snorkel in the world. And for those who want to stay relatively dry, the Wanderlust Team have put together a list of the best locations to see wild whales.
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8 ways for an underwater safari – Mark Carwardine
Top 5 underwater wildlife encounters – Jo Price
10 of the best snorkelling destinations – Paul Bloomfield
12 best locations to see wild whales – Wanderlust Team
Watching whales wallow
Mexico’s Baja peninsula is arguably the world’s premier whale watching spot. Lyn Hughes got so close to blue whales there that she could smell what they’d had for lunch. Big Blue Live presenter Mark Carwardine got up close and personal with blue whales there too.
Canada is another excellent place to spot whales. Lyn went to Churchill in the far north to find the elusive beluga whale, and has put together a guide to the best places to see whales in the country, from Hudson Bay in the north to Vancouver Island on the west coast.
If it’s orca you’re after, then head to the Arctic Circle in Norway. Mark Carwardine found them there. And Sarah Baxter got to swim amongst them. Another great place to spot whales in that neck of the woods is Iceland, says William Gray. Especially in winter.
If you fancy watching whales somewhere nice and warm, then Mark Carwardine recommends the Maldives. Just look out for the tiger sharks!
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Whale watching in Baja California – Lyn Hughes
Blowing with the blues – Mark Carwardine
Whale watching in Canada – Lyn Hughes
White whale wandering in Churchill – Lyn Hughes
Swimming with killer whales – Sarah Baxter
Norway’s Arctic Circle – Mark Carwardine
Wildlife watching in winter Iceland – William Gray
Whale watching in the Maldives – William Gray
