Humpback Whale Watching

Each year humpback whales migrate to the warm, sheltered waters of the Mayotte lagoon to breed and give birth, making the island, a French overseas department in the Comoros archipelago, one of the more reliable places in the western Indian Ocean to see them. The season runs from July to October, with the peak of sightings generally from July to September. Whale-watching trips depart in the morning, usually between 07:00 and 08:00, from Mamoudzou port or the Dzaoudzi pier on Petite-Terre, and typically last three to five hours. Boats cruise the lagoon and the outer passages searching for blows and breaching animals, and guides explain whale behaviour such as tail slaps, pectoral fin waving and mother and calf pairs resting in shallow water. Operators follow regulations on approach distance and speed, and swimming with whales is generally not part of standard trips, so visitors observe from the boat. Prices are commonly between 70 and 100 euros per person, and the operators Plongée Mayotte and Planète Bleue are among those offering trips. Sightings are not guaranteed, but they are frequent in peak season. The best photographs come from steady, wide-angle shots as whales surface, with a long lens helpful for breaches. The morning sea is usually calmest, though the outer passages can be choppy, so people prone to seasickness may wish to take precautions. Boats can be busy in August and during French holidays, and booking ahead is advisable. Visitors should bring sun protection, a windproof layer, water and a waterproof bag for cameras. The barge from Petite-Terre to Mamoudzou costs about 2 euros for those starting from Dzaoudzi.