Back to Nature: Observing Marine Life When Boating
"Whether you boat on fresh water or on the ocean, there is a lot of marine life to observe and appreciate. We boat in the Pacific Northwest off the west coast around the islands and straits of the Pacific Ocean. The sea life here is exceptional. Following are some of our wonderful experiences." One of the most powerful sights is that of large pods of Orca whales, or Killer whales as they are often referred to, as they migrate off the coast. Sometimes there can be several in these pods including mother whales and their babies. Orca whales are quite beautiful to see. Their black and white bodies glisten in the sunlight each time they appear near the water surface or do a breach jump. Usually the babies follow their mothers. It is quite possible to watch them for hours without getting tired. Boaters must be careful and remain a respectable distance from the whales, as most whales are endangered. You do not want to interfere with their normal migration routes and movements. It is possible to see Orca whales up close in captivity, and they are splendid animals. But when you can actually see them in their normal environment in the ocean, it is magnificent. How fortunate we are to be able to go boating for a few days and have them entertain us along the way. Another sea mammal that I always enjoy watching is the dolphin or the porpoise. They too can be found off the west coast. These mammals are so sleek and they can swim at very fast speeds. As they jump and slice through the surface of the water they are quite entertaining. Most people have seen dolphins in action at the various aquariums around the world. Well they do the same in the wild. They make me laugh. I think that they actually enjoy an audience! Living in the Pacific North West, we are very aware of the salmon industry. When boating, there are many small fishing boats out with their nets during the fisheries openings for the various kinds of salmon. It is fun to watch them jump. Seals are also very good fishermen. You can be sure that when the salmon are plentiful around the mouths of the large rivers, you will see a lot of seals. They love to fish for salmon, much to the chagrin of the commercial fishermen. They can be seen swimming through the waters, or sunning themselves on large logs or rocky outcroppings along the shoreline. The bark of a seal is loud and comical to hear and they are another creature that can entertain west coast boaters. When the salmon are running, you will find another fisherman, one with wings. There are many Bald Eagles on the west coast and they also enjoy a good salmon dinner. These are very majestic birds. Their soaring overhead is something to be marvelled at. The black and white features really stand out against the sky as they glide and then swoop down for a fish. Sea otters can sometimes be seen around large beds of kelp. In particular I have seen many when boating in our Bayliner, off the coastline from British Columbia to California. These sea creatures are very timid, so you must give them space. They love to float on their backs and eat sea urchins or play in the water, rolling over and over. Often you can see them playing in pairs. Sea otters are my husband's favorite sea mammals. He loves to watch them play. They really are very cute. If you have watched them, I'm sure you will agree. As well as these mammals, the coast offers wonderful creatures that attached themselves to the rocks and driftwood or coral. Sea anemones are absolutely beautiful, as are the many colored starfish. Anenomes are found in white, pale green and soft pinks with large fluffy plumes. Starfish are found in ranges of bright orange to deep purple. They can be very tiny and fragile or very large. Some measure several inches across. Sea cucumbers, barnacles, sand dollars, oysters, mussels and crabs are all found along the coastline. I love to walk on docks at marinas when the tide is out and see some of these shell fish in tiny pools of water. You can often get up quite close to see them better. All in all we are very fortunate in this area to be able to see so many creatures. Many of which are not seen by most people around the world. They enhance our environment and our boating experiences. It is important that we remember to respect all of these creatures in their natural environments, so as not to interfere with nature's course. Valerie Giles owns and operates Boats, Anchors and More http://www.boats-anchors-and-more.com a boating resource site featuring boat accessories, fishing lure manufacturers and inflatable boats. Everything you need for the boating season.
Related News
Southerners head Cruising with Spinnakers - Sail World
Southerners head Cruising with SpinnakersSail World, Australia -Aug 17, 2008...Cruising Yacht Club’s Mark Travis with his Northshore 38 Full Frontal and Balmain Sailing Club’s Arthur King’s Adams 12 Breakaway, both on 15 points. ... |
Royal Caribbean Cruises: See The World In Style - Corsavoo.com
Royal Caribbean Cruises: See The World In StyleCorsavoo.com, France -Aug 19, 2008In the shoulder seasons (spring and fall), you can find great bargains on these cruises by booking a "repositioning" cruise. Many cruise ships sail northern ... |
Come sail away ... - Ithaca Times
Come sail away ...Ithaca Times, NY -13 hours agoWhen we see the rowing shells cruising along the Cayuga Inlet, it seems rather unlikely - given our short warm weather season - that any of the young rowers ... |
Antigua Sailing Week Announces a New Format for the 2009 Edition - Caribbeanracing.com
Set sail for the world's far corners - The Australian
Set sail for the world's far cornersThe Australian, Australia -Aug 15, 2008Rough and the smooth: Expedition cruising in Antarctica or South America without sacrificing luxury is the promise with Silversea's new ship, ... |
Close finale to great regatta - Sail World
Alaska cruises add quieter ports - Canada.com
Canada.com |
Alaska cruises add quieter portsCanada.com, Canada -22 hours agoThis mid-sized ship carries 670 passengers and is sailing 14-day roundtrip voyages from Vancouver throughout the summer. If you make just one trip to Alaska ... |
Caribbean Cruises- Best Way to Enjoy Caribbean Vacations - Corsavoo.com
River cruises: 10 of the best - Telegraph.co.uk
Telegraph.co.uk |
River cruises: 10 of the bestTelegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom -Aug 19, 2008By Deborah Stone If you only take one river cruise in your life, it should be this route, sailing along the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. ... |
Stupid cruise tricks: When you can't get on (or off) - WalletPop
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Inflatable Boats and Inflatable Kayaks Are Naturally Safe and Stable
Inflatable boats such as inflatable kayaks, inflatable catamarans, and inflatable sport boats have several advantages over their traditional watercraft counterparts. They typically cost less, are easy to transport, and can operate in more shallow waters than a deep hull boat. But many people don't realize that inflatable boats are just as safe, or even more secure, than traditional boats. Because of their safety reputation, inflatable boats are now essentially the standard for use by the military, coast guard and other rescue agencies worldwide.
Dock and Deck Cleaning Business
A great addition to cleaning boats in a marina will be also to take care of any buildings that are on or near the water, and the docks themselves as they can get covered with bird droppings, dirt, spider webs, and anything like that. Wood decks, docks and piers are subject to attack by moss, insects, sun, salt spray, fish guts, water damage, physical wear, foot traffic, rain, snow, morning dew. All of which are quickly absorbed into unprotected wood causing it to swell, deteriorate and chip away, also causing shrinking, warping, splitting, cracking and discoloration.
The Rise and Rise of Croatia For Sailing Holidays
In the 1980s, Croatia - then part of Yugoslavia - built up a sizeable yacht charter industry. It was never then on the scale to rival long time favourite Greece, but it was large enough to get itself noticed as an attractive coming destination. Then came the various Balkan wars - one of them involving Croatia itself - and the disintegration of old Yugoslavia. Croatia is now the ex-Yugoslav republic with almost all the coast line!
What Is Best For You; An Inflatable Kayak Or A Hard-Shell Kayak?
If you are buying a kayak for the very first time it is very exciting but there are a lot of things that you need to consider and to think about. You will need to consider what type of kayak you need for the type of activity you will be doing with it.
Yacht Winterization Service Business
If you own a boat maintenance business you need to be providing winterization services to your customers. Many boat owners who get to know you may trust you to help them winterize their boats. The best place to store a boat is under a cover in a controlled climate environment. This can be very costly and although there is debate on whether a boat should be "shrink-wrapped" for winter or not that too is very costly.
Wanted! Adventurous Guests Looking For a New Experience on a Royal Caribbean Cruise
Wanted! Adventurous guests looking for a new experience on a Royal Caribbean Cruise! Royal Caribbean Cruise line is known to be a leading, innovative cruise vacation company that offers new experiences, a wide array of choices, and great vacation value for active singles, couples and entire families looking for exciting adventures.
Update April 2005 - Holland America Cruises, Signature of Excellence Program
Holland America Cruise Lines has initiated a program of up-scaling their cruise ships, cruise line image and passenger cruise experience. This initiative is called the Signature of Excellence program and will soon be experienced by cruise passengers on all Holland America cruises.
Carribean Cruise
Caribbean Cruises are among the most demanded cruise vacations in the world; with almost two million plus travelers sailing on different liners every year. Warm tropical climates sprinkled with great beaches, exotic foods and excellent tourist spots in a chain of fine islands is a hot tourist destination in the world. Cruising along Caribbean is very popular as the liner anchors at different ports in different islands giving cruisers a rare opportunity to explore the whole region. Cruises to any country are fun as they offer comfort at one's finger tips and amenities of top order.
Robotic Boat Cleaning is Here, Soon it will be Affordable
Robotic Underwater ship cleaning robotic unit, the M3500 Robotic System robot, is UltraStrip's robotic systems have recently completed a number of hull-cleaning operations for the U.S. Navy as well as major cruise-line operators. A hull-cleaning involving more than 33,000 square feet of hull - cleaned to near white-metal tolerances - can be completed in just 72 hours.
Celebrity Cruise! Opulence Perfectly Staged
Each generation of Celebrity ships has emerged to assume a leadership role in the cruise industry. From the contemporary elegance of Horizon to the stylish and high-tech Century, to the latest epoch, Constellation, Infinity, Millennium and Summit, all are five-star vessels of incomparable allure. In true Celebrity style every conceivable luxury awaits you. Every stateroom is a sanctuary; culinary standards are impeccable, entertainment a masterpiece! There's poetry to be found in the perfect symmetry of grace and strength, which is the hallmark of Celebrity's trim, powerful ships. The ships are designed for your complete fulfillment and beauty is in every detail. In every painting and sculpture, in foyers so grand they resemble Venetian courtyards, in the exotic fabrics tinted to rich jewel tone colors, in the handsome accommodation, and in the sophisticated restaurants and stylish lounges and bars. Polished mahogany, etched glass, soft leather and crisp linen harmonize with immaculately maintained public areas and perfectly prepared
staterooms.
Internet Cruises - Shopping Online
"If you build it, they will come."
Tropical Cruise Expert Guide
A tropical cruise in the Caribbean or in the Gulf of
Mexico is an ideal choice of vacation for couples of
all ages. Whether you're looking for a short romantic
break or if you'd like a longer voyage with more time
to explore tropical islands and soak up the Caribbean
sunshine, then a tropical cruise is for you.
Marina Dock Cleaning Equipment
Docks needs to be routinely pressure washed or they become slippery and ugly from black algae and small spills. Often they have spilt oil, fish guts, beer, fuel and even sewer tank liquids on them. Obviously you do not want anyone to slip on anything like that. So what equipment to do you need to use to have the best results.
Keltic Seafaring
Many academics are unable to handle the possibility of ships that travelled the oceans as long ago as the Franchithi Caves dig that showed 13,000 B.C. community fishing fleets. It even was hard for most to accept the Kelts at the time of Caesar had this technology at that time despite the words of Caesar. Some people think knowledge once gained is never lost but that is far from true. Barry Fell was a Harvard Professor of Oceanography before he got the bug to expose the truth. Some (Like Wiseman in Archaeology Magazine of 'Camelot in Kentucky' article from 2001) ridicule Fell as "self-taught" in matters such as Ogham. Truth is, Fell took one of the only small courses available at the time from Edinburgh University. Who can really learn the truth from academics that hide it? His name was made dirt by academics but his legacy from America B.C and Bronze Age America has been sweet vindication.
Crossing Paths With a Legend
When 13-year-old Bill Lefakinis first visited the famed yacht Christina O in 1959 on the Hudson River in New York City, little did he realize that a 45 year old bond was about to start with the legendary vessel.
How A Boat Can Make Retirement A Pleasure
Boats are a fine part of any man's retirement. They give us something to do, offer us new places to see and keep us active mind, body and spirit. We in turn need to care for our boats. Repair and maintenance, proper crewing and proper financing including boat insurance are all things that we need to do to keep our boats safe.
Are you Ready for the Cruise of a Lifetime?
Cruises are one of the best ways to unwind and relax. It's the ultimate in vacations. Is a cruise for you? Do you know what there is to do on a cruise? Its not just a ride on a boat you know.
Sailing Hints & Tips
I spend almost all my summers sailing around the Greek islands. With this small article I would like to share some sailing hints with you that will help you enjoy the most out of your sailing holidays.
Maximize Your Cruise Wardrobe With These Packing Tips
Cruises are a fun opportunity to dress up and look your best but how do you look fresh every day without bringing your whole closet?
Boat Hull Cleaning; Equipment Needed
How do you clean the hull on a boat when it is out of the water? As a boat cleaner or detailer there are ways to speed up the process of boat hull cleaning. It is important to do a perfect job if you are to later detail the boat or put wax on it. You must protect yourself and you will need safety equipment. First, you'll want some protective equipment as you'll be using some harsh acids to remove the algae growth that accumulates on the bottom of boats. Some very strong nitrile gloves, goggles, and/or respirator are all recommended. Here are some of the best places to buy safety equipment, we have used all these companies and they are all fast, responsive and knowledgeable:
|
