70-Pax Whale Watching Boat Tour in Mirissa

(70 Pax) Whale Watching Boat Tour : Pricing: Per Person Per Day 55 USD. ACTIVITIES : We regularly see large pods of dolphins whilst on our way to and from the whale areas. Blue whales can be found just a few miles offshore. These activities can be combined with any of our cruising or fishing options. Minimum 2 people. Customers are requested to arrive at MWS by 6.15 am for morning tour and 1.15 pm for evening tourVessels departing at 6.30 am90% sighting guaranteedNo refund will be made if no sightings but we will arrange a free reschedule trip depending on seat availabilityWe advise that you take sea sickness tablets especially for those who get sea sickAn average trip takes 4 to 5 hours (duration varies depending on the distance and sighting location)Total refunds made if the vessels returns to the harbour due to technical problems, bad weather or other unavoidable circumstancesParents with infants are advised to bring necessary foodsPregnant mothers and parents with children age below 3 are requested to obtain advice and approvals from a medicsAll the passengers wear safety jackets throughout the journey Coastal Cruises One of our vessels, The Spirit of Dondra, can be hired for cruising, anchoring in bays for swimming, snorkelling & picnics or just for sight-seeing. The coastline around Mirissa is noted for its wonderfully unspoilt coconut fringed beaches and coves. Minimum hire is 2 hours for a maximum 10 people. WDC DEFINING RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING For this reason, WDC has codified the criteria which we believe must be met in order for whale watching to be truly responsible and sustainable to whales and dolphins and the marine environment, and truly beneficial to passengers, operators and communities. In order to qualify, trips must offer: A prime recreational and educational experience for participants which motivates them to care about marine mammals and the sea, and to work for marine conservation; An experience that seeks to reduce the impact on whales, so that whales are watched with the lightest ‘footprint’ possible: this includes respecting relevant regulations or codes of conduct; ensuring vessels are fit for purpose; approaching with extreme care and attention,; respecting approach distances, and limiting time spent in their vicinity ; Opportunities for researchers to gather scientific information and disseminate findings to managers and the public; An experience built around a naturalist or nature guide who can provide accurate information, help to find the whales and describe their behaviour, and successfully build the bridge between the urban participant and the sea; and The active involvement of the community or region in its work, enabling communities and regions to have a financial as well as a personal interest in whale watching and the conservation of cetaceans and the sea. (Source: IWC, 19961, Hoyt/WDCS, 2005, and Lott et al. 2006). In addition, we seek to promote situations where research is being conducted so that the whales and dolpins are also being carefully monitored over the longer term. Whale and dolphin species are subjected to many pressures in the modern world and we believe that such monitoring can help to determine their status and the potential sustainability of the factors that may be affecting them, including whale watching. In the United States, Whale SENSE is a voluntary education and recognition program offered to commercial whale watching companies (Maine through Virginia) by NOAA Fisheries Service, NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Another collaborative progamme is Dolphin SMART, which aims to promote responsible viewing and stewardship of wild dolphins. The programme currently has participating operators in Florida, Alabama, and Hawaii. Launched in the Florida Keys in 2007, Dolphin SMART is the result of a collaborative effort between WDC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Dolphin Ecology Project, and local dolphin-watch tour operators.