Gary's Nautical Information: Whale's Tail Charters (New Location)

Whale's Tail Charters

Whale's Tail Charters (New Location)

Whale's Tail LLC

270 SE Coast Guard Dr.

Depoe Bay, OR  97341

Aug. 24, 2015

Re: Our new office location

Dear Whale Watchers,

Business is so good that we’re expanding and moving our location to accommodate our growth. We will be concluding our association with Dockside Charters on Aug. 31, 2015 to begin the moving process and will re-open at our new Ticket Office location Tuesday, September 1 at 10:00 AM.

Our business, including website, email, and telephone, will be fully operational during the moving process and you will not experience any changes or delays in service during that time.

Please update your records with our new contact information:

Whale's Tail Charters

80 S Hwy 101, PO box 911

Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

541-921-1323

Our boat, the Whale's Tail, will remain at its current location: Turn East on Bay St. at the only light in Depoe Bay. Follow the road down and around the back side of the bay, past the Coast Guard Station, into the Harbor parking lot. Our boat is located on Dock 2, halfway down on the left side.

Our other contact information will remain the same:

Website: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Email: whalestail115@yahoo.com

As a valued customer we thank you for taking the time to update your records. Please feel free to contact us at 541-921-1323 with any questions.

Sincerely,

Captain Gary Stephenson

Kit Stephenson

Whale's Tail Support Team

Contact Us: www.whalestaildepoebay.com/contact

541-921-1323

Depoe Bay Whales

Want to learn about our local resident gray whales and the history of Depoe Bay? Here you can experience transiting the world’s smallest navigable harbor and unique narrow harbor entrance. Hop aboard the Whales Tail for an exciting and thrilling ride to see gray whales and other marine life. Because we are faster than the larger boats you actually get to spend more time with the whales. Our trips are fun, informative and interactive, and our Owner/Captain Gary is dedicated to making your whale watching and wildlife trip an experience of a lifetime.

The Whales Tail was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon coast. The Whales Tail is a ridged hull zodiac style boat specifically designed for marine mammal viewing, our high-speed whale watching tour is the fastest, most comfortable way to view the ocean’s most spectacular and magnificent animals. The Whales Tail offers the ultimate in comfort, safety and performance and was designed for whale watching and is equipped with the latest navigational, communication and safety equipment. The Whales Tail is the only zodiac style whale watching boat in Depoe Bay who has been inspected and approved by the state of Oregon.

The Whales Tail provides passengers with the adventure of a lifetime through excellent customer service, first class vessel, the highest possible safety standards and added value from an on-the-water education of not only whales and marine life but navigation and boat handling. We emphasize science and conservation while maintaining a fun and professional atmosphere. The Whales Tail is dedicated to ensuring that your time spent whale watching with us is the highlight of your vacation. We pride ourselves on our level of excellence in customer service and seamanship. So sit back and enjoy as we take you on the ultimate whale watching adventure!

From there we will spend the next 1 to 1 1/2 hours familiarizing and educating you on not just whales but the entire marine eco-system. We take the time to show you all of the wonders of the sea and ensure that your trip is not only exhilarating but also educational. While we journey out to find the whales, you’ll have the opportunity to see a diverse marine ecosystem, including harbor porpoises, sea lions, bald eagles, seals and sea otters. Learn about our local resident whales, such as Scarback who I first saw in 1980 off Newport, Oregon while station in the Coast Guard.

This is a great way to enjoy the natural wonders and spectacular wildlife that lives off the shores of the Oregon coast. We live in a unique part of the world where Mother Nature provides us with abundant sea life; see these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. This is all about making memories for the entire family.

Visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

The Whales Tail, LLC
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Oregon Summer Whale Watching

This is a great way to enjoy the natural wonders and spectacular wildlife that lives off the shores of the Oregon coast. We live in a unique part of the world where Mother Nature provides us with abundant sea life; see these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. This is all about making memories for the entire family.

We hope you can join us whale watching zodiac style aboard the Whales Tail.

Visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail @ Dockside Charters
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Oregon Whale Watching

The Whales Tail provides passengers with the adventure of a lifetime through excellent customer service, first class vessel, the highest possible safety standards and added value from an on-the-water education of not only whales and marine life but navigation and boat handling. We emphasize science and conservation while maintaining a fun and professional atmosphere.

The Whales Tail is dedicated to ensuring that your time spent whale watching with us is the highlight of your vacation. We pride ourselves on our level of excellence in customer service and seamanship. So sit back and enjoy as we take you on the ultimate whale watching adventure!

Check out our Whale Watching FAQ

Make your reservation's online at: Reservations

Daily Trip Times
8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm

Trip Rates
1hr. $25.00
1 1/2 hr. $35.00

For more information visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail @ (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Oregon Coast Scenic Tours

Depoe Bay, Whale Watching, Scenic Tours

Because of its proximity to the ocean, only minutes away, whale watchers can be from dockside to viewing whales and other marine life in a matter of minutes on one of our whale watching tours. Depoe Bay is the site of the world’s smallest navigable harbor. The beauty of Depoe Bay’s rocky coastline along with it's caves and small coves make this a popular coastal destination.

Whale Cove is a small cove, approximately one-third of a mile in diameter, located just South of Depoe Bay. Whale Cove was the location where Francis Drake spent the summer of 1579 during his circumnavigation of the globe by sea. The exact location of Drake's landing spot, at which he claimed a portion of the west coast of North America as "New Albion" has long been a mystery. One of our favorate places to show our customers is Whale Cove, here you can enjoy watching whales, bald eagles, sea lions and harbor seals.

In the spring, March through June most of these gray whales make the journey from their breeding lagoons in Baja California to the Arctic feeding grounds. On this northbound migration, small numbers of gray whales fall out of the migration group and stop at various locations along the Oregon coast, one of these places is Depoe Bay; these whales are called resident whales.

For whales to be known as residents, they must stay around a certain area for at least two days, exhibit feeding behavior, and return year after year. This distinguishes them from migrating whales which stop on their migration and feed then move on their way. Along the coast of Depoe Bay, our resident gray whales begin showing up in June.

On any one day throughout the summer, numbers range from 1 to 20. Some arrive in early summer, leave, and then return in late summer or early fall. Resident gray whales remain around Depoe Bay for a period of days to months, there is one whale Scarback who has been around for at least 20 years.

One of the main attractions for people coming to the Oregon coast is whale watching.We hope you will join us to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Hop aboard the Whales Tail at Dockside Charters, we are the premier whale watching tour on the Oregon coast.

To learn more about whales and our whale watching tours visit our website at: The Whales Tail Chartered Whale Watching

Whales Tail @ (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Gray Whale Migration

Each October, as the northern ice pushes southward, small groups of gray whales in the eastern Pacific start a two to three month 5,000 – 6,800 mile trip south. Beginning in the Bering and Chukchi seas and ending in the warm water lagoons of Mexico’s Baja peninsula and the southern Gulf of California, they travel along the west coast of Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Traveling night and day, the gray whale averages approximately 75 miles per day at an average speed of 5 mph. This round trip of 10,000 – 13,600 miles is believed to be the longest annual migration of any mammal. By late December to early January, they begin to arrive in the calving lagoons of Baja. The three most popular lagoons are Laguna Ojo de Liebre, San Ignacio and Magdalena.

These first whales to arrive are usually pregnant mothers that look for the protection of the lagoons to bear their calves, along with single females seeking mates. By mid February to mid March, the bulk of the population has arrived in the lagoons, filling them with nursing, calving and mating gray whales.

Throughout February and March, the first to leave the lagoons are males and females without new calves. Pregnant females and nursing mothers with their newborns are the last to depart, leaving only when their calves are ready for the journey, which is usually from late March to mid April. Often a few mothers linger with their young calves well into May.

Populations of about 200 gray whales stay along the eastern Pacific coast from Canada to California throughout the summer, not making the farther trip to Alaska waters, many of these whales stay here in Depoe Bay to feed on the abundance of mysid shrimp. During migration gray whales feed very little or not at all.There are approximately 18,000 gray whales in the winter and spring migrations and a group of 200-400 whales that feed along the Oregon and Washington coast during fall and summer.

In the spring, March through June most of these gray whales make the journey from their breeding lagoons in Baja California to the Arctic feeding grounds. On this northbound migration, small numbers of gray whales fall out of the migration group and stop at various locations along the Oregon coast, one of these places is Depoe Bay; these whales are called resident whales.

For whales to be known as residents, they must stay around a certain area for at least two days, exhibit feeding behavior, and return year after year. This distinguishes them from migrating whales which stop on their migration to feed and then move on their way. Along the coast of Depoe Bay, our resident gray whales begin showing up in June. On any one day throughout the summer, numbers range from 1 to 20. Some arrive in early summer, leave, and then return in late summer or early fall.

Resident gray whales remain around Depoe Bay for a period of days to months, there is one whale Scarback (Pictured Above) who has been around for at least 20 years. The last of the resident whales leave in October or November and return to the breeding lagoons of Baja California to rejoin the remainder of the population. Juveniles pass first followed by adults, last are the mothers and babies. Many of them come close to shore feeding on Oregon’s great food supply. In April and May you may be able to see mothers and calves resting in protected coves close to shore.

What is the best time of the year to see whales? Folks seem to think that the best time is during the annual migrations. Contrary to that popular belief, the best time to see whales here in Depoe Bay is March through October. This is when our resident whales have returned and take up residence. As summer approaches we see more of our resident whales returning for the season.

During the spring migration is when the whales move closer to shore and will stop to feed. The best time of day are mornings before the wind starts to blow, during the afternoon it can get windy, which has a tendency to blow the spouts down making it hard for people to see them. Our most popular trips are 1 ½ hours at 8:00am and 10:00am. This is when the ocean is usually calmer and a more enjoyable ride.

If you would like to book a trip March through October be sure and request us by name “Whales Tail” or you can make online Reservations. I will get back with you as soon as possible. Keep in mind that I am usually running tours during the day so I may not be able to respond until that evening or the next business day.

Check out these links to learn more about Comfort and Safety and Tips and Ideas for you Cruise.

Visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail @ (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Gray Whales Breaching Behavior

One of the most awesome sights for whale watchers is that of a whale soaring up out of the water where 1/2 to 3/4 of the body length comes up out of the water and falls on its side or back causing a huge splash as it comes back down and hits the water, this is known as breaching. Humpback whales seem to breach more often than gray whales but gray whale calves seem to breach more often which might suggest that these calves are playing. When a whale is going to breach they will swim very rapidly under water and then suddenly raise its head and body up and out of the water. It will usually land on its side or back with a tremendous splash, often a gray whale will breach several times in a row.

There have been some studies that suggest that calves breach more often than adults which suggest that it may be more for play than anything. Some other theories range from a way to knock off external parasites, such as barnacles, to a form of communication or just for the fun of it. Some other reason for whales breaching could be a form of courtship or a way to emphasize a visual or auditory signal among whales, but the truth is no one knows why they do this. In the photo above is “Scarback”, Depoe Bay’s most famous resident gray whale, she has been coming back to Depoe Bay for the last 20 years.

Spy-Hopping
Another whale behavior that gets people excited is spy-hopping, where the whales head sticks straight up out of the water. One theory on spy-hopping goes against the conventional wisdom that it’s to see what is happening, some suggests that it’s to help the whales hear better; it has been observed that during spy hop behavior the eyes do not always come above the surface of the water. During migration, it may be to hear the surf since their route usually follows the coastline.

When spy-hopping, the whale rises and holds position partially out of the water, often exposing its entire rostrum and head. Spy-hopping is controlled and slow, and can last for minutes at a time if the whale is sufficiently inquisitive about whatever (or whomever) it is viewing. Generally, the whale does not appear to swim to maintain its elevated position while spy-hopping, instead relying on buoyancy control and positioning with pectoral fins. Typically the whale’s eyes will be slightly above or below the surface of the water, enabling it to see whatever is nearby on the surface.

Lob-tailing
Lob-tailing is the act of a whale lifting its flukes out of the water and then bringing them down onto the surface of the water hard and fast in order to make a loud slap. Like breaching, lob-tailing is common among active cetacean species such as humpback, and gray whales. It is less common, but still occasionally occurs, among other large whales. Lob-tailing is more common within species that have a complex social order than those where animals are more likely to be solitary such as gray whales

Visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail @ (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Whales Spouting and Diving

Gray whales swim by moving their large powerful tail flukes in an up and down motion and may span up to10 feet across, the tail flukes often have scars, scratches or bite marks from orca whale attacks. The normal cruising speed for a gray whale is between 2 to 6 mph but they can show burst of speed up to 10 to 12 mph if threatened by predators. Gray whales will surface and breathe two or three times at 10-20 second intervals before submerging for three to five minutes. When a gray whale goes on a deep dive the whale will usually show its tail flukes or arch its back where you would see its knuckles. Gray whales have no dorsal (back) fins. Instead, they have a low hump and a series of six to twelve knuckles or bumps. The gray whale can stay under water for at about 30 minutes and reappear 1/2 mile or more away unless they are feeding in the area. When whales go below the surface of the water it will leave an oval patch of calm water called a fluke print, this is caused from upwelling from the whale’s tail fluke.

When a gray whale goes on a dive it is usually less than 100 feet mainly because the food that the whale eats is in shallower waters. The gray whale has two blowholes that are oval shaped and during a dive, the valves around the whale’s blowhole close to keep water out. Upon surfacing the gray whales spout is about 10 feet high and, if there is no wind can be seen as a heart shape when observed directly in front or from behind. In a single blow about 100 gallons of air can be expelled, if they exhale slowly the blow is hardly visible.

Visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail @ (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

About Humpback Whales

Humpback whales migrate up to 16,000 miles each year and feed mainly in the summer in polar waters and migrate to tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves; their diet consists of krill and small fish. Humpback whales like all baleen whales are seasonal feeders that feed on crustaceans, plankton, and small fish. A humpback whale will eat about 5,000 pounds of plankton, krill and small fish every day during the feeding season, one feeding technique they use is called bubble net fishing. This is where a group of humpback whales swim rapidly in circles around a school of fish and blow air through their blowholes. The bubbles form a barrier that helps to confine the school of fish within an area, and then one or more whales will swim upwards and through the bubble net with their mouth’s wide open and gulp thousands of fish.

Humpback whales breathe air at the surface of the water through two blowholes located near the top of the head. Their blow is a double stream of spray that rises 10-13 feet above the surface of the water. The tail flukes of a humpback whale, which are lifted high in the dive sequence, have wavy rear edges. The deeply-notched flukes (tail) are between 10- 12 feet wide, an adult usually ranges between 39-52 feet long and weighs approximately 36 tons, and these whales can live between 50-70 years.

The pectoral fins are up to one-third of a humpback whales body length and have rough edges; these are the largest flippers of any whale. They also have about 15-35 throat grooves, these grooves allow the throat to expand when they are filter feeding. Female whales breed every 2-3 years and their gestation period is eleven months, the calves are about 14 feet long when born and are nursed by their mothers for their first six months and then go through another period of nursing and independent feeding for another six months. Both males and females reach sexual maturity around the age of five, full maturity is around 15 years, females are slightly larger than males.

Both male and female humpback whales vocalize, however only males produce the long, loud, complex songs for which this whale is famous for. Each song consists of sounds in a low register that vary in amplitude and frequency, and typically lasts from 10 to 20 minutes. Humpbacks may sing continuously for more than 24 hours. Cetaceans have no vocal cords, so whales generate their song by forcing air through their massive nasal cavities.

Scientists are unsure of the purpose of the whale song. Only males sing, suggesting that one purpose is to attract females. However, many of the whales observed to approach a singer are other males, and results in conflict. Singing may therefore be a challenge to other males. Some scientists say that the song may serve an echo locative function. During the feeding season, humpbacks make altogether different vocalizations for herding fish into their bubble nets.

Humpback whales have also been found to make a range of other social sounds to communicate such as “grunts”, “groans”, “snorts” and “barks”.

Sleeping Whale's

Gray whale observations by scientists searching for clues on gray whale sleep studied a rescued gray whale. For nine days they made continuous video-recordings and observations. They collected data on the whale’s behaviors, here’s what they found:

The gray whale rested in two ways:

(1) by hanging just below the surface with its blowhole above water and

(2) by lying on the bottom of the pool.
In both cases, the whale’s breathing slowed, its fins and tail moved slowly until it was fully resting, then the whale only moved to take breaths of air.

When the whale rested on the bottom of the pool, it rose to the surface every few minutes and breathed.

At different times, the whale slept with both eyes open, both eyes shut, and just one eye open (indicating that only half its brain was active).

The whale was more likely to be active during the day and resting or sleeping at night.
During sleep, the whale’s body sometimes jerked and twitched, in humans and other mammals, these movements indicate a deeper state of sleep and dreaming.

Young gray whale calfs actually rest, eat and sleep while their mother swims, towing them along in her slipstream, this is called echelon swimming. At these times, the mother will sleep on the move, in fact, she cannot stop swimming for the first several weeks of a newborn’s life. If she does for any length of time the calf will begin to sink, this is because the calf is not born with enough body fat or blubber to float easily.

Whales Tail @ (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Oregon Whale Watching Tours

The Whales Tail operates out of Dockside Charters which is located on the east side of the bay in the center of the harbor next to the Coast Guard Station. We have put our thoughts and ideas together, forming the premise, that ocean charters should be a more personal experience. Be honest and caring, making safety, comfort and satisfaction of our customer’s our first priority. We offer whale watching, scenic tours, to personal charters to fit all your needs. We have built our business on satisfied, repeat customers, give us a try and you’ll see why.

Experience the excitement of seeing gray whales “up close and personal” and other wildlife on one of our whale watching trips aboard the Whales Tail. We depart from picturesque Depoe Bay, Oregon which is only minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This is a thrilling and exciting ride for people who enjoy being out on the ocean or first timers who just want to experience being out on the ocean and have an enjoyable ride, additionally our whale watching trips are fun and informative.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon coast, the Whales Tail was designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. The Whales Tail has a smaller seating capacity and is a quieter ride than the larger boats, and they ride just a few feet above the ocean’s surface. If there are whales in the vicinity, the Whales Tail can get you near them. Here you can enjoy the simplicity and intimacy of the Whale’s Tail. It’s quiet, roomy and faster than the larger boats so you get to spend more time around the whales. We have all the latest safety features and have been inspected by the State of Oregon.

One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories. This trip is a little more personal where we can take the time to talk and get to know our customers, find out what they like or would like to see, you can’t beat a ride on the Whales Tail.

About Us
I have been involved in the maritime industry for 40 years and recently retired from Oregon State University Research Ship “Wecoma” which included scientific research of whales to sampling the bottom of the ocean to name a few. We were the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon Coast. We have been inspected and have all the latest safety equipment. I hope you will join us on a exciting whale watching excursion aboard the “Whales Tail”.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. This is a very unique experience that puts you “up close and personal” for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales. Here you can enjoy the incredible scenery of the Oregon Coast, transit the worlds smallest navigable channel, and enjoy watching gray whales, humpback whales, orca whales, seals, sea lions, and other marine life. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you and your family a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories.

The Whales Tail operates out of Dockside Charters which is located on the east side of the Bay in the center of the harbor next to the Coast Guard Station. We have put our thoughts and ideas together, forming the premise, that ocean charters should be a more personal experience. Be honest and caring, making safety, comfort and satisfaction of our customer’s our first priority. Whether you’re heading out on one of our whale watching trips or just got back from a trip, you are always welcome to stop by to relax and say hi, the coffee is always on, and free. We have built our business on satisfied, repeat customers, give us a try and you’ll see why.

For more information on whales and our whale watching trips visit: http://www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail @ (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

GPS Coordinates: Lat. 44°48.552 N, Long. 124°03.564 W

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Oregon Coast Excursions

Experience the excitement of seeing gray whales “up close and personal” and other wildlife on one of our whale watching trips aboard the Whales Tail. We depart from picturesque Depoe Bay, Oregon which is only minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This is a thrilling and exciting ride for people who enjoy being out on the ocean or first timers who just want to experience being out on the ocean and have an enjoyable ride, additionally our whale watching trips are fun and informative.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon coast, the Whales Tail was designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. The Whales Tail has a smaller seating capacity and is a quieter ride than the larger boats, and they ride just a few feet above the ocean’s surface. If there are whales in the vicinity, the Whales Tail can get you near them. Here you can enjoy the simplicity and intimacy of the Whale’s Tail. It’s quiet, roomy and faster than the larger boats so you get to spend more time around the whales. We have all the latest safety features and have been inspected.

Visit our website at: http://www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Whale Watching on the Oregon Coast

There are approximately 18,000 gray whales in the winter and spring migrations and a group of 200-400 whales that feed along the Oregon and Washington coast during fall and summer. In the spring, March through June most of these gray whales make the journey from their breeding lagoons in Baja California to the Arctic feeding grounds. On this northbound migration, small numbers of gray whales fall out of the migration group and stop at various locations along the Oregon coast, one of these places is Depoe Bay, these whales are called resident whales.

For whales to be known as residents, they must stay around a certain area for at least two days, exhibit feeding behavior, and return year after year. This distinguishes them from migrating whales which stop on their migration and feed then move on their way. Along the coast of Depoe Bay, our resident gray whales begin showing up in June. On any one day throughout the summer, numbers range from one to 20. Some arrive in early summer, leave, and then return in late summer or early fall.

Resident gray whales remain around Depoe Bay for a period of days to months, there is one whale “Scarback” (Pictured Above) who been around for at least 19 years. The last of the resident whales leave in October or November and return to the breeding lagoons of Baja California to rejoin the remainder of the population.

Visit our website at: http://www.whalestaildepoebay.com


Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Whale Watching Tours in Oregon

Items to consider for your trip


Binoculars: Usually the whales are close enough to see without binoculars, looking through them is hard on a moving boat they restrict your view to a small area. Sometimes they come in handy if you enjoy watching other marine life such as birds.

Tennis Shoes: Remember you are on a moving vessel sometimes the decks get wet and slippery; tennis shoes will help give you better traction.

Warm Clothes: Be sure and bring a coat or sweatshirt or dress in layers, it can be cold even on nice sunny days especially if the wind starts to blow.

Sunscreen: On sunny days you can get sunburn even on a 1 hour trip, the sunlight has a tendency to bounce back up from the water’s surface and you can sunburn even on cloudy days.

Sunglasses: Sunglasses or a hat will help protect your eyes from glare off the water; sometimes the glare from the water will give you a headache.

Camera or Camcorder: Make sure your batteries are charged or bring spares; sometimes taking pictures of whales can be trying, a lot of times its pure luck.

Tips for the squeamish
Some people are a little nervous going out on the ocean, especially if it’s your first time, I always tell people not to worry just have a good time and enjoy the trip. Last year I only had one person get seasick. First off, unlike larger boats the “Whales Tail” sits flat on the water and has a low center of gravity, which means it does not don’t roll like the larger boats and you won’t get seasick. Sometimes the earlier in the day you go the smoother the ride will be, the wind can pick up in the afternoon and cause the ocean to get choppy.

There are medications you can take; check with your doctor what might work best for you, most medications should be taken a few hours prior to the trip. Once your trip begins it is too late to take anything. Sometimes these medications will make you tired, which means you want to take a nap after the trip instead of seeing some of the other sights or going out for lunch. I tell people to avoid fatty or fried foods, eat crackers or ginger snaps; this reduces stomach acid and can help prevent sea sickness. Keep hydrated by drinking water, ginger ale, or even sports drinks; avoid drinks that are high in sugars.

If you start to feel a little queasy take some nice deep breaths sometimes this is all that it takes. Look at the horizon, looking at something that is not moving helps your equilibrium. Remember we are whale watching, help the ole Captain out by looking for whales and other sea life; this will keep your mind occupied. The excitement of seeing these magnificent creatures will make you feel better.

About the Whales Tail
Experience the excitement of seeing gray whales “up close and personal” and other wildlife on one of our whale watching trips aboard the Whales Tail. We depart from picturesque Depoe Bay, Oregon which is only minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This is a thrilling and exciting ride for people who enjoy being out on the ocean or first timers who just want to experience being out on the ocean and have an enjoyable ride, additionally our whale watching trips are fun and informative.

One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories. This trip is a little more personal where we can take the time to talk and get to know our customers, find out what they like or would like to see, you can’t beat a ride on the Whales Tail.

Thank you for visiting our blog site, if you would like more information on whales and our whale watching tour visit: Oregon Whale Watching Tours

Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Awesome Whale Watching Video

Visit our website at: http://www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Whale Watching Comfort and Safety

Visit our web site at: Oregon Whale Watching

Inflatable boats are said to be the safest and most stable boats in the world today with all the new construction methods, technology and the new designs allowing necessary safety systems to be in place. Because of their safety reputation, inflatable boats are now the standard for use by the Coast Guard, military and other agencies because of its speed, maneuverability, and safe stable ride. When you first think about it, you might wonder if an inflatable boat is as safe as a larger fiberglass or wood boat, the fact is inflatable boats are just as safe as larger boats. Inflatable boats are more buoyant because of the inflatable collar or tubes, these inflatable sections help spread the buoyancy out over the entire boat.


A concern that some people have when they are considering an inflatable boat over a larger boat for whale watching is the stability of the inflatable. This is a common question of some people, the fact is inflatable boats are more stable than a larger boat. This is a great feature for people who might be a little bit nervous about going out on an inflatable boat. One indication that inflatable boats are safe is that they are preferred by the Coast Guard as offshore rescue vessels. The one reason the Coast Guard prefers these boats is because they are stable and handle better. Unlike larger boats, an inflatable boat sits flat on the water and has a low center of gravity, which means they don’t roll like the larger boats and you won’t get seasick.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon coast, the Whales Tail was designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. The Whales Tail has a smaller seating capacity and is a quieter ride than the larger boats, and they ride just a few feet above the ocean’s surface. If there are whales in the vicinity, the Whales Tail can get you near them. Here you can enjoy the simplicity and intimacy of the Whale’s Tail. It’s quiet, roomy and faster than the larger boats so you get to spend more time around the whales. We have all the latest safety features and have been inspected.


One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories. This trip is a little more personal where we can take the time to talk and get to know our customers, find out what they like or would like to see, you can’t beat a ride on the Whales Tail.


Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Oregon Whale Watching Excursions

One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon Coast, designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. We have all the latest safety features and have been inspected.
The Whales Tail operates out of Dockside Charters which is located on the east side of the bay in the center of the harbor next to the Coast Guard Station.

We have put our thoughts and ideas together, forming the premise, that ocean charters should be a more personal experience. Be honest and caring, making safety, comfort and satisfaction of our customer’s our first priority. Whether you’re heading out on one of our whale watching trips or just got back from a trip, you are always welcome to stop by to relax and say hi. We have built our business on satisfied, repeat customers, give us a try and you’ll see why.

Thank you for visiting our blog site, we hope to see you aboard the Whales Tail.

Visit our website at: Depoe Bay Whale Watching Tours

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Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Albatross

Although this doesn’t pertain to whales I thought I’d mention something about these magnificent creatures. These birds would always follow the ship when I worked on Oregon State University Research Ship “Wecoma”. If you have not seen an albatross they can be a spectacular site, they are master gliders with the wind. These birds have the longest wingspan of any bird, up to 11 feet.

The wandering albatross is the biggest of some two dozen different species. Albatrosses use their wingspans to ride the ocean winds and glide for hours without rest. They can also float on the sea’s surface, though this makes them vulnerable to predators.

These birds can live up to 50 years of age, they are rarely seen on land and gather only to breed, at which time they form large colonies on remote islands. Young albatrosses can fly within three to ten months, depending on the species, but then leave the land behind for five to ten years until they themselves reach sexual maturity.

Albatrosses drink salt water, as do some other sea birds and feed mainly on squid or fish, they are very familiar to mariners who go to sea because they sometimes follow ships looking for handouts. Albatrosses have a special place in maritime lore and superstition, being followed by an albatross is generally considered an omen of good luck.

The Whales Tail operates out of Dockside Charters which is located on the east side of the bay in the center of the harbor next to the Coast Guard Station. We have put our thoughts and ideas together, forming the premise, that ocean charters should be a more personal experience. Be honest and caring, making safety, comfort and satisfaction of our customer’s our first priority. We offer whale watching, scenic tours, to personal charters to fit all your needs. We have built our business on satisfied, repeat customers, give us a try and you’ll see why.

Experience the excitement of seeing gray whales “up close and personal” and other wildlife on one of our whale watching trips aboard the Whales Tail. We depart from picturesque Depoe Bay, Oregon which is only minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This is a thrilling and exciting ride for people who enjoy being out on the ocean or first timers who just want to experience being out on the ocean and have an enjoyable ride, additionally our whale watching trips are fun and informative.

For more information on whales and our whale watching trips visit: Whale Watching on the Whales Tail


Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Whale Watching in Depoe Bay, Oregon

Experience the excitement of seeing gray whales “up close and personal” and other wildlife on one of our whale watching trips aboard the Whales Tail. We depart from picturesque Depoe Bay, Oregon which is only minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This is a thrilling and exciting ride for people who enjoy being out on the ocean or first timers who just want to experience being out on the ocean and have an enjoyable ride, additionally our whale watching trips are fun and informative.

One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories. This trip is a little more personal where we can take the time to talk and get to know our customers, you can’t beat a ride on the Whales Tail.

Visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915