One of the most enjoyable on-the-water activities is to see whales and dolphins in their natural habitat by watching them from aboard a whale watching vessel.
Possibly the most fun-to-watch whale is the Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), one of the larger baleen whales. Its playful behavior attracts eco-tourists from all over the world, who come to watch the Humpback breach (jump out of the water and leave a large splash), spyhop (stick its head out of the water and look around), and roll around underneath the boat, looking at the passengers.
Other particularly interesting whales to watch include Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), primarily due to their massive size. A blue whale can grow to over 100 feet (33 m) long, and its heart is the size of a small car.
The docile Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is a real world traveler. Its annual migration from its birthing lagoons in Mexico to its feeding grounds in the Bering Sea is one of the longest animal migrations in the world.