Checklist "Whale Watching"
You should keep this in mind before and during a whale watching excursion….
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f you have booked your Whale Watching Tour in Valle Gran Rey, then the meeting point is the port of Vueltas. It makes sense to get there 15-20 minutes before you need to leave.
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If you are prone to seasickness or are unsure, you should take a pill against seasickness about 30 minutes before the whale watching trip. There are chemical clubs or homeopathic preparations, which experience has shown to work just as well. Alternatively, you can take a pot of warm ginger tea with you on board - ginger is a great help against nausea.
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Do not go on the boat with a full stomach or an empty stomach. Eat a light snack 2 hours in advance and, if necessary, take a small snack with you on board . Do not eat any acidic fruits before or during the trip (oranges, lemon, passion fruit ...).
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If possible, do not drink any coffee or alcohol 2-3 hours before the trip. Especially if this is your first time going on an excursion or if the weather is extremely hot, you should not drink alcohol during the excursions.
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Sunglasses, sun cream ( SPF 30, in summer SPF 50+ ) and a long shirt should be on board with every dolphin tour. Even when it is overcast or windy, the sun is usually stronger on the sea than on land. In addition , the sea reflects the UV rays and children in particular should always apply good lotion - even in winter.
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The weather can change quickly even in summer. At first it is still cozy and warm, then there are clouds and an ice-cold wind . You should always take a long sweater, hat and socks with you, especially on the afternoon tours. Yes, socks! With some providers you have to take off your shoes on deck. And when it gets a little windier, your feet quickly freeze.
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Photos are nice memories - but primarily for others. My tip: take some nice photos of the sightings and then consistently put the camera away. Enjoy the sightings and the moment. Often the guests try desperately to take one great picture after the other and miss the best moments in the process.
Since these are wild animals, no provider can give you a sighting guarantee ! There are weeks when you don't see a single dolphin despite an intensive search. And the next day, five different species can be seen during an excursion, a school of dolphins with 1000 animals and a large whale. That's whale watching! And one thing is certain: even if you haven't had any sightings, it was definitely a wonderful day at sea.
Whale watching with children? Many parents are concerned that their offspring might get sick during the trip or that they might not really care about the whales and dolphins. Believe me, as soon as your child sees the first whale or dolphin, all your worries will vanish! And of course, things can get bad even for a child, but they usually put up with the trips better than your parents!
Tip: When booking, always provide your correct telephone number or error-free contact details . In autumn / winter in particular, tours can be canceled or rebooked due to weather conditions, so the provider has the option of contacting you by phone and booking you directly for another date.
How will the weather be today or tomorrow...?
What will the weather be like on tomorrow's whale watching trip or will it be wavy and rocky? Many clients ask me or the providers this question before making a decision. But let's face it, on Gomera you can only roughly predict the weather. And that only in the short term -- so will it be violently windy, or will it stay "normal"! You can be sure that the excursion will be canceled if the providers have the impression that it is too windy for a tour! Sure, it can always get windy, you are going out on the Atlantic after all. But at "Windfinder" you can get a rough idea of the current wind and weather situation.