I could be wrong but i believe it is law for ANY craft or individuals to remain a minimum of 50m from whales.

Obviously it would have been a huge stoke to be close like that but the law is there for a reason.

I did'nt have my tape measure on me and anyway they are big up close fkn big hard to gauge distance!

gruezi said...

I'm so friggen jelous Mal...but finally heading up to the big country, warm weather, wind and whales...I like watching turtles having sex.

Is that so you can get some tips on what to do, LOL

Headin south a pod of 10-15 maybe hard to count with all the breaching and tail slapping going on.

is the distance you're meant to keep from the whales for your protection or theirs...?

and how far should you keep away from these beauties...?

Mini Mal said...

I did'nt have my tape measure on me and anyway they are big up close fkn big hard to gauge distance!

You need a tape measure to estimate 50 meters? How about your kite lines being 25 meters?

Are Dave Spruce and Skwinty the same person?????? I had to look twice and still can't say for sure. And can you guys please put me in touch with the photographer you used for your avatar pics - after seeing them I'm thinking getting a pro to do mine too.

when those sunnies have puppies can I have one?

What about night kiting with whales

Then dism could get together with sandgroper and dob yas all in..



I was out fishing last week and had a whale come up and check me out while I was fishing real close.. Apart from scarin the cr*p outta me who was breakin the law there??

kk said...

What about night kiting with whales

Then dism could get together with sandgroper and dob yas all in..

Or we could just let the ocean karma get you...either way

theDoctor said...

^^^^ ocean karma.....? funny i did not know you could spelt knob, d i s m

What? That's not a sentence!
And why when i'm trying to point out that doing that stuff will probably hurt your sport, and I suddenly a 'knob'? Would you prefer me to help you hurt your sport?

Ocean Karma - Someone annoys a whale, next time they paddle/sail/kite out a noah get 'em!

Or do you guys prefer the Japanese/Iclantic customs of whale meat?

In that case take out your harpoons and be done with it!

Or leave it alone. Just like an overcrowded break, a whale propably would be pissed by the whalers, tourist whale watching boats and others continually disturbing it as they just try to travel up north to have a root, meanwhile every inch of the way each towns people come and annoy it.

Imagine every break you surfed at was as crowded as the one you just left to find a secluded break, would you be pissed?

toppleover said...

Hey Laurie, any chance of getting unDISMirables banned from the kiteboarding section???

On what context?

DaveSpruce said...

Mini Mal said...

I did'nt have my tape measure on me and anyway they are big up close fkn big hard to gauge distance!

You need a tape measure to estimate 50 meters? How about your kite lines being 25 meters?

Yeh c'mon, I'm with Spruce and Dism, there are ALSO laws in place for a reason; stick to them.

Compare this scenario to NOT kiting within the Flagged area at a beach... The law is in place for a REASON!!! A good reason.

How many of us as kids swam a length of 50m at a swimming carnival!!!? It wasn't THAT long ago for all of you, and I am sure you can estimate 50m compared to 20m.... Common sense should prevail.

I question, what kitesurfers/ windsurfers come under/ boats/ jetskis or another type of marine vehicle!?!?

I also question, what is the visibility of a whale while you are 100/50/20m away... Just another thought to ponder. Usually you would see whale activity and it not just 'appear' from nowhere.

Courier Mail

Under the new state rules governing white whales, people who bring a boat closer than 500m or an aircraft closer than 2000ft (about 600m) to the albinos face fines of up to $12,375, or $9000 for a non-white whale.

Boats must not come within 100m of the whales, while jet skis must stay at least 300m away. In the whale protection zones of Whitsunday, Lindeman and Gloucester islands, boats must keep a 300m distance.

If a whale comes to your boat you're fine to be as close as IT wants. You're not allowed to approach them though. That's why when I worked on a whale watching tourist boat we use to get the 75 passengers to wave their arms - the inquisitive whales saw the movement and would swim right up to the boat. Engines must be switched off in close quarters like that.It gets pretty exciting towards the end of the season when you get fighting males fighting over the females - wild stuff and gets pretty nasty.

Cheers