Whale Watching Season Opens In Turks & Caicos Islands

Jan. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- WHALE WATCHING SEASON OPENS!!!

MIDDLE CAICOS CO-OP /  DANIEL’S CAFÉ  : TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS

Each year sometime between mid January and mid March, the annual humpback whale migration proceeds along the shores of Turks & Caicos Islands. It is a magical time here, when the awe and amazement of a whale sighting turns your day into an absolute dream. On Saturday January 22nd, the first official sighting of the whales off the shore of Middle Caicos was noted. Mark Parrish, eco-guide from Big Blue Unlimited was hiking into the old Haulover Plantation ruins on the east end of the island in the morning with his intrepid group. As they climbed to the viewing platform near the plantation chimneys, he pointed and they all caught the sight of a humpback breaching in the water just off the reef!!!  The migration is in flow……and what a fabulous way to open the whale watching season 2011.

One of the main attractions for whale watching in Middle Caicos is that the trademark reef  surrounding most of the TCI archipelego is almost absent near Conch Bar village, allowing the whales to pass close to shore!!   Visitors to Middle Caicos can enjoy the breeze while watching whales right on the ocean shore at Daniels’ Café, Conch Bar, Middle Caicos from 11am Tuesday to Sunday inclusive ( NOT  mondays)  In 2010, lunchtime whale sightings were a source of pleasure for many from January  thru March - the gentle puffs as the whales surface and blow, the graceful slide of dark silver as they swim along and the spectacular lift when they surge out of the water!!  For more information contact Daniel’s Café on 1-649-232-6132, email middlecaicos@tciway.tc or  visit www.middlecaicos.biz

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres (39–52 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water. Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometres (16,000 mi) each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves. The species' diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have a diverse repertoire of feeding methods, including the bubble net feeding technique. (info on humpback whales from Wikipedia)

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MIddle Caicos Co-op is located in the Turks & Caicos Islands, a not for profit operation to preserve and promote traditional culture and heritage. Over 40 local artisans contribute their handcrafts , paid on delivery, and the MCCo-op markets their work. Daniel's Cafe is owned by Daniel O Forbes, one of the founders of the MCCo-op and he is also the chef!! This charming cafe is nestled beside the MCCo-op studio on the seashore in Middle Caicos.