Quick Cat 2 Hervey Bay Whale Report #2 Sunday 1st August 2004 by Stephen Somers: Suncoast Half Day Tours "Whale Watch Transfers Available Now"   Another awesome week of Humpback Whale watching on the world famous sheltered waters of Hervey Bay.   The weather has been kind with smooth calm conditions on almost every trip this week and the whales have been in excellent form too with many pods now visiting Platypus Bay in the North-West Side of Fraser Island.   Lots of whales are being encountered with Bottle Nose Dolphins, Indo-Pacific Dolphins and even a few Dugong being seen on the ride out to where the whales are. Most of the whales are sub adults 2-6 years old and very inquisitive with Quick Cat 2 being "mugged" on almost every cruise for between a few minutes and up to 1 and a half hours!     Those that don't know, a whale mugging doesn't involve you losing you wallet; rather it is when the whales are so close to the boat the skipper has to shut down the engines to avoid any chance of a collision. Of course the benefit of this event is everyone gets to learn the Hervey Bay Whale Waltz... the little dance that everyone on board does when you go up the front of the boat, down the back...to the left and to the right, then the steps are repeated in no particular order depending upon where the whales want to pop up.   I was lucky enough to have a flight in Quick Cat 2's Exclusive Spotter Plane with Brian Perry on Friday. Well, it was great to see Fraser Island from the air and you could really see the groups of whales all over Platypus Bay, but I would have loved to have been down on Quick Cat 2.   I have seen Whales breech before but never synchronised breeching!!! 2 Whales were leaping out of the water a 100 meters or so from the boat side by side in perfect unison then when they had enough of that they started backstroking in circles around the boat following each other.. all this watched by another 2 pods of about 9 whales (and of course the passengers and crew of Quick Cat 2) and to top it all off the 2 started a singing competition, apparently so loud that the hydrophone (underwater microphone) wasn't needed with the sounds of whale song clearly heard above the water.   The Humpback Whale Photo Gallery is now online www.dolphinecotours.com/whalephoto_gallery.htm , I will be adding more shots of the whales and dolphins as the season progresses.   We look forward to some of your guests coming aboard soon, don't forget that they don't have to drive themselves up to Hervey Bay. Our shuttle bus will pick up at the door & we provide delicious home made Scones with Jam and Cream for morning tea at Windsong Tea Gardens, which are proving a real hit with our guests.   Have a Whale of a Week.     Stephen Somers     Stephen & Georgie Somers Suncoast Half Day Tours/Dolphin Eco Tours Tel:  07 54739488 Fax: 07 54739588 Stephen Mobile:0417 315007 Georgie Mobile: 0411 315708 www.suncoasthalfdaytours.com "Small Groups and Personalised Service are our Speciality" www.dolphinecotours.com "Come and Get Face to Face with a Dolphin"