Resides the Gulf of Papagayo’s amazing abundant of reef life, underwater enthusiasts also have a good chance of encountering some extra-large surprise visitors…
Humpback Whale
Imagine being in the water looking at the reef fish, accompanied by the soft gurgle of your bubbles before noticing another not-so-familiar noise. You look around to see if it might be another diver, but you notice the guiding dive master cupping his hand to his ear.
It isn’t inside your head; he hears it too! The deep groans skip to overlapping high-pitched moans. It’s an incredibly complex, hypnotizing sound that gets steadily louder until the vibrations totally engulf your body. It’s one of the most remarkable non-visual experiences you can experience.
Upon surfacing, the boat captain excitedly informs you that there are humpback whales nearby and that you were listening to them singing. Humpbacks are found all over the world and can be split into three regional populations; the North Pacific, The North Atlantic and the Southern Hemisphere. All populations migrate from summer feeding grounds to winter breeding and mating grounds. Of the two Pacific populations the North Pacific population spends summer months along the coast from California to Alaska and the Southern Hemisphere populations spend summers in Antarctica. Individuals from both populations visit Costa Rica during the winter months. Whales seen from July through October are visiting from Antarctica and whales seen from December throng March are occasions the two populations overlap.
Research has found that this unlikely event has occurred un the past and that the coasts of Costa Rica and Panama are the only places in the world where humpbacks from the southern hemisphere can meet those from the northern hemisphere.
Humpback Whale
Suddenly, off the bow of the boat a giant spout of water shoots up into the air followed by one that is significantly smaller. It’s a mother and her baby. They are followed by a male. He is not the father, but is attempting to court the female. Sometimes a whole group of males will be trying to court a female at the same time.
Everybody cheers as the spouts of water fly and bodies emerge from the water. Humpbacks are the most acrobatic of all whales and their behaviors include throwing themselves completely out of the water, slapping with their flippers and tail, and swimming on their back. Some of the onlookers begin to cheer again, others gasp, while the rest are left speechless as they try to process the enormity of these creatures. It’s and incredible sensation and a magical experience.
Humpback Fast Facts
Weight: 25-40 tons
Lifespan: 30-40 years
Speed: 3-6 mph
Diet: Krill (small shrimp-like organisms), plankton (tiny organisms that float in the water column), and small fish.
Flippers: Measure 1/3 their body length – the largest of all whales.
Ecotourism and Nature 
