Kids & Family
Humpback Whales Show Off During Boat Tour Off Virginia Beach
Between eight and 12 humpbacks were spotted during the two-hour cruise put on by the Virginia Beach Aquarium & Marine Science Center.
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — For those who booked a spot on a whale-watching boat Monday morning, it indeed was money well spent on the approximately two-hour sea tour.
That's because they got to see several humpback whales frolicking in the ocean just off the shore of this resort city, which also is home to the Virginia Beach Aquarium & Marine Science Center, which charters the boat dubbed the Atlantic Explorer.
The whales breached the surface, which means they jumped completely out of the Atlantic, much to the delight of those on board.
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"For most of the cruise," Mike Kane told Norfolk TV station WTKR, "we were literally surrounded by whales, (and) some were surfacing very close to the boat."
Alex Rabon, the acquarium's boat program coordinator, told the Virginian-Pilot the group saw between eight and 12 humpback whales.
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They also showed the underside (fluke) of their tails. Rabon said the uniqueness of each fluke is similar to a human's fingerprint.
The cruises are $28 for adults and $24 for kids 3-11.
Photo: Virginia Beach Aquarium & Marine Science Center
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