Have a whole boat to yourselves for a morning of whale watching off Mirissa. This is a 10-metre sports speedboat with twin 200 HP Suzuki outboards, and it is booked for your group alone: one price covers up to 10 guests. It reaches the whale grounds faster than the big shared boats, so more of your three hours is spent out where the whales are.
The boat:
- Length 10 metres, for a maximum of 10 passengers
- Twin 200 HP Suzuki outboard engines, top speed about 25 knots (around 46 km/h)
- A private cabin with its own washroom
- Life jackets for everyone, a first aid kit and emergency equipment, and a crew trained in safety at sea
How the morning runs:
- Meet the crew at Mirissa harbour by 7:30 am; the exact meeting point is sent with your confirmation
- The boat leaves at around 8:00 am and reaches the whale grounds in about an hour
- The trip takes about 3 hours from harbour to harbour
- Hotel pick-up can be arranged on request, at an extra cost
Includes:
- Breakfast on board, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices (cheeseburger, chicken burger or sandwich)
- Bottled water and a plate of fresh fruit
- Light snacks
- Seasickness tablets and basic medicines
- A short talk on the whale species and how they are protected
Excludes:
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
What you may see:
The deep water south of Mirissa is one of the few places where blue whales are seen close to shore. Sperm whales and pods of dolphins are seen often, and Bryde's whales and the odd humpback turn up too. The calm season on this coast runs from November to April. These are wild animals, so no sighting can be promised; the crew slows down and keeps a respectful distance once whales are found, and lets them set the pace.
Who it suits:
Families with children, couples and small groups of friends who would rather not share a deck with a hundred other people. With room to move, a washroom and breakfast on board, it is also a gentler way to spend a morning at sea for anyone who finds the big boats crowded.
