This complete guide to whale watching includes locations of lookouts, information on chartered tours, and a field guide to 77 varieties of whales and dolphins.

Guide to whale watching with information on their habits, their appearance, and where to watch them.

'Everyone who loves the sea and what's in it should own this book.' Bill Bryson From the blue whale to the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise, this handbook is the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date reference to each of the world's 90 species of cetaceans. With more than 1,000 meticulous and specially commissioned illustrations – complete with flukes, blows and dive sequences – it includes detailed annotations pointing out significant field marks, as well as extensive distribution and migration maps. Many of the world's most respected whale biologists have collaborated on the text, helping to provide the ultimate guide to the identification, distribution, behaviour, life history and conservation of every species and subspecies of whale, dolphin and porpoise. This is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in these truly spectacular animals.

An updated edition of the book that helps plan a whale-watching trip. With new information regarding whale tours in North America, this valuable guide explains everything from where to see these magnificent animals and what a tour will cost, to what to watch for and what to wear. Includes updated information on pricing, dates, tour operators, and contact information. 35 illustrations.

A new and fully updated edition of this popular title, which is the definitive guide to watching whales, dolphins and porpoises in British and other European waters. A fascinating introduction to whales and whale watching is followed by a detailed field guide with spectacular illustrations, identification and behaviour tips, dive sequences and distribution maps for all the cetaceans of Europe. The final part of the book provides a comprehensive guide to Europe's major whale watching sites, covering 19 countries in all, from Scotland and Ireland to Spain and Norway. Imagine watching Minke Whales in the light of the midnight sun in Iceland; snorkelling with a wild Bottlenose Dolphin; or sharing a day with a group of Blue Whales against a spectacular backdrop of snow-capped mountains. These are just a few of the whale and dolphin watching experiences now available in different parts of Europe, which is rapidly becoming a hot-spot for this exhilarating activity.

The Complete Whale-Watching Handbook is a spectacular celebration of whales, porpoises, and dolphins, and of the immense diversity of opportunities to view these spectacular marine mammals in the wild. Once the stuff of fishermen’s yarns and literary classics, we can all now experience the excitement of an eye-to-eye encounter with a whale, dolphin, or porpoise. This book covers the biology of each creature listed, focusing on the species that can be seen on excursions, the behaviors likely to be encountered, and the nature of the industry. There is also a species guide, followed by a comprehensive region-by-region guide to whale-, dolphin-, or porpoise-watching opportunities worldwide. Up-to-date listings include contact information and a seasonal analysis of the species that can be expected. There are also sections explaining the study of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, examining the impact of whale-watching on whale populations, and offering practical advice on how to view, photograph and enjoy these creatures in the wild.