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Whale-Watching

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Whale-Watching

Set sail on a magical whale watching trip

One of the special things about whale watching on the east coast is that there is chance of seeing medium sized or large whales. If you are lucky you might see a humpback whale in spring or even the beaked whale, a species that spends much of its time deep under water. As spring turns to summer, sperm whales, killer whales and pilot whales can be seen. June-August when the sea is calm is the best time for whale watching. In recent years, whale watching has become a very popular activity in Taitung and now many fishing harbors have companies running whale watching boat trips.

Risso's dolphin

Risso's dolphin

The Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) is the most common dolphin seen off the east coast;it is closely related to the killer whale;the marks on its body comes from injuries sustained when hunting, fighting or when attacked; when the wound heals it becomes a lighter colored mark.

Chenggong Fishing Harbor

Chenggong Fishing Harbor

Chenggong Fishing Harbor is in the northern tip of Taitung County and is the largest and best equipped fishing harbor in Taitung. Scenic spots such as Sanxiantai, Stone Umbrella and Eight Immortals Cave are nearby. The yacht wharf is one of the main wharfs for whale watching. The first sailing is at 7am, then every two hours, with three sailings a day. After around 30 minutes you have a good chance of seeing dolphins playing in the waves made by the bow of your boat or spotting a large whale moving slowly but majestically through the water, magical natural sights that you will remember for a long time.

  • Self-drive Provincial Highway 11 to around the 116 K point and will reach Chenggong fishing harbor
  • Public transport Taipei a Dingdong Bus Co bus from Taidong heading for Hualien, Chenggong or Jingpu, alight at Chenggong Market and then walk to the fishing harbor.
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Things to note when watching whales and dolphins

  1. Sleep well, eat and drink normally before setting out; don’t drink too much alcohol before going whalewatching.
  2. Carry your ID, for inspection when leaving the harbor
  3. Wear light long sleeved shirt and trousers and anti-slip flat shoes
  4. The sun is fierce summer, so a sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream are essential.
  5. If you suffer from motion sickness take some motion sickness pills
  6. Wear a lifejacket according the rules and follow the instructions of the crew and interpreter regarding safety regulations.
  7. Don’t feed the whales and dolphins or throw rubbish into the ocean
  8. Carry a whale and dolphin illustrated handbook and whale guide leaflet to help you identify whales.

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