Whale Watching and Lightning Avoidance on Weizhou Island—Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me Sooner?

😭 There are so many pitfalls in whale watching on Weizhou Island! To fulfill my dream of island whale watching, I did a week’s research, compared many options to avoid traps, and you don’t realize until you compare... There are tons of whale watching operators on the island, with different whale watching boats, captains, routes, services, and prices. Now I’m sharing with you the 5 major pitfall avoidance tips I’ve organized 👇 1⃣️ Some operators use fishermen’s small fishing boats, which seem risky but are actually very dangerous. Bryde’s whales can be over 10 meters long, and these small boats simply can’t withstand collisions with them❗️ 🟢 Choose a legitimate whale watching yacht to ensure the boat is stable and reliable. 2⃣️ Only captains with rich experience who understand whale habits and feeding spots can give you a high chance of seeing whales. Usually, they will idle at least 100 meters away to protect the whale’s ecosystem and ensure they don’t disturb their lives. 🟢 Find a professional captain to increase your chances of seeing whales. 3⃣️ Whale appearances are in fixed locations. Experienced captains know which areas have higher whale sighting frequencies, greatly improving your chances. If the captain lacks experience, you’ll waste time wandering where there are no whales. 🟢 Choose companies with fixed routes and good reputations to avoid wasting time. 4⃣️ During the trip, the captain’s quality directly affects your experience. A qualified captain not only navigates steadily but also strictly follows regulations to avoid disturbing the whale’s ecological environment. 🟢 A qualified captain is your guarantee for whale watching! 5⃣️ Some low-price tours are just a waste of time. Halfway through the trip, the boat turns back saying no whales were seen. Whales appear near Xiyang Island, more than half an hour’s sailing from Weizhou Island. Keep your eyes open—low prices are often traps. 🟢 Don’t go for cheap deals; low-price tours might make you waste your trip. ㅤ Essential preparations for whale watching 👇 ❶ Seasickness medicine: Take it half an hour in advance, even if the sea is calm, some people still get seasick. ❷ Sun protection: Prepare sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. UV rays and sea reflections can affect your whale watching experience. ❸ Watch for whale signals: · Circular ripples on the sea surface (whale footprints) · 2-3 meter water spouts (whales surfacing to breathe) · Low-flying seagull flocks (whales feeding with mouths open) · Have your camera ready to shoot anytime. ❹ Bring a telephoto lens: To capture moments of the whales. ❺ Keep quiet: Don’t be too loud when watching whales to avoid scaring the whale calves. ❻ Check the weather: Ask about the weather in advance and choose days with low wind and waves for whale watching. ㅤ 🙌 The company I chose: 300+ all-inclusive · Legitimate company + legitimate yacht · Experienced and qualified captain · Protects whale ecology and truly does not disturb them · Limit of 11 people per boat to avoid crowding 📩 Don’t go for cheap whale watching on the island; choosing the right one is what matters. I hope this pitfall avoidance guide helps you! If you have questions, feel free to leave a message—I’ll share all my real test results with you~