frequency of whale sightings from a dive boat?

[BSOD]

Looking at going to Maui in early Dec, and wondering if whale sightings from a dive boat are generally a pretty rare occurrence during whale season (though I've read early Dec. is pretty early in the season), or if it's somewhat common?

Been to Maui a number of times (last time was only half a year ago - thus not a huge desire to go again just yet), but some friends are going then, and I've never been there anywhere near whale season.

Thanks

 

[DiveMaven]

Early December is early in the season, so whale sightings might not be as common as say February. However, we go to Maui for 2 weeks every Christmas/New Years and haven't had a dive charter where we don't see at least 4 whales...no joke....and we dive every day. Now if we could just see one UNDER water....

 

[OBXDIVEGUY]

Last Feb we saw whales on 2 of the 4 trips we did near Waikiki, Oahu. At one point they nearly came right up to the boat!

 

[DiveWestOahu]

first whale sighting this season was middle of sept, but haven't seen any since

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

According to the Honolulu Advertiser, the State's first reported humpback sightings were on October 22nd.

Humpback whales spotted off Maui | HonoluluAdvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser

A pod of humpback whales was spotted Tuesday morning off the west coast of Maui, the first reported sighting in the state, marking the beginning of whale season, according to an official with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The first sighting from a Pacific Whale Foundation boat was on Saturday (10/31/09).

PWF guarantee's whale sightings starting December 1st. I believe they used to start the guarantee December 15th.

From a Kihei launched Molokini dive boat there is ~20 minutes of boat travel to Molokini, ~10 minutes boat travel to second site and ~15 minutes travel back to ramp. Ma'alaea launched Molokini boats travel ~40 minutes, ~10 minutes and ~40 minutes. Lahaina launched Lanai trips travel ~45 minutes, ~10 minutes and ~45 minutes. Ma'alaea launched Lanai trips travel ~60 minutes, ~10 minutes and ~60 minutes.

To a certain extent, time spent on the water increases the odds of seeing whales, although South Maui is a very popular spot for whales. According to some satellite studies, Penguin Bank off the West of Molokai has the highest density of whales at any given time during their time here. That means all those dive boat routes cross the path between South Maui and Penguin Bank.