Humpback Whale Aerial Collision, Maui

   There is trouble brewing around the shores of Maui. Female humpback whales are going into heat and it is driving the male whales to compete for her attention. We call these fighting groups 'competition pods' and it is something we only see in the warm, tropical breeding areas of humpback whales. Maui is one such epicenter of activity and this year seems to be off to a great start for whale watching.

Aerial Collision caught on film

   Drawn in by multiple whale blows all together we slowed down as we neared the commotion. Three whales surfaced almost simultaneously, one out in front and the other two right on top of each other. We continued to watch the battle unfold as the two male humpback whales lunged on top of one another, looking like they were trying to push the other underwater. Several slap of the tail ensued as the two males used all of their competitive arsenal to deter the other from continuing.

   The fighting continued for well over an hour and culminated in a rarely seen aerial collision before we could follow no longer. During the fight I noticed bloody tubercles and a pinkish bloody hue to the blow of one of the whales. It seems this female must have been worth fighting over.

 Even though the whale watching epicenter is located around Maui, you can also see them off Oahu's North Shore. Buy tickets for those trips here.

See my Humpback Whale pictures in large format for sale here.