White whale tale’s joy

Migaloo pops up to Reef tourists’ delight

THE skipper of a Great Barrier Reef tour boat has told the total elation of encountering Migaloo the white whale near Green Island.

The famous albino humpback emerged from a herd of about three other whales as Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises’ MV Reef Rocket departed the island shortly after 2pm yesterday.

Skipper John Thackray said it was an amazing experience for everyone on board.

“Migaloo swam around the boat and then around the back of the boat,” Mr Thackray said.

“He didn’t swim away and the boat was in neutral the whole time.

“He dived down and went right under the boat and then came up the other side.

“And I had 45 screaming passengers and five screaming crew just going crazy.

“It was amazing. It brought me to tears.” Great Adventures’ vessel Reef Adventure also encountered the gentle giant. The vessel’s skipper Brett Thompson said, even though he had spotted Migaloo three times in his career, it was always special.

“Our crew and passengers were in awe and very excited as we watched Migaloo heading south about 1km from Green Island,” Mr Thompson said.

“They know it is a once in a lifetime experience that very few people get to see.”

He described the ocean turning a turquoise colour under Migaloo’s illuminated skin.

“You see the lovely colour before Migaloo surfaces, which is beautiful,” he said.

“He was not breaching, but swimming along the surface with a few tail splashes.”

The last time Migaloo was spotted in Far Northern waters was in 2014.

The humpback usually joins the thousands of whales that migrate from Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef for annual breeding season.