Seasonal· Anguilla· Leeward Islands
Humpback Whale Season (Anguilla)
18° 16.3′ N · 62° 59.0′ W · approximate
Humpback whales pass Anguilla from February to May on their way north, and mothers with calves sometimes linger in the north-east bays. A 2022 local account describes a family that stayed three hours in Captain's Bay, coming within about 300 feet of an Island Harbour fishing boat.
Practical
Coordinate approx: water off Captain's Bay, about 0.5 nm north of the beach, where the 2022 encounter happened in 50-80 ft of water (a 5-minute run from the Island Harbour dock); whales were also seen off Scrub Island and in Shoal Bay East. Most sightings are several miles offshore in deeper, rougher water, with a few on the south side. Adults surface every 7-15 minutes, calves every 3-5. Keep your distance, never come between a mother and calf, and drift quietly with the engine in neutral if they approach. Keep a lookout on the Anguilla Channel and Scrub Island crossings in season.
Best for
Whale sightings on spring passages
Season
February–May