What to Look For When You Spot a Whale (Beyond the Breach)

When most people imagine whale watching, they picture a single moment — a massive whale launching out of the water in a dramatic breach.

And while breaches do happen, they’re only one small part of a much richer story.

Some of the most meaningful whale encounters in Maui come from noticing the quieter signs — the ones that tell you how a whale is moving, resting, or interacting with others. Knowing what to look for transforms whale watching from waiting for a splash into reading the ocean itself.

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The First Sign: The Blow

Most whale sightings begin with a breath.

A humpback’s blow — the visible mist of air and moisture released from the blowhole — can rise 10–20 feet above the surface. On calm days, it may look soft and lingering. On windier days, it can appear sharp and angled as the wind carries it away.

Learning to spot blows is one of the most valuable whale-watching skills. Once you see one, the whale’s position and movement often become much easier to follow.

The Back: Reading the Curve

After the blow comes the back — a smooth, rolling rise that tells you a lot about what the whale is doing.

A slow, relaxed roll usually means the whale is resting or moving calmly. A more pronounced arch can signal a deeper dive is coming. Paying attention to the rhythm of surfacing helps you anticipate where the whale might appear next.

This is where patience pays off. Watching the pattern matters more than watching the splash.

@sailtrilogy Teaching moments🤍 the mom was showing her baby how to do a pectoral slap, and while the calf practiced and got it down, she moved on to showing her calf how to lift its fluke in the air🥹 such a precious moment to be able to witness🐋 #sailtrilogy #humpbackwhales #calf #baby #mom ♬ original sound - sailtrilogy

Pectoral Fins and Surface Movements

Humpbacks are known for their long pectoral fins, which can reach nearly a third of their body length.

You might see a fin lift slowly out of the water, slap the surface, or glide just beneath it. These movements can be related to communication, social behavior, or simple repositioning.

Often, these subtle moments happen when guests least expect them — and they’re easy to miss if you’re only watching for breaches.

@sailtrilogy When a humpback lifts a pectoral fin like this, it’s hard to wrap your head around the scale. That “arm” can grow up to about 16 feet long — longer than most cars — and it’s only one part of a whale that can reach the length of a city bus.   Moments like this are why we slow down out here. From a respectful distance, you start to notice just how intentional their movements are, even when they look playful on the surface. Big bodies, thoughtful motion, and a whole lot of presence in the water. Trilogy adheres to @noaa DOLPHIN SMART Guidelines: All photos and videos were taken while viewing from a responsible distance. The whales in these photos and videos approached the boat while the engines were in neutral or off. #sailtrilogy #humpbackwhales #whalewatching #maui #funfacts ♬ I can't describe what I'm feeling - lyrλmbient

The Fluke: A Signature Goodbye

Not every dive ends with a fluke, but when it does, it’s a special moment.

A fluke (tail) raised high before a deep dive often indicates the whale is heading down for longer. The underside patterns are unique to each whale — like a fingerprint — and researchers use them to identify individuals over time.

When a whale lifts its fluke, it’s not a performance. It’s simply part of how a large body moves efficiently through the water.

@sailtrilogy My favorite movie🌅🐋 #sailtrilogy #sunset #whales #whalewatching #maui ♬ Cinema - 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝄞𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄

@sailtrilogy Our whale season may not start until the 15th but these guys are already putting on a show! Don’t forget to book your whale watch now to witness this for yourself💙🐋 #SailTrilogy #WhaleWatching #Whales #HumpbackWhales #Maui ♬ Over the Rainbow - christmastiktoksss

Interactive behavior

Occasionally, whales engage in behaviors that feel especially interactive:

Tail Slaps: When a fluke repeatedly strikes the water

Spyhops: When a whale rises vertically to look above the surface

@sailtrilogy These are what we call friendly whales 🐋 This humpback approached the boat out of curiosity, lifting its head above the surface in a behavior known as a spy hop. Whales do this to look around, and it’s something we sometimes see when they choose to interact on their own terms. After the spy hop, the whale settles just below the surface in a vertical position, offering a rare view of this calm, curious behavior beneath the water. Trilogy adheres to @noaa DOLPHIN SMART Guidelines: All photos and videos were taken while viewing from a responsible distance. The whales in these photos and videos approached the boat while the engines were in neutral or off. #sailtrilogy #humpbackwhales #spyhop #whales #maui ♬ original sound - sailtrilogy

@sailtrilogy It never gets old to see one of these guys pop their head up and say aloha💙 we are so blessed to share our oceans with these beautiful animals, and love to share the beauty with all who sail with us🐋✨Our whale watch tours officially kick off on December 15th, however we are already seeing them out & active on all of our sails! Join us to witness their magic💖 #SailTrilogy #HumpbackWhales #WhaleWatching #Maui #WhaleSeason ♬ Steven Universe - L.Dre

These behaviors can have different meanings depending on context — communication, awareness of surroundings, or social signaling. What matters most is remembering that whales choose when and how to show them.

Listening Counts, Too

Not all whale encounters are visual.

On many Trilogy whale watches, guests have the opportunity to listen to whale songs through hydrophones lowered into the water. Hearing a song without seeing a whale nearby is still an encounter — one that connects you to what’s happening beneath the surface.

Sometimes the ocean is telling its story in sound, not motion.

@sailtrilogy Listen to these Humpbacks sing🐋🤍🎶 This mom and calf are swimming peacefully by while a male is just below, singing to them🥹 Trilogy adheres to @noaa DOLPHIN SMART Guidelines: All photos and videos were taken while viewing from a responsible distance. The whales in these photos and videos approached the boat while the engines were in neutral or off. #sailtrilogy #whalewatching #maui #underwater #whalesongs ♬ original sound - sailtrilogy

@sailtrilogy POV: you just tuned into the oceans playlist🔊🐋 Ever wonder how we can hear whales underwater? We use a hydrophone — basically an underwater microphone — that picks up sound waves traveling through the ocean. Since sound moves farther and faster in water than in air, whale songs can carry for miles! We also follow NOAA guidelines to help protect whales and reduce disturbance, including keeping respectful distances and limiting interaction time. 💙🌊 #sailtrilogy #whales #whalesongs #hydrophone #humpbackwhales ♬ original sound - sailtrilogy

it’s about more than just a breach..

When you learn what to look for, whale watching becomes less about waiting and more about noticing. And that’s when the experience starts to feel personal.

All of the photos and videos on the post were taken on one of our sails. If you want to see this for yourself, book a tour today!