DRAFT: Kaikoura

the stay

• amazing views
• crazy lamps
• no light bulbs
• stove top with boil mode that sounds like a jet taking off

sunset fur seal kayak

first-time pedal kayaking

• seal excrete oil in the water and will roll around on rocks to make themselves water proof
• life span is similar to a dog the gestation period is similar to a human

Dolphins

• cold water
• lazy morning with everyone doing separate runs
• super chaotic
• tons of kicks to the face
• making weird noises
• two swims The first one was amazing
  • 2nd there were >100 dolphins all super interested in us
  • did a dozen loops with one dolphin and got dizzy and totally exhausted
  • kicked in the face and lost my snorkel
  • if you started swimming in a circle they would show up
  • making all sorts of funny noises to attract them
  • couldn’t hear the dolphin clicks but the gopro picked them up

Whale watching

sperm whales facts

• only males in the area. here to eat food and get big so they can mate. females stay in the tropics. the largest male gets to mate
• named for the 2.5 tons of oil in their head which is milky white. later found out the females have the oil too but the name had stuck
• largest animal can tell cold-blooded animals from warm via echolocation
• squid filter slat out of the water via their tears so the sperm whales love squid because that is where they get their water
• can and have eaten great white sharks whole
• eats all their pray whole
• would be the apex predator of the sea but the Orcas take the title because they eat cold and warm-blooded animals the brain is the size of a basketball
• stays at the surface for a few breaths and then will stay underwater for 45min to an hour

What we saw

• sperm whale
• fin whale
• fur seals
• dusky dolphins jellyfish
• tons of marine birds