Scuba Season
Least Concern· population increasing· assessed 2018

Humpback whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Sighting evidence at Humpback Channel

Humpback whale

Photo: Wayne and Pam Osborn · CC BY-NC

Humpbacks winter in Okinawan waters between January and March, using the warm subtropical sea to calf and mate before migrating north to summer feeding grounds. The Kerama channel is one of Japan's most reliable in-water humpback encounter locations.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Humpback whale is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites