5 Aquatic Animals to See In Their Natural Habitats

If you love animals and grew up watching the Discovery Channel, you probably have a bucket list of critters you'd like to see in person someday. For obvious safety reasons, most human encounters with wild animals take place in zoos, safari parks or theme parks. However, when it comes to aquatic animals, it's generally preferable to see them in their natural environment. It's even more difficult for humans to provide larger marine animals with anything resembling an appropriate reconstruction of their natural habitat than it is for most land animals. You won't regret traveling to see these 5 animals in their homes:

 

Whales and Dolphins

 

Many of the larger species of whales are absolutely impossible to keep in captivity. Smaller whales like dolphins and porpoises can be kept in captivity, but natural "smiles" aside, a significant number of scientists and animal rights activists believe that they cannot be kept happy.

 

Fortunately, most cetaceans are quite happy to meet us on their own turf. They seem intrigued by the presence of humans and will even seek out boats to "surf" in the wake. Just make sure you use an eco-conscious tour operator who will not harass them or disturb them as they search for food. Mexico's Baja California is one of the best places to whale-watch. The gray whales in this area know that they are no longer hunted, and will actually come up to boats with their babies to be petted. Amazing!

 

Penguins

 

Penguins are adorable creatures, but they rarely seem happy in zoos and aquariums. Fortunately, there's no need to travel all the way to the South Pole to see them in the wild. Penguins live in several different places around the world, all much more hospitable than Antarctica. You can see them in Chile, on the Galapagos Islands and even as a part of a trip to Australia or New Zealand. Penguins and koala bears in the same trip? Where do I sign up?

 

Sharks

 

Hollywood "B" movies like "Jaws" aside, it's quite possible to swim with sharks and come away in one piece, as long as proper safety precautions are taken. Doing so is likely to be an experience you'll never forget. There are a variety of places all over the world that offer shark dives, including Mexico, the Bahamas, and South Africa.

 

 

Whale Sharks

 

Whale sharks are listed separately here because swimming with them is a totally different experience than swimming with their more toothsome cousins. These gentle plankton-eating giants don't seek out human attention, but they don't shrink from it, either. Most divers describe them as "serene." Great destinations where you can swim with whale sharks include Isla Mujeres, off the coast of Cancun, and Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand.

 

Sea Turtles

 

Most species of sea turtle are highly endangered. One way to help them is by patronizing responsible eco-tourism operations that allow snorkelers and divers to see them up close in the wild. This gives local communities an incentive to protect the turtles and conserve their habitat and nesting grounds. Opportunities to swim with sea turtles can be found all over the world, but especially in Barbados, Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

 

To encounter many of these animals, you will need a valid passport. Be sure to apply early, preferably months before your trip. Regular passport processing takes about six weeks; expedited processing takes three. If you need your passport faster than that, you'll have to either make an appointment at a passport agency office or use a private company such as RushMyPassport.

About the Author

Alison Kroulek is a freelance writer and blogger with a focus on the travel industry.