DIVE-SEEK field image · species photo unavailablemammal · baleen whale
Dwarf minke whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata subsp.
Small curious baleen whale that voluntarily approaches snorkellers on the northern Great Barrier Reef.
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Quick facts
The Dwarf minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata subsp.) is a marine species divers can encounter. Typical size: 500–700 cm. Usually seen at 0–20 m depth. Where to see it: Great Barrier Reef.
Summarised from DIVE-SEEK's recorded catalogue data; omitted values are not yet recorded.
Taxonomic rank
species
Typical size
500–700 cm (body_length)
Maximum size
800 cm
Typical depth
0–20 m
Maximum depth
100 m
Conservation status
Research in progress
Photography difficulty
3 /5
Activity pattern
Diurnal.
Description
Naming caveat: this is an undescribed subspecies of Balaenoptera acutorostrata with no accepted trinomial name, so the record is stored as Balaenoptera acutorostrata subsp. Conservation status deliberately not populated: the parent species has an assessment but this subspecies does not, and borrowing it would be misleading.
Habitat
Cool-season waters of the northern Great Barrier Reef and the Southern Hemisphere.
Behaviour
Voluntarily approaches stationary swimmers on a rope, circling repeatedly over long periods.
Diet
Small schooling fish and krill.
Social behaviour
Small groups.
Photography notes
Interactions are permit-controlled and swimmers must stay on the line. Ambient light, wide angle, no strobes.
Ask about Dwarf minke whale
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Where to see it
Destinations
Encounter records link species to destinations only when a verified source supports them.
Provenance — each verified claim is linked to its source as records are published.