How We Search for Whales: The Captain’s Story of Radars and the Pomors’ Old Experience

When guests head out to sea from Teriberka for the first time, they often ask the same question: how do you spot whales in Teriberka, and what happens behind the scenes of a sea trip? From the deck, it all looks simple — the boat moves across the open water, the wind smells of salt, and the captain calmly watches the horizon. But in reality, searching for whales in Teriberka is a combination of experience, observation, and modern technology.

To see whales in Teriberka, it is not enough to simply go out to sea. You need to understand animal behavior, fish movement, wind direction, and even the color of the water. That is why a whale-search tour is almost a real expedition.

On the captain’s bridge, things look a little different. While travelers are taking photos of the sea, the captain is watching several things at once: the movement of the waves, flocks of birds, marks on the instrument panel, and messages from other vessels.

Whales in Teriberka appear where there is food. If there is a lot of fish nearby, the chances of an encounter are high. That is why an experienced skipper is constantly analyzing the situation. This is how the real Murmansk whale search begins. Sometimes a decision to turn a few degrees to the right can lead to the brightest moment of the tour — when a huge humpback whale surfaces very close by.

It is not just intuition. Modern vessels use a whole range of tools.

Main search technologies:

• radars used in whale search help track vessel movement and navigate the waters;
• echo sounders and hydroacoustic equipment help detect schools of fish underwater;
• modern whale-watching instruments help record the coordinates of previous sightings.

But even the most advanced technology cannot replace human experience. It is the combination of instruments and intuition that makes a whale tour in Teriberka successful.

The best instrument is the eyes. The Barents Sea is called the “Sea of the Pomors” because for centuries this was the home of the Russian Pomors — people who went out into the ocean in wooden boats without radars or GPS. The northern Pomors navigated by the wind, the currents, and the behavior of birds.

Their knowledge is still used today. For example:

• if seagulls gather in one place, there is fish underwater;
• if the water changes color, it means a feeding current is passing through;
• if a “smoke” appears on the horizon, it may be a whale’s blow.

The Pomors’ seafaring knowledge was passed down through generations. Long before modern technology appeared, the Pomors of the Barents Sea knew where to look for fish and marine animals. Today, captains still use this knowledge.

For guests in Teriberka, a whale tour begins when they board the boat, but for the crew, the preparation starts much earlier.

Preparation for a whale trip includes:

• checking the weather and sea conditions;
• choosing the route;
• analyzing previous sightings;
• checking the equipment on board;
• staying in contact with other captains.

During the trip, the captain constantly adjusts the course and watches the water and the birds. This is what makes whale watching truly professional.

The honest answer is no. Whales are wild and no one can control nature. But the chances of an encounter can be increased. The crew’s experience, constant observation, and understanding of animal behavior explain why we find whales more often than others. Sometimes technology helps, and sometimes it is old seafaring instinct.

And when the first blow appears on the horizon, the whole boat falls silent. That is exactly the moment people come for when they join whale tours in Murmansk.

It is very important to remember: careful whale watching is the main principle of working in the Arctic.

We follow strict rules:

• do not approach too closely;
• do not block the animals’ path;
• reduce speed;
• observe calmly and without noise.

An approach that does no harm helps preserve the animals’ natural behavior and shows respect for life in the ocean.

When a whale rises beside the boat, the sea suddenly becomes quiet. A huge tail slips beneath the water, seagulls cry overhead, and it feels as if time stops for a moment. This is exactly why people come to Murmansk to see whales and choose a whale tour from Teriberka.

If you would also like to see whales in Murmansk, learn more about our tours and explore local spots, contact us through our contacts page. You can also read турист reviews via the link.

The Seahike team invites you to head out to sea with us and see how whale searching really happens — where technology meets the experience of the Pomors, and every trip can bring an encounter with the giants of the Arctic.