To see from distance a dolphin or a whale is surely an extremely fascinating and emotional experience which may change an inattentive person from an attitude of “indifference” to the awareness of the importance towards the protection of the environmental habitat where these creatures live, feed and breed.
However it must be well clear that we are “Guests” in their environment, and therefore when in contact with them we must not to cause any disturbance with our presence.
It is important to remember that in order to live the experience of contact with a non captivity dolphin necessitates sailing far away from the coast, it is therefore necessary to start the excursion well prepared both practically, with adequate equipment, and mentally.

It is also important to point out that a whale watching excursion is subject to the weather conditions and consequentially may be cancelled not only because the state of the sea prohibits a comfortable and safe trip, but also because the sea’s condition deeply affect the chance of a sight.
The best condition requires a calm sea with no wind.
Even to us, with a long experience in this activity, the sea may erroneously appear as a desert; but in the Ligurian sea cetaceans are present and they are also numerousness, and the best way to see them is to patiently persevere.
Whales and dolphins spend their life mostly underwater, and their presence on the surface is only due to their need to breath. Signs which indicate their presence are mainly: blows, backs, fins and splashes.
It is necessary to have on board very skilled lookout; to be a good whale watcher is not an easy task: it requires a good deal of experience to train the eyes to perceive even the smallest movement on the sea surface. Furthermore, it is necessary to learn to gaze not only in a single direction but to sweep the sea surface from the horizon to the proximity of the boat in the sector assigned to each lookout.
Each specie has a distinctive behaviour in the vicinity of a boat, therefore it is necessary, before approaching a gam, to identify the species in order to manoeuvre the boat to the needs of the animals.
In this instance it is not only important the behaviour of the crew (further on in the web you will find a specific guide line on this subject) but also the behaviour of the passengers taking part in the excursion: With consistent and correct conduct it is possible to acquire the confidence and company of the cetaceans for many hours.
The two golden rules for the perfect Whale Watcher are:

• To cause the minimum possible disturbance to the animal.
  
• To be armed with patience to enable the correct interpretation of the signs of spotting.