Welcome to the Boater Safety Course!
Observing humpback whales in Hawaiʻi is an unforgettable experience. This short course is designed to help on-water users learn best practices for safe and respectful whale watching. In Hawaiʻi, we recognize our kuleana, or shared responsibility, to care for marine life and protect these incredible animals.
By taking this course, you are helping ensure that whale watching remains both safe for people and respectful of the whales. The high density of whales in Hawaiian waters means that close encounters are common but can be dangerous for both humans and whales. Your awareness and actions on the water help reduce the risk of collision and disturbance, supporting ongoing conservation efforts to protect these magnificent animals for generations to come. By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Use available resources to prepare for a trip at sea
- Identify commonly seen cetacean species in Hawaiʻi and be familiar with some of their natural behaviors
- Safely traverse sanctuary and other waters in which there may be high density of animals
- Put safe whale watching guidelines to practice while at sea
- Know what to document and who to call if you encounter a whale in distress
- Share what you’ve learned with other ocean users
- Know when you’re operating within the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
This course can be viewed on a variety of mobile devices. It is divided into four lessons with quick assessments along the way.
Key features that will help you throughout this course:
- Go at your own pace! Once you sign in, you can leave and return to the course at any point via https://seeaspout.org/login/
- Track your progress: A progress bar across the top of the screen will allow you to see how much of the course remains.
- Use the “Mark Complete” button at the bottom of each page to continue to the next topic.
- If you skip around to the different lessons, you can track which ones you still need to complete in the course outline along the left sidebar.
- You’ll be able to download and share a certificate of completion once you’ve finished.
This course is brought to you by the team at See A Spout? Watch Out!, a collaborative program between NOAA Fisheries, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries, and State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources.