CLOTHING:

It's always colder on the water than on land. Even if it's summer. So be prepared. Take extra clothing that you can put on in layers. Several thin layers of clothing are better at keeping you warm than one big thick layer. (No Fur Coats, Please!). Bring along an outer garment clothing (like a wind breaker) that protects you from the wind. In early spring or late autumn, a hooded jacket will be most welcome.

If you have a lightweight rain 'poncho' it's worth taking it along. Wear good rubber soled shoes. Those made for boats (deck shoes) are best.

SUNGLASSES:

Take along a good pair of POLARIZED sunglasses. Water reflects light from the sky - which causes glare - which makes it harder to see down into the water. Polarized sunglasses remove most of this glare and let you see whales and dolphins more clearly. You can usually pick up a pair of inexpensive 'fishermans' polarized glasses at the local sports shop. Normal sunglasses don't work as well as their polarized cousins.

SUNSCREEN:

Even on a cloudy day you can get a bad suntan. Add the fact that normal sun intensities can be nearly doubled by reflections from the water and you might end up lobster red by day's end. So take along a high factor sunscreen and use it liberally.

WATERPROOF CLOTHES:

You probably won't need any waterproof clothing - unless you are going on one of the fast inflatable boats that seat you close to the water. But most of these whale watch operators provide waterproof coats that you can borrow to keep you dry.

But, you might consider taking a WaterProof Bag along for your gear. Keep cameras, binoculars, video camcorders and clothing dry and salt free.

SEA SICKNESS PILLS:

No body wants to talk about being sick, but it's a fact of life. First of all., let it be forever known that EVERYONE gets seasick at some time! So there's no shame in admitting your stomach is a bit queezy. If you have been at sea for a long time (like me!) you do develop a bit of an immunity to sea sickness. But, after over a decade at sea on small boats, even I get 'green' from time to time.

Fortunately there are many over-the-counter remedies that can help. But we don't push pills! So, I'll let you in on a few secrets on how to avoid being sick:

Stay on deck. Look around at the horizon if you start to feel a bit motion sick. That tip alone will cure 50 percent of all people! When you go inside the boat, your eyes see a normal scene - a room with chairs and furniture like fixtures. But your ear sends signals to your brain that the room is moving. Your brain gets confused and sends out a warning signal designed to make you want to go elsewhere. You start to feel sick. Going out on deck restores the balance. Your eyes now report that you are indeed on a boat that is moving and that agrees with the motion sensors in your ear.

Avoid Alcohol and Greasy Foods. These irritate your stomach lining and just bring on a more severe attack of seasickness.