The North Pacific humpback whales have incredible skill and ritual that is unlike any other whale, they sing underwater, and can be heard from up to 12 miles away.

Not all humpbacks sing; it is only specific males, and those males are lone mammals. They are singular in their species, and it is unknown if these whales breed, or if the skill blossoms at a specific age.

There are much speculation and research into this fantastic humpback whale characteristic. The males sing 50 to 60 feet below the ocean surface with their heads pointing down, and their tails pointed up.

Why Do The Humpback Whales Sing?

All of the reasons why the humpback whales sing is unknown. Some believe that there are spiritual and ceremonial reasons, and others think that it is just communication. Marine scientists do know that the Humpback males sing in breeding grounds to attract females and that the songs ward off foreign males. Their songs can last from 20-40 minutes and are likened to a complex classical music concerto when broken down into specific phrases and units.

Season after season in Hawaii, the Whale Songs are recorded by multiple non-profits and vested marine life protection groups. There is such a meticulous pattern to their songs that it has been noted that where they stop the song at the end of a season, is where they pick right up again at the beginning of the next. It is possible to hear them underwater when you’re swimming or snorkeling near the Humpback Whales. On Maui, you can listen to the whale song while underwater in West Maui; Lahaina, Ka’anapali, and Kapalua beaches.