number of tour organisers.

Each year, humpbacks and other whales pass along the South Shore as they migrate from the Caribbean to the northwest Atlantic.

Already, several lucky observers have seen the ocean giants from south shore vantage points.

Marilyn Starling, the members' activities coordinator for the Bermuda Zoological Society, said the Society had been staging trips for at least 15 years.

But she said the popularity of the activity had increased noticeably in the past five years as more people became aware of whales and conservation efforts.

Trip organiser Graham Allen of Fantasea Diving welcomed the increased interest.

"It's good to actually go out and see the whales floating around,'' he said.

While there is no guarantee that observers will actually see a whale, the increase in the number of boats on the look-out will certainly help.

"Now there's more of a chance of success because the boats stay in communication, saying where the whales have been seen,'' said naturalist Bobbie Cartwright.