46 things to wear

What to Wear Whale Watching

Layers, a shell against wind and spray, and flat rubber soles: what to wear on the boat, part by part.

Thin top as a first layerStart light. You add and take off the rest as the boat leaves the dock.
Long-sleeved shirt as a second layerTwo thin layers are easier to adjust than one thick one.
SweatshirtA middle layer for a summer trip. It goes under the jacket once the boat is moving.
Thick sweaterFor cold-water trips. It goes under the jacket, not in place of it.
Warm jacketWear it or carry it. The outside deck, where you watch from, is colder than the dock.
Thermal underwear, in a cold seasonMainly for winter sailings, and light enough to pack all year.
Winter coat over the sweaterFor winter trips in cold places such as Iceland.
Long pants, not shortsPart of dressing warmly. On an open deck the wind finds bare legs first.
Blanket from the boatSome boats lend them. Ask before you pack your own.
One layer more than the forecast saysOne Puget Sound operator puts the water at 10 to 15 degrees cooler, even in summer.

Next step Draw a sea creature to look for

All 46 things to wear

Layers for the deck 10

Blanket from the boat Some boats lend them. Ask before you pack your own.
Long pants, not shorts Part of dressing warmly. On an open deck the wind finds bare legs first.
Long-sleeved shirt as a second layer Two thin layers are easier to adjust than one thick one.
One layer more than the forecast says One Puget Sound operator puts the water at 10 to 15 degrees cooler, even in summer.
Sweatshirt A middle layer for a summer trip. It goes under the jacket once the boat is moving.
Thermal underwear, in a cold season Mainly for winter sailings, and light enough to pack all year.
Thick sweater For cold-water trips. It goes under the jacket, not in place of it.
Thin top as a first layer Start light. You add and take off the rest as the boat leaves the dock.
Warm jacket Wear it or carry it. The outside deck, where you watch from, is colder than the dock.
Winter coat over the sweater For winter trips in cold places such as Iceland.

Against wind and spray 7

Light waterproofs for the outside deck A New Zealand operator advises them, depending on the sea and the weather.
Light windbreaker Enough over a T-shirt on a mild summer trip.
Rain jacket Waterproof, for anyone who gets cold easily or dislikes getting wet.
Raincoat from the boat Some operators lend one. Check the tour page before you buy.
Warm overalls from the boat Some Iceland operators lend them free, to keep you warm and dry on deck.
Warm rain-proof coat What one Alaska operator urges: warmth and rain cover in a single layer.
Waterproof case or plastic bag for the camera Keeps it dry while the boat is moving.

Head, hands and feet 11

Closed-toe flat shoes Walking on a moving boat is hard enough without heels or bare toes.
Hat that fits snugly A loose one flies off once the boat is under way.
Scarf or neck warmer Mainly for winter and wind, and easy to forget.
Sneakers with rubber soles The shoe most lists name: flat, closed and with grip.
Soft-soled shoes One Puget Sound operator calls them best on deck.
Sturdy shoes Operators in Iceland ask for them, with rubber soles.
Thick boots, in winter Warmer than shoes on a winter sailing.
Thick gloves, in winter What an Iceland guide recommends once summer is over.
Thin gloves Enough for a summer trip, and you can still press a shutter in them.
Warm hat On operators’ lists from Alaska to Iceland. Pick one that covers your ears.
Wool or wool-blend socks The pairing one Iceland guide recommends with sturdy shoes.

For sun and to bring along 8

Binoculars Crews use them to find whales, and you can help them look.
Camera with a zoom lens Boats give whales space, so the zoom does the approaching.
Cash for the galley Some boats take cards, but others are cash only.
Lip balm On the Whale SENSE packing checklist, beside the sunscreen.
Polarized sunglasses They cut the glare, so you may see a whale before it reaches the surface.
Snacks Trips run from two hours to four or more. Check that your boat lets food on board.
Spare battery or charger A phone used as a camera runs down faster at sea, away from a signal.
Sunscreen On operators’ lists for cloudy and foggy days too.

Leave at home 10

No flip-flops on deck They are neither closed nor steady on a moving boat.
No glass bottles One operator’s rules name glass containers. Check yours.
No high heels An Iceland operator says to leave them at home. A deck wants flat shoes.
No large cooler Two of the operators this list draws on do not allow them. Check your boat’s rules.
No loose hat The Whale SENSE checklist asks for a snug fit, so a hat does not fly off. Or pick one that ties on.
No sandals An Iceland operator says to leave them at home. Lists ask for closed toes.
No single heavy coat with nothing under it Layers let you add or take away as conditions change.
No smooth leather soles Lists ask for rubber soles or good traction.
No tripod, unless you have asked One operator prohibits them on board.
No wide stroller, unless you have asked Stroller rules differ by boat. One operator stores them on the dock.

How this list was compiled

The 46 things to wear, to bring or to leave at home, and the line under each, were written for this page on 2026-10-12; no list was copied. Each row follows advice that a whale watching program or a tour operator publishes itself, read on 2026-10-12: Whale SENSE, a program sponsored by NOAA and Whale and Dolphin Conservation, What to Bring on a Whale Watch (https://whalesense.org/2020/10/09/what-to-bring-on-a-whale-watch/); Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown, Massachusetts (https://whalewatch.com/information/faqs/); Puget Sound Express, Washington (https://www.pugetsoundexpress.com/whale-watching/faq/); Major Marine Tours of Seward, Alaska (https://majormarine.com/faq/); Whale Watch Kaikoura, New Zealand (https://www.whalewatch.co.nz/faqs/); Special Tours of Reykjavik, Iceland (https://specialtours.is/faq/ and https://specialtours.is/wildlife-adventures/how-to-dress-whale-watching-iceland/); Elding of Reykjavik (https://elding.is/faq); and, for the camera case, Prince of Whales of British Columbia (https://www.princeofwhales.com/faq/). The figure of 10 to 15 degrees cooler on the water is the Puget Sound operator's own. Every boat sets its own rules, so read your operator's page. Left out on purpose: brands, prices and remedies for seasickness, which are for a pharmacist or the crew to advise on. Licence: own work

How it works

What to wear whale watching comes down to layers, a jacket that stops wind and spray, and flat shoes that grip. All 46 things here, with what to bring whale watching, follow tour operators' own published advice.

Read the full guide

It is colder on the water

One Puget Sound operator puts a figure on it: even summer days are 10 to 15 degrees cooler on the water. An Iceland operator says it is often chillier on the water than on land. So operators' lists start with layers and a jacket on top, and those in Alaska and Iceland add a hat and gloves.

Check your own boat

Boats differ. Some have heated cabins, some tours use open-air boats with no cabin, and some Iceland operators lend warm overalls. Read your operator's own page before you pack, and check the marine forecast for wind and waves as well as the weather.

Dress for the outside deck, not the dock: that is where you will stand when a whale surfaces.
Put the camera strap round your wrist before you lean on the rail.

Questions and answers

What should I bring whale watching?

Binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, a spare battery or charger, sunscreen, lip balm, polarized sunglasses and snacks or cash for the galley. That is the checklist of Whale SENSE, a responsible whale watching program sponsored by NOAA.

What shoes should I wear whale watching?

Closed-toe, flat shoes with rubber soles, such as sneakers. Operators ask for good traction because walking on a moving boat is hard enough. One Iceland operator says to leave sandals and high heels at home and to wear thicker boots in winter.

What should I wear whale watching in summer?

Still layers. One Puget Sound operator asks guests to bring a warm jacket in summer too, because it is cooler out on the water. Add sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat that fits snugly.

What should I wear whale watching in winter?

A thick sweater under a warm, rain-proof coat, a warm hat, gloves, a scarf or neck warmer, wool socks and sturdy boots. Ask whether the boat lends overalls, as some in Iceland do.