Hydrophone Selection Guide for Whale Watching Tours

Looking to enhance your whale watching tours with underwater sound? Here's what you need to know about choosing the right hydrophone:

Hydrophones are underwater microphones that capture marine life sounds
Key features: sound range, quality, and durability
Two main types: resonant and flat response
Consider group size, ocean conditions, and budget when selecting

Quick comparison of popular hydrophones:

Model	Best For	Price Range
SQ26-H1	Small groups, beginners	$100-$200
CR1-UDP	Medium tours, durability	$500-$1000
C57-PAS	Large groups, professional use	$1000+

5 steps to choose a hydrophone:

Check technical needs (frequency, sensitivity)
Consider extra equipment (cables, preamps)
Set a budget
Assess durability requirements
Decide between single or array setup

Remember: The right hydrophone can turn a good whale watching tour into an unforgettable experience.

Key Hydrophone Features

Picking the right hydrophone for whale watching? Focus on these three things: sound range, quality, and toughness.

Sound Range

Whales make all sorts of noises. Your hydrophone needs to catch them all.

Take the Cetacean Research™ CR1A:

It picks up sounds from 0.00016 to 48 kHz (and up to 68 kHz if you push it)
That's enough for blue whale rumbles AND dolphin whistles

Sound Quality

Clear sound matters. The CR1-UDP system is a top pick for whale watching tours.

What makes good sound?

High sensitivity: Catches quiet noises
Low self-noise: Less background fuzz

The CR1A's self-noise is just 38 dB at 1kHz. That's quieter than a calm sea!

Toughness

The ocean's rough. Your hydrophone should be too.

Look for:

How deep it can go
Temperature range
Durability

National Geographic uses C57 series hydrophones. They're built tough and work well when towed behind boats.

Feature	CR1A	C55RS2
Max Depth	500 m	460 m
Temp Range	-25 to 60°C	-40 to 60°C
Material	Tough coaxial cable	Rugged polyurethane

Pick a hydrophone that fits your needs, and you'll be set for some amazing whale watching!

Hydrophone Types for Whale Watching

Choosing a hydrophone for whale watching? You've got two main types to pick from: resonant and flat response. Plus, you'll need to decide if you want a built-in amplifier or not. Let's break it down.

Resonant vs. Flat Response

Type	Pros	Cons	Best For
Resonant	Boosts specific frequencies, cheaper, good for DIY	Less accurate, might miss some whale sounds	Specific whale species, budget tours
Flat Response	Captures wide range, more accurate, picks up diverse marine life	Pricier, may need extra gear	Pro tours, research, varied marine sounds

Take the Oceanphonics hydrophone. It uses an air cavity to boost mammal sounds - great for tours focusing on specific whales.

On the flip side, the Cetacean Research™ CR1 series gives you a flat response. It picks up sounds from 0.00016 kHz to 48 kHz (up to 68 kHz). Perfect for catching all sorts of whale chatter.

Built-in Amplifier vs. No Amplifier

Feature	With Amplifier	Without Amplifier
Ease of Use	Plug-and-play	Needs external amp
Sound Boost	Built-in	Depends on external gear
Flexibility	Limited to built-in amp	Can use different amps
Cost	Often pricier upfront	Might be cheaper, but amp costs extra
Best For	Quick setups, smaller boats	Custom setups, bigger operations

The HY-10 system comes with a built-in amp. It's ready to go right out of the box.

The DolphinEar PRO, however, doesn't need phantom power. This makes it a solid choice if you want to use your own amp setup.

So, what's your whale watching style? Focusing on specific whales or want to hear it all? Need a simple setup or prefer more control? Your answers will point you to the right hydrophone for your adventures.

What You Need from a Hydrophone

Picking the right hydrophone for whale watching tours? It's not about the fanciest gear. It's about finding what works for you. Let's look at what matters.

Group Size and Needs

Your group size and their expectations? They're key.

Group Size	Hydrophone	Features
Small (1-10)	SQ26-H1	Compact, cheap, good for newbies
Medium (11-30)	CR1-UDP	Tough, clear sound, works with boat systems
Large (30+)	C57-PAS	Top-notch, used by National Geographic

Got a small group? Just starting out? The SQ26-H1 from Cetacean Research Technology is your friend. It's small and won't break the bank.

Running medium tours? Check out the CR1-UDP. It's built to last and sounds great. Bonus: it plays nice with your boat's sound system.

Want to go big? The C57-PAS is the way. It's what National Geographic uses. Enough said.

Ocean Conditions and Cost

Where you sail and what you can spend? They matter too.

Ocean	Hydrophone Needs	Cost
Calm	Standard models work	Cheaper upfront
Rough	Need tough models	Pricier, but lasts longer
Deep	Special deep-water gear	More expensive, but necessary

Calm waters? You can get by with less. Rough seas? Spend more now on something like the CR1-UDP. You'll thank yourself later.

Think beyond the price tag:

Tough gear lasts longer in harsh conditions.
Better systems can mean better tours and happier customers.
Don't forget about upkeep costs.

"A single hydrophone is like one mic in the air. You hear sounds, but can't tell where they're coming from." - James Crutchfield, UC Davis Physics Professor

This shows why fancier systems matter. One hydrophone works, but multi-directional setups? They give you the full picture of whale chatter.

5 Steps to Choose a Hydrophone

Picking a hydrophone for whale watching? Here's how:

1. Check Technical Needs

Know your sound range, quality, and noise reduction needs.

Feature	What to Look For
Frequency Response	Match whale sounds (10 Hz to 40 kHz)
Sensitivity	Higher is better (-167 dB > -192 dB)
Noise Floor	Lower is better (42 dB > 55 dB)

The Cetacean Research Technology C57 has -167 dB sensitivity. Good for whale watching.

2. Extra Equipment

You'll need:

Cables (length depends on boat)
Attachment method
Preamplifiers

C57 comes with a 15m cable ($545). Works for smaller boats.

3. Budget

Prices vary:

Model	Price (USD)
JrF D-series	~$80
Aquarian Audio H1a	$170
Ambient ASF-2	$500
Cetacean Research Technology C57	$999 (base)
Ambient ASF-1	$1600

Aquarian Audio H1a ($170): good for small tours. Ambient ASF-1 ($1600): for serious research.

4. Durability

Rough seas? Get a tough hydrophone. Aquarian Audio H1a is rugged and compact.

5. Single or Array

Basic whale watching? Single hydrophone works. Want to pinpoint whales? Consider an array.

"A single hydrophone is like one mic in the air. You hear sounds, but can't tell where they're coming from." - James Crutchfield, UC Davis Physics Professor

Setting Up and Taking Care of Hydrophones

How to Install

Here's how to set up your hydrophone for clear whale sounds:

Find a quiet spot on your boat away from engines
Mount it securely (the CR1 hydrophone is tough for commercial use)
Handle cables carefully to avoid noise (SQ26-H1 is compact and easy to manage)
Always test before sailing

"Try unconventional things; you're recording in an unconventional environment!" - Colin Hart, Recordist

Upkeep and Fixing Problems

Keep your hydrophone in shape:

Task	When	Why
Clean (fresh water)	After saltwater use	Stops corrosion
Check for damage	Before each trip	Catches issues early
Test audio	Weekly	Ensures clear sound

No sound but green light? Check if:

Whales are too far or quiet
There are visual cues like ships
Cables and connections are okay

For top-notch quality, consider the C57-PAS system used by National Geographic Explorer.

Making Whale Watching Better

Fun Activities with Whale Sounds

Hydrophones can turn a whale watching tour into something special. Here's how to use whale sounds to get your guests excited:

1. Sound Matching Game

Have guests match whale sounds to species. It's like Izzy P.'s science fair project where people matched sounds from Orcas, Right, Blue, Humpback, and Sperm Whales.

2. Whale Song Karaoke

Play humpback whale songs and let guests try to copy them. It's a fun way to show how complex whale sounds are.

3. Underwater Sound Speed Demo

Show how sound moves faster in water than air. It explains why whales can "talk" over long distances.

Medium	Speed of Sound
Water	1,500 m/s
Air	332 m/s

4. Whale Call Bingo

Make bingo cards with different whale sounds. As the hydrophones pick up sounds during the tour, guests mark their cards.

Teaching About Whales

Hydrophones are great for teaching about marine life. Here's how to use them:

1. Whale Communication 101

Use recordings to show how whales use different sounds:

Whistles and pulsed calls for socializing
Blue whales' low sounds (up to 188 decibels)
Humpback whale songs for finding mates

2. Talk About Conservation

Explain how human-made noise affects whales. Talk about "masking" and how it messes with whale communication, navigation, and feeding.

3. Show Whale Variety

Play sounds from different whale species. It shows the diversity of marine life in the area.

4. Mix Sound and Sight

Pair hydrophone audio with visual aids like whale ID charts or behavior diagrams. It helps people learn and remember better.

Wrap-up

Picking the right hydrophone can make or break your whale watching tours. Here's what to remember:

Sound Quality: Go for a hydrophone that captures whale sounds clearly. The C57-PAS system is a top performer.
Toughness: Need something for rough seas? Try the CR1-UDP system.
Cost: Just starting? The SQ26-H1 system won't break the bank.
Special Features: Some hydrophones, like the Oceanphonics model, have tricks up their sleeve. It's extra sensitive to underwater mammal sounds.
Learning Tool: Hydrophones do more than let you listen. They're great for teaching too.

"Opening up the oceans so people can hear whales in their environment has such power." - Jackie Hildering, Whale Researcher

Hydrophone Selection Guide for Whale Watching Tours