Excellent app!
I didn’t even know there was an app like this, it’s brilliant!!! anyone who is frustrated that they always miss a whale sighting, just has to sign up to this! For example, yesterday I could see that there were 4 killer whales that were hugging the shore heading towards Dundarave (hopefully as they can change course) so I got in my car and drove to the Dundarave seawall beach walk and got to see them going by!
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Great live updates!!
Super easy to navigate and helpful when on the lookout for wildlife!!
Addictive and fascinating
I love having live updates of local sightings. Walking near the shore I always check the Whale locator app if I might spot something.
Great app for whale watch enthusiasts
Great first version of a truly useful app. My favorite features of this app are:
- whale tracking with easy to see dotted lines between sightings
- a indicator showing best guess where the animals are heading
- showing where the whale watching boats are/are going
Most annoying part:
- on open, the map view defaults to just off Victoria, BC instead of where I was last looking or where I’m located.
Keep up the great work!
- whale tracking with easy to see dotted lines between sightings
- a indicator showing best guess where the animals are heading
- showing where the whale watching boats are/are going
Most annoying part:
- on open, the map view defaults to just off Victoria, BC instead of where I was last looking or where I’m located.
Keep up the great work!
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I saw whales
I used this app to see orcas! Love it
Very effective
I was able to track a pod of killer whales from shore. Been loving the app. Definitely recommend
Subscription only but you don’t know until they have your email address
I’m so over apps like this that are “free with in app purchases” but the in app purchases are subscriptions with no actual free version of the app. Oh but also it won’t tell you that until they have collected your email address to do with whatever they please. So glad I put in the fakey apple email so I don’t have to unsubscribe from a ton of email variants like every other company.
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So far, great app
Just started using it, so far the best app I’ve used yet, unfortunately I haven’t seen any whales yet, but by referencing with the app I see that they just haven’t been around when I’m out.
I’ll up date again as I get more familiar with all the app does.
I’ll up date again as I get more familiar with all the app does.
Excellent!
App is a wonderful tool for locating whales and other sea critters.
Heavily relies on free data
Re-posting my review as a current, paying subscriber testing this app firsthand. My old review somehow disappeared.
It is tough to justify the monthly subscription fee when the app relies so heavily on data that is available for free elsewhere. Sighting reports are pulled directly from local, volunteer Facebook groups (e.g., Howe Sound and Sea to Sky wildlife sightings, Sunshine Coast fb group) without offering anything original.
Charging a subscription for data that local community members shared for free is a major red flag - and seeing personal sightings re-posted here without permission to monetize them shouldn't be allowed.
Outside of community posts, the app heavily relies on live AIS tracking of commercial whale-watching boats. It works during peak daytime hours when the tour boats are out, but the second the boats head in for the night, updates are basically nonexistent. I also doubt how useful this app will be once the peak whale-watching season ends and commercial boats aren't on the water anymore.
It is tough to justify the monthly subscription fee when the app relies so heavily on data that is available for free elsewhere. Sighting reports are pulled directly from local, volunteer Facebook groups (e.g., Howe Sound and Sea to Sky wildlife sightings, Sunshine Coast fb group) without offering anything original.
Charging a subscription for data that local community members shared for free is a major red flag - and seeing personal sightings re-posted here without permission to monetize them shouldn't be allowed.
Outside of community posts, the app heavily relies on live AIS tracking of commercial whale-watching boats. It works during peak daytime hours when the tour boats are out, but the second the boats head in for the night, updates are basically nonexistent. I also doubt how useful this app will be once the peak whale-watching season ends and commercial boats aren't on the water anymore.
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Great idea poor UI
What an amazing idea. The data is great but it looks crowded and confusing. Short free trial doesn’t help get you used to it.
Notification limitations
Cool concept and nice use of several data sources, but the ability to filter notifications based n location is very limited, especially in the Seattle/Vashon area. If it were possible to draw custom regions/bounds on the map within which push notifications would be triggered, I would sign back up for a subscription in a heartbeat.
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Don’t share here
You pay to give tourist vessels your tips! (Very mysterious ownership, btw.) The data is available for free on AIS apps and land based FB groups. How exactly does helping tour vessels chase whales all day help the whales?
Best App for Whale Spotting
Gives you great real time insights to watch whales from shore.
Response from developer
Thank you so much. Helping people watch whales from shore is the whole idea behind Whale Locator. Happy Sightings!
My favorite app ever
Can’t express how much I love this app. This is the only app that I allow notifications. So easy to use, reliable updates. I have seen so many orcas from land with this app. Direct links to underwater microphone stations and webcams. It so cool.
Amazing experiences
I’ve been using this app for a couple of months now and have seen whales 5 times from shore because Whale Locator gives me push notifications in real time when the whales are in my area. To put this in perspective, in the last 10 years prior to having this app, I’ve only seen whales once from shore. ONCE! I also love the community feel of Whale Locator with other users reporting sightings and pictures, and how easy it is to use. Just SO easy. This app is a gem!
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Response from developer
Reviews like this are why we build. Ten years for one shore sighting, then five in two months with real time alerts, we could not ask for a better summary of what Whale Locator is for. Thank you for reporting your own sightings too. Every report helps keep the whales safer and the whole community enjoying more of them. Happy Sightings!
Amazing app!
I love this app, I check it almost everyday to see if there are whales around my city! And I've reported a couple of sightings as well.
This is a good app
I don't understand the hate this app is getting in the reviews. It has real time information, historical data and is very user friendly. I log in everytime I'm near the water to see if the whales are near. Works great
Let’s continue to improve things
It’s helpful and I am glad it’s improving and open to ideas. One thing I would like added is a track behind the boats that are shown through ais. Watching the speeds and characteristics of a vessel gives a clearer idea of what direction the whales have gone. I have started sharing this app with others. It’s a great effort
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Really good app
I love this app because I can see where the whales are and that makes me happy
