Whales and dolphins sometimes roll over to slap their flippers onto the water surface.  This is particularly common behavior in Humpback whales, who sometimes lie on their back to slap both flippers simultaneously. 

Lob tailing

Lob tailing is the forceful slapping of the flukes against the waters surface, while most of the whale lies just beneath the surface.  This action may be repeated several times in a row.

Fluking

When whales and dolphins embark on a deep dive, they will sometimes lift their tails into the air to thrust their bodies into a more steeply angled descent.
The fluke-up dive clearly shows the underside of the flukes making identification much easier.
The fluke-down dive occurs when the flukes are brought clear of the water but remain turned down, hiding the underside from view.

Breaching

Breaching is undoubtedly the most spectacular of behaviors.  Smaller cetaceans sometimes leap high into the air performing somersaults or other acrobatics before re-entering the water.  The larger cetaceans can propel two thirds of their body into the air before returning to the water with a spectacular splash.

Spy Hopping

Cetaceans are a curious species.  Sometimes they rise almost straight out of the water, til their eyes clear the surface.  They can then rotate 90 to 180 degrees before slipping back below the surface.

Description
Right whales are bulky and slow moving, growing to 17.5m in length and weighing up to 80 tonnes.  They are usually black in colour with white patches near the navel.  The right whale does not have throat grooves, but they do have a series of lumps or callosities on the head in front of the blowhole.  These are crusty, horny outgrowths of the skin, as much as 10 cm high.  The largest section of this ‘rock garden’ perches on the tip of the upper jaw, the shape, size and precise distribution of the callosities give each individual whale unique characteristics.

The blow is also highly characteristic.  The blowholes are widely separated and produce two distinct spouts rising up to 5m in a V shaped fan of mist.

Status and Distribution

Southern Right whales inhabit the cooler latitudes.  They were the first of the large whales to be hunted by whalers.  Slow moving, floating when dead and yielding large amounts of product, they were the ‘right’ whales to catch.  Though still classed as endangered the Southern Right population is steadily increasing at approximately seven per cent a year.

ID Checklist

1.  Large head covered in callosities
2.  Broad, black back with no dorsal fin
3.  Slow moving and approachable

The most characteristic feature of a Humpback whale is the enormous flippers, which are nearly one third of the total body length and heavily scalloped on the leading edge.
The body is robust and the head is broad and rounded.  The dorsal fin is small and varies in shape.  It is set two-thirds f the way back and is mounted on a distinct fleshy step or platform unlike any other baleen whale.  They are usually blackish in colour with white throat grooves.  The flippers are almost pure white underneath and the undersides of the flukes are marked with a variable pattern of white, making each whale unique.
The Humpback blow is distinctive, seldom more than 3m high and is a broad, bushy balloon of spray.

Status and Distribution

Heavily exploited by whalers, Humpback numbers were severely depleted.  The population has been recovering at a remarkable ten per cent a year since they became protected in 1963.

ID Checklist

1.  Low, stubby fin with hump
2.  Elongated black flippers with the underneath almost pure white with a single bushy blow.

Adult fur seals coat colour merges from dark grey brown to a lighter grey brown underside.  An adult male reaches 2 m from nose to tail and can weigh up to 200 kg.  Where as, the females reach 1.5m from nose to tail and weigh up to 90 kg.
The thick under fur is rich chestnut in colour and the guard hairs are coarse and dark grey sometimes with white tips giving the dry fur a silvery sheen.

Status and Distribution

The New Zealand Fur Seal prefers exposed rocky coasts where offlying reefs give protection from the heavy seas.

ID Checklist

Seals are difficult to distinguish in the field.  However, some things that may help are:
1.  A thick fur coat with a silvery sheen when wet
2.  Easily distinguishable ears

An extremely playful species, the bottlenose dolphin has a prominent dorsal fin that is slightly hooked and set midway along the body.  It is easily recognized by its short, wide and rounded beak and well-formed melon.  The line of the mouth is soft and curves upwards at the back to give the familiar, faintly amused facial expression.  This species is medium gray above with a lighter underside.

Status and Distribution

The Bottlenose Dolphin is common worldwide.

ID Checklist

1.   Distinct beak with melon crease
2.   Centred, dark slightly hooked dorsal fin
3.   Subdued gray colouring

Common Dolphin

Description

The hourglass pattern of light grey and tan or yellow, combined with a dark stripe from the flipper to the lower jaw make the common dolphin easily identified.  Common dolphins are sleek, streamlined, spindle shaped and highly energetic.
This dolphin inhabits both coastal and offshore waters.

Status and Distribution

These predominantly offshore inhabitants are one of the world’s most abundant dolphin species.

ID Checklist

1.  Dark cape with "V" under dorsal fin
2.  Yellowish patch on sides
3.  Predominantly dark flippers, flukes and dorsal fin

Adult males are bulky and appear larger than they actually are.  An average male from nose to tail measures 2-2.5m and can weigh up to 300 kg.  The females are shorter and more slender and weigh up to 80 kg.
Adult males are a rich chocolate brown with the neck region cloaked in slightly longer rougher hair to give a mane.  On the head and continuing down the nape of the neck are white hairs.  The females are silvery grey to fawn in colour and creamy coloured on the underside.

Status and Distribution

The Australian Seal Lion is only found in Australian waters.

ID Checklist

Seals are difficult to distinguish in the field.  However, some things that may help are:
1.  Rich chocolate brown coat with white head (male)
2.  Silvery grey to fawn colour coat (Female)