Our Journey to the ocean

WiseWhale was born from the head of several marine biologists working on whale watching for many years in more than 13 different places in the world. This idea came from people who think that when done properly whale watching is just Magic. 

Most of us worked in the research after slowly turning to the whale watching industry and after almost a decade going around the world, WiseWhale can say one thing, we almost saw it all, the good the bad and the ugly of the industry mixed all together. But what drives us deep inside is the fact that we want this industry to grow in the right direction and the only way we found out to do it, is to explain to YOU customers how to do it, what to look for and where. 

Of course we are opinionated and we do not have all things right. An ethical whale watching is, after all, a socio-economically driven problem where people will have to compromise, cut down their ego and work together toward better practices. Utopy ? Maybe, but we have been working enough around whales to know that a good whale watching is always possible. There are plenty of people around the world that do it the right way. We just would like to make sure this kind of whale watching prevails and we believe that if there should be a change somewhere it can only come from the passengers/customers. We believe that by educating people about it (Passengers but also crews), whale watchers can make things change and go in the right direction for the whales. 

By working on a more respectful whale watching and respecting the animal we are not only preserving their wellbeing and their future but also engaging a trust relationship with the animal that can only in turn give us nice encounters and curiosity, which is the magic of this activity.

The Head and the heart of the team

My name is Clara Massaro and I am the founder of WiseWhale. I haven’t always been a marine biologist. My career actually started in social work, helping people in need. It was a job that came naturally to me—empathy has always been one of my strongest qualities—but over time, I felt like something was missing. It was almost too easy, and I craved something more.

At the same time, I had always loved animals and the ocean. Every now and then, I would leave my job to work with animals—volunteering at shelters, assisting in wildlife hospitals, helping at rehabilitation centres in Africa, or even joining shark research groups. But I always ended up going back to my old job, until one day, I hit a breaking point. I was deeply unhappy and knew I needed to make a change.

I believe that every big change starts with a small step, we really only need the courage and the willing to do it. So I quit my job, stopped looking for work in the social sector, and decided to follow my passion for the ocean. My journey truly began in Tenerife. That’s when I found an NGO offering a unique opportunity: instead of a typical tourist experience, participants would join a whale-watching boat and assist scientists in collecting data on marine life. I signed up immediately.

That experience changed everything. I realised that I wanted to wake up every day feeling excited about my work—and for me, that meant being in the ocean with cetaceans.

Of course, the transition wasn’t easy. Paid opportunities were scarce, and for a long time, my work consisted of volunteering, unpaid internships, or positions where I received only food and housing. Sometimes, I even had to pay to participate. But I kept going, and eventually, my passion turned into my profession.

I have now seven years of experience in the whale-watching industry. Over time, I’ve come to realise how crucial it is to approach whale watching responsibly.

As I traveled to different countries to observe and experience whale-watching practices, I often felt a sense of discomfort—knowing that, despite my best intentions, I was still disturbing these incredible animals. This realisation led me to dive deeper into the industry, embarking on a journey to explore whale-watching operations around the world. My goal is to understand where it is done responsibly, where it falls short, and why.