Migaloo spotted

Migaloo (Aboriginal for white fella), the only known albino humpback whale in the world. Picture: Mark McCormack Source:Supplied to "The Australian" newspaper.

The world's only known adult albino humpback whale has been spotted by three Port Douglas-based tour companies today.

Migaloo was sighted at the mouth of a gap between Batt and Tongue Reef this morning, more than 25 kilometres off shore. He surfaced on-and-off for about 15 minutes entertaining more than a hundred tourists looking on. The gap is frequently used by tour operators before travelling north through to Opal Reef.

Skipper Tony Jones, whose boat was carrying 80 passengers' said a Migaloo sighting was always special.

"It's pretty rare to see the white whale. There was another vessel that was stopped and I just presumed there was a whale [in the water]," he said. "As I got closer I cut the motor and realised it was the white one. Everyone was stoked and amazed to see it. I think they're realising now how lucky they are. They [the passengers] started to get the energy off the crew because they were so excited as well."

"Most of the crew have never seen him before and they've all worked up here for a couple of years."