Photography rules for ethical whale watching on the East Coast
5 Answers from travellers
You cannot legally fly a drone over whales at any distance in Sri Lanka without a specific permit from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). The high-frequency buzz causes massive distress to marine mammals. Ethical boat captains in Trincomalee will refuse to let you launch from the deck, and the Navy actively monitors the harbor. Bring a good telephoto lens instead.
I saw someone try this and the Coast Guard boat actually pulled up and gave them a severe warning.
Yes, blue whales are massive. 300mm is a great focal length for getting the tail fluke on a full-frame camera.
Also, landing a drone on a moving boat in the ocean swell is extremely dangerous for the people on board.
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