Being able to spend more time on the water, we are able to see a greater variety of whale species and behaviors, and come to understand more about the lives of whales than can be experienced on a short whale watch. With a greater fuel range, we have the option of going farther out than whale watch boats can, or our previous research vessel could. We can also explore areas where public whale watch boats don't go, to see if whales are present. In the past most of our important sightings and identification photos, especially of humpback whale mother-calf pairs, have taken place aboard our former research boat, Silver II. That should contintue to prove to be the case with Mysticete.