September 30th

Our guests today were excited to be out on the water after having watched yesterdays storm from shore; its mighty strength of gale and storm-force winds was indeed awesome. We set sail early and upon entering the top end of Blackfish Sound several large Humpback Whale blows could be seen in the distance, and as we ventured further into the Sound, three tall orca dorsal fins could also be seen. The orcas were identified as the A36's, the brothers A32, A37 and A46. Our stay-sail had been hoisted earlier and It was wonderful to sail with them as they made their way slowly to the west. A group of 8-10 Dall's Porpoises joined us at the bow, riding along much to the pleasure of all on board; it was fabulous watching as they darted back and forth effortlessly. Of the numerous Humpback Whales reported in the area, we observed one mature and two juveniles as well as several Pacific White-sided Dolphins who were racing about, some foraging near to the boat. On the way home some 75+ Stellar Sea Lions were seen hauled out as well as numerous Harbour Seals. On such a day, one cannot help but be reminded that these precious waterways are quite remarkable, where an abundance of marine mammal species can be observed from spring through fall.

September 28th

Our tour today has to be one of the loveliest tours of the season and especially so for September. Just prior to leaving Alert Bay this morning a large rainbow arched its way across the entire Bay, it was a glorious beginning that promised more; a day of blue skies, calm waters and sunshine, it was a welcome change after many days of unsettled fall weather. First seen and always of interest were 44+ hauled out Stellar Sea Lions, among them were several Harbour Seals who lay relaxed and well camouflaged on the rocks. Within minutes of viewing the Sea Lions a Humpback Whale was seen in the distance, its large fluke disappearing from sight caught everyone's attention and as we drew closer, two Humpback Whales (not one) were observed, they were identified as Houdini and her 2007 calf. The viewing could not have been better, especially so when a third Humpback Whale was sighted very near the other two. It was at this point that orca A-Clan calls were being heard on the Cracroft Point hydrophone and so with much anticipation and excitement we headed in that direction, passing a forth Humpback Whale en route in Blackfish Sound. Entering Johnstone Strait through the scenic waterway of Little Hanson Island, the lighting was superb and the sight of several blows in the distance was surprising and spectacular, showing up as white "seasmoke" against the backdrop of Vancouver Island. Our timing was perfect! It was the A30's, a family of 9 Orcas and they were spread out, foraging to the west, a number of Dalls Porpoises were with them "rooster tailing" racing back and forth while the orcas foraged about. Listening to the A-Clan calls of the orcas and watching them pass nearby was the BEST, it truly was a special experience of awe and wonder and sheer delight! Homeward bound everyone was well contented, the sights and sounds of numerous bird species and herring ball activity further enriched the experience. Other wildlife sightings today included numerous Common Murres, Rhinoceros Auklets and a Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel.

September 24th

It was a blustery afternoon when we set out on tour and it was not long before our stay-sail was hoisted, keeping the boat stable even while we were under power. As it turned out the seas were moderate and the wind began dropping off even before we had sighted our first cetacean, a Humpback Whale in the distance that was breaching. The A30 pod ( a family of 9 orcas) were nearby and they were foraging back and forth steadily. We had some wonderful viewing, especially when they turned and headed back in our direction while we were under sail, the sighting of A38 and A30 as they passed nearby was breathtaking! Two Humpback Whales, Houdini and her 2007 calf were also nearby, they were foraging in wide circles as well, some breaching and pectoral waving was also observed. At the end of our viewing they surprised us by coming close, lunge feeding, it was fantastic! Hearing their blows, seeing their blowholes clearly visible and also smelling the oily pungent smell (downwind) was great, a Stellar Sea Lion was also swimming with them that added greatly to the experience. Other sightings: Harbour Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, Common Murres, Rhinoceros Auklets, numerous Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels.

September 21st

We headed out this morning in the rain that was falling gently and then subsided, the ending was a beautiful day full of colour and beauty. Although there were no orcas present in the area today we had a wonderful encounter with Houdini and her 2007 calf ( Humpback Whales) as well as a third Humpback whale who was with them briefly and was likely her 2005 or 2002 calf. They were foraging in large circles and then later from a distance, we saw some breaching activity. We also saw numerous Stellar Sea Lions and Harbour Seals hauled out. Bird species also seen were: Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklets, Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers and a Pigeon Guillemont.

September 20th

What a fantastic day it was out on the water! We headed out via Weynton Passage and through the Plumper Islands into the top end of Blackfish Sound where two large Humpback Whale blows could be seen off in the distance out in the middle of the Queen Charlotte Strait and another could be seen in Blackfish Sound. A pod of 9 Orcas, the A30's were also making their way towards the west in Blackfish Sound. It was incredible to be within such a short viewing range of so many Humpbacks and Orcas! Seeing the orcas foraging nearby and listening to their A-Clan vocals was a wonderful treat and glancing up every so often and catching sight of a Humpback fluke in the distance and a breach was unbelievable. The two whales who were traveling together were Houdini and her 2007 calf and one could not help but be mesmerised watching as they surfaced and dived. Wind conditions were perfect for hoisting the main sail and we all enjoyed a quiet time of sailing nearby the Humpbacks. On the way home numerous hauled Stellar Sea Lions were seen and among them some Harbour Seals. The day and sightings could not have been more perfect!

September 19th

Today was a glorious fall day out on the water. On the morning tour two humpback whales were sighted, they were taking long dives, feeding in large circles. Making our way into Weynton Passage we encountered a 100+ Pacific White-sided Dolphins, they were traveling very quickly to the west but as they neared Stubbs Island they slowed down and began milling about and feeding. It was exciting watching them, many were leaping clear of the water. Some of them headed in our direction and rode along at the bow of the boat briefly, much to the astonishment and joy those on board. Numerous Stellar Sea Lions were observed hauled out, some of them were seen to have been branded with their numbers/letters correlating to those having been released in Alaska, California and Seattle. On the afternoon tour, with children and parents onboard, they too were keen to see the Dolphins and so it was! The dolphins were still close to where we had left them earlier, they headed back into Johnstone Strait, heading east from where they had come from this morning. It was wonderful and a dream come true for the children to see Dolphins alive and free in the wild. Several dolphins rode at the bow as we traveled along, adding to the excitement. Heading home via Blackfish Sound, two Humpback Whales were sighted along with numerous hauled out Stellar Sea Lions and Harbour Seals. Others sightings today: 100's of Common Murres, Rhinoceros Auklets++, Pacific Loons, Pelagic Cormorants, Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, 2 red-necked Grebes, and a Peregrine Falcon.

September 18th

Today was another blustery day very much like yesterday, the sea conditions greatly increasing in gusto after we were safely back at dock. As we headed out this morning it was a beautiful day and the stay sail was hoisted, off we headed with an excited group of parents and children onboard. It was early on in the tour, like yesterday that four Transient Orcas were sighted, they were the T55 group ( T55, T 55a, T55b and T55c ). They were seen to be foraging, several Harbour Seals were nearby in the water. Two Humpback Whales were seen a distance away, heading into Weynton Passage ahead of our viewing of the Transient Orcas and a juvenile Humpback Whale was sighted closer, it was quite wonderful watching its fluke disappearing neatly into the glistening waters. A large group of Stellar Sea Lions were hauled out and among them were some Harbour Seals. On the way home we cruised through the protected scenic waterways of the Plumper and Pearse Islands, enjoying the calm waters, basking in sunlight. Another day out on the water where the elements of nature, the wind, brings change.

September 17th

It was another blustery day out on the water as we headed out on tour with our stay sail hoisted. A swirling of white water, crisp blue sky and sunshine... it was a glorious day and one that blew away any lingering thought of fog or rain! The G25's ( a family group of four orcas) were reported heading west along the shoreline and so we headed in that direction, passing several hauled out Steller Sea Lions en route. The wind and wave conditions and glare of bright sunlight made sighting fins in such conditions somewhat difficult but the four orcas were sighted, moving with ease through the waves. At one point they turned and headed back to the east before turning again, heading west of the White Cliff Islands. It was in Blackfish Sound that a Humpback Whale was sighted, several blows were seen and then a fluke, and later, while viewing 70 ++ hauled out Stellar Sea Lions and Harbour Seals another Humpback blow was seen. The elements of the day were quite marvellous, reminding us all of the change that wind brings to us all and to an ocean in which live, countless numbers of seabirds and marine mammals.

September 16th

What began as a wet misty still morning ended in a windy clear sunny afternoon! Off we headed into the north-westerly wind with our stay sail up. Crossing Weynton Passage we encountered both Dall's and Harbour porpoises and also a few harbour seals were observed, lying upon some rocky beaches of the Pearse islands. Steller Sea Lions were hauled out on an island and we were soon past them,  moving with the momentum of a fast flowing ebb current. The sight of a blow of a lone humpback whale caught everyone's attention, and then two more blows further over were seen. Our attention was even more heightened by the breaching activity of the  pair of Humpback Whales, a mother and calf. Pectoral fin waving was also seen and as we drew nearer we could also see that some Steller Sea Lions were also with them swimming along, rolling over and to seemingly play with the Humpbacks. It was an exhilarating experience, the seas were swirling, such was the effect of the wind and current, creating waves in which Humpback Whales seem to reveal in and celebrate exuberantly. And so with these vivid images of full breaches by both mother and calf, firmly imprinted in all our minds (passengers and crew) we headed for home via the Sea Lions, enjoying them all the more while relaxing in the sun, partaking in our traditional Devonshire Tea.

September 15th

The Broughton Archipelago has to be one of the most beautiful marine waterways on earth, abundantly blessed with numerous marine mammal and bird species. Today as we headed out on our afternoon tour it was not long before passengers sighted their first cetacean, a small group of Dall's porpoises who were foraging. Shortly after a humpback whale blow was sighted a few hundred metres ahead of us. Next spotted were some Pacific White-sided Dolphins and then a lone Steller Sea Lion swimming, it had a salmon in its mouth and was thrashing it about and biting into it;  hauled out harbour seals were also seen and then a second humpback whale nearby was sighted and almost simultaneously, a baby Minke Whale popped up very close to the boat without warning. Eyes were averted left and right, looking at the Minke whale, the humpback whale and then suddenly a third humpback whale appeared! Numerous Pacific White-sided Dolphins sighted earlier in the tour were again seen, they were racing about intent on feeding, as were several Dalls Porpoises. Weynton Passage was alive with the movement of Cetaceans and seabirds!  Countless birds had gathered and forming herring balls were  Common Murres and Rhinoceros Auklets diving deep, gulls galore were hovering overhead and then in the middle of it all, up popped the little Minke Whale again, its timing was perfect. There were many hauled out Stellar Sea Lions to be seen as well. The tour was indeed a wonderful one, the journey home was a scenic ride allowing time for images of the days exceptional beauty to seep deep within each and everyone on board.

September 14th

It was another amazing day out on the water viewing a myriad of seabird and marine mammal species. First off a few Harbour Porpoises were sighted feeding and soon after, a group of 6 Transient Orcas who were spread out but appeared to be in two groups of three. Long dives were observed and they appeared relaxed and resting, traveling very slowly. The highlight of the day was the viewing of three Humpback Whales, beginning with a glimpse of one in the distance, en route to viewing some 35 + hauled out Stellar Sea Lions and Harbour Seals. As we traveled in the direction of the Humpback Whale we were not prepared for what we saw. It was unbelievable and also rather amusing. Where two Humpback Whales were feeding (Houdini and her 2007 calf) , several Sea Lions had also gathered to feed but it seemed to all of us onboard that they were playing as well, rolling and splashing all around the Humpbacks as if in fun. Suddenly a third whale surfaced beside the other two amidst the splashing Sea Lions, it was identified by its fluke as being Houdini's 2005 calf. A trio of Humpback Whales and many Sea Lions together, it made for some exceptional viewing! The Humpbacks separated, the 2005 calf remained nearby our drifting boat , the other two headed off to the east when suddenly they reappeared having changed direction. Everyone enjoyed the unexpected close encounter as when they had last been sighted, they had been several hundred meters away.  Our boat had been drifting in the current with the engine off for the entire Humpback viewing segment so it was quite a treat to see them as we did, the sight and sound of them as they passed by was breathe-taking!

September 13th

Today was another beautiful day out on the water where the viewing of Humpback Whales could not have been better. The afternoon began warm and sunny as both vessels headed out on tour, the water was glassy calm. Harbour Porpoises were sighted soon after our departure, followed by the sights and sounds of several hauled out Stellar Sea Lions and Harbour Seals. It was after this that the first Humpback Whale was sighted, a majestic sight for sure, with its dark back arching high before it dived, displaying its distinctive fluke. Everywhere one looked, Humpback Whale blows and large dark shapes that kept disappearing from sight could be seen in the distance, it was a brilliant sight. Among the whales counted were Houdini and her calf who were later joined by a third Humpback Whale; Stripe and another adult traveled together in the opposite direction to the west, as well, a lone one was sighted further off in the distance. If that was not enough, two juvenile Humpbacks were also observed by those onboard MV Cetacea who had located them further down in Blackfish Sound, bringing the total count to 8! What was truly amazing was the frenzied pace at which a number of Sea Lions were traveling in close proximity to the Humpback Whales, they were clearly fishing as passengers on board MV Cetacea could see one Sea Lion tearing into the flesh of a salmon it had caught. Houdini and her calf were relaxed and playful, some pectoral waving and slapping was observed, some spyhopping and then some remarkable breaching activity that kept everyone on high alert, waiting in anticipation for a perfect photo of a breach. Traveling back via the island waterways was magical, one could not help but feel well contented and grateful for all that they had seen which included for the first time this year many Pacific Loons.

September 12th

It was a beautiful sunshine day as we headed out on our afternoon tour and as surprising as it seemed, we were suddenly engulfed by a dense mass of fog that cleared as quickly as it arrived. Shortly after, we encountered a fairly large group of Pacific White sided Dolphins who were feeding, several were seen leaping clear of the water much to everyone's delight. Meanwhile, a pod of 9 Orcas, the A30's who had been sighted far east in Johnstone Strait earlier in the day were making their way back to the west. We first sighted the orcas, their dorsal fins glistening in the afternoon light, prior to their entering the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve, a small group of Pacific White-sided Dolphins were traveling with them. Not stopping to rub at the beaches, the orcas were traveling at a brisk pace and were soon crossing the estuary of the Tsitika River, stopping briefly to forage before continuing their westward journey. It was a beautiful sighting, A39 was in the lead followed by his two sisters and their calves and his mother A30; his brother A38 was further behind foraging. With the engine off we were still and quiet while listening to the A-Clan calls of the orcas via the hydrophone. The afternoon sunlight was glorious and accentuated for all to see the exceptional beauty that forms the backdrop of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve; the lush greenness of forest along the shoreline seemed even more green, it was a spectacular sight to see! On the homeward journey, small groups of Dall's Porpoises were seen feeding nearby and towards the very end of the tour, a single Humpback Whale was sighted, a perfect ending to a perfect day of viewing.

September 11th

Johnstone Strait was blanketed in heavy fog as we headed out on tour this morning. Dark shapes along the way became defined as island shorelines as we drew nearer and as gaps of light began filtering through, our range of vision began extending further. It was just after viewing numerous Steller Sea Lions that a Humpback whale was sighted and shortly after, two more adult Humpback Whales suddenly appeared, one of whom was identified as Stripe, a Humpback whale who is regularly seen in the area. It was unbelievable luck to then suddenly glimpse the appearance of a large dorsal fin looming towards the boat, everyone onboard was thrilled, it was a brilliant sighting considering the foggy conditions. The adult male was identified as A38, the oldest surviving son of the Matriarch A30. Other blows were heard and A50 and her two calves were seen foraging, A72 was a distance from her mother and younger sibling. Suddenly, with the blink of an eye, the fog had departed, a curtain had been lifted and other members of the A30's were observed nearby. and as we watched they all made their way towards the entrance of Weynton Passage. We deployed the hydrophone and everyone listened, entranced by the stunning A-Clan calls of the A30's. At this point as they headed on east in Johnstone Strait, we parted company and headed for home, passing two more Humpback Whales on the way, along with hauled out Harbour Seals and a Pied Billed Grebe!. What more could we ask for!

September 9th

The day proved successful in regards to both excellent wildlife viewing and super weather conditions. As we set out in the morning the calm seas rippled fom the bow of the SV Tuan as we made our way east towards not only a humpback whale but also a group of 6 Transient Orcas and a group of over 200 pacific wite sided dolphins. As the Transients approached the dolphins somehow the dolphins realized that their only predator was not far away and exploded into a frenzy of white water in their attempt to flee. The scene was incredible with atleast 50 dolphins airborne at any one time. This afternoon proved similar in the sense that both weather and wildlife were both excellent except that we also were able to launch the mainsail in the light westerly wind that blew from astern on the way home.

September 8th

Today got off to a exciting start with the rare sighting of a elephant seal! All that was seen from the close encounter was a huge body, dark in colour with a few bristles and skin folds. As the animal dove a huge amount of water was displaced, then it vanished without a trace. The rest of the morning was spent with a pair of beautiful adult humpback whales, following them as they foraged in Blackfish Sound. We sat transfixed as the whales dived deep showing off their spectacular tail flukes. The homeward journey was just as exhilarating for we encountered a large group of Pacific white-sided dolphins hunting for herring. The acrobatic display of the dolphins was fantastic, lots of high diving and the occasional back flip along with incredible vocaliztions from the hydrophone.
Other wildlife encountered today included Fork-tailed storm petrels, 6 Cassin's aucklets, a rare light phase Rhinoceros Auklet, over 50 Steller sea lions and Dall's porpoises.

September 7th

We had barley set forth on our adventure down Johnstone Strait when we encountered a pair of Humpback whales foraging. These were the first of eight humpbacks that we were to see during the day, all foraging for krill and the copious amounts of herring in these waters. As we traveled towards Robson Bight we met up with the A30's (one of the families of resident orcas most commonly encountered in this area) and spent the morning with them as the majority of the group rested while individual members foraged for salmon in the nearby vicinity. The A30's were roused from their slumber as they were bombarded by a group of Dall's porpoises and Pacific white-sided dolphins. The afternoon was spent observing the orcas as they foraged alongside the boat, listened to their stunning vocals via the hydrophone, an encounter made all the more enjoyable for we were the only boat with them and we were sailing. We also spotted 3 Parasitic Jaegers today including an even less common dark morph individual.

September 6th

We started off with a group of transient killer whales soon after they had made a kill, but instead of watching unpredictable "stealth predators" as they continued to forage, we were privileged to get a rare glimpse of their sociable, playful nature! We watched in amazement as the transient killer whales breached, splashed and spy-hoped for over an hour while feeding off the remains of the carcass they had in tow. As if this behaviour itself was not special enough we were also able to listen to the rare vocalizations of the transients, an opportunity that is rarely encountered (unlike frequent calls of the resident killer whales). After leaving the transients in Johnstone Strait we went in search of humpback whales though we were not quite prepared for what we found! In total we encountered 8 individual humpbacks including a couple a juveniles napping, a mother and calf foraging, and the highlight of the trip, 150+ Pacific white-sided dolphins feeding off a herring ball in the company of two humpback whales and a couple of Steller sea lions! The scene in front of us was amazing, a constant boiling mass of fins, flippers, and blubber. Truly unbelievable.

September 4th

This morning got off to a fantastic start for we had not gone far when we caught sight of a lone black bear foraging through piles of washed up bull kelp in search of crabs! A little bit further on we encountered our first group of Dall's porpoises as they charged to the bow of the SV Tuan jostling for front place amongst the surf, their black and white bodies flashing under the water. Excitement grew as we spotted the distant blows of transient orcas as they foraged for seals along the shoreline where we observed a possible kill. There was lots of localized activity, as well as spy hopping and the odd tail slap, all of this overseen by the ever hopeful sea gulls hoping to snatch some free food. We eventually left the transients orcas as we sailed into Blackfish Sound in search of other cetaceans, though we hadn't gone far when we got caught up with a frenzied pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins! There seemed to be excitement everywhere, numerous dolphins were bow riding the SV Tuan, while other individuals were mobbing a pair of foraging humpback whales 100 meters in front of us. Where ever we looked something was happening! The journey home was just as action packed, for no sooner had we left the dolphins and humpback whales we then encountered another group of bow riding Dall's porpoises as well as 80+ hauled out Steller sea lions.

September 3rd

Today was a wonderful day for viewing marine mammals. Shortly after leaving the dock this morning and well ahead of morning tea being served, orca fins were sighted in the distance. As we approached the area we could see that numerous orcas were spread out in the vicinity of Weynton Passage, foraging in their family groups. The stay sail was hoisted and everyone enjoyed the relaxing experience of sailing, while listening to the A & G clan calls of the I15's and A12's via the trailing hydrophone. A humpback whale was also seen feeding along the way amongst the foraging orcas and some 80 + Stellar Sea Lions were observed hauled out while some were swimming nearby. A second humpback whale was sighted in the distance breaching. It was a gentle day after yesterday's storm. The orcas were relaxed and at peace in the calmness of their water world, calling to each other....it was a beautiful day that was profoundly moving.

September 2nd

This morning we had some of the best sailing yet this summer. A strong breeze caught the sail as we headed down Johnstone Strait into Blackfish Sound, the children on board squealing with delight as light spray splashed over the bow heightening the scenes as we searched for whales. The Dall's porpoises were in high spirits as they chased after the SV Tuan, darting and diving in front of the bow their white underbellies glowing under the water. No sooner had the porpoises moved on then we saw our first humpback blow just a few hundred meters in front of us, it could not have been timed better! We watched in awe as the young humpback whale cartwheeled and splashed, making the most of the fun weather. As if all this was not exciting enough we then encountered the A30's, a family group of 9 resident orcas, as they clustered together to rest, diving and surfacing together as they slowly traveled through the islands. The homeward journey was just as exciting as we encountered a second humpback whale and then a large group of Steller sea lions hauled out on a near by island.

September 1st

This afternoon got off to a fantastic start as we watched a mother black bear and her two young cubs foraging for crabs and other tasty titbit's along the shoreline. We made our way down Johnstone Strait towards Robson Bight (the ecological reserve) enjoying the beautiful scenery while spotting Steller seas lions and Dall's porpoises. As we got closer to Robson Bight we could see the distant blows of the resident orcas as they spread out across the strait foraging in our direction. As the whales approached closer we were able to identify the two family groups the A23's and the A11's. The highlight of the encounter was when Springer (a famous orca who was adopted by the A11's after being orphaned in 2002) swam past the boat clearly visible under the surface by those watching on board the Tuan. The underwater vocals as the orcas foraged around us were loud and clear providing the perfect narration to an enchanting encounter.

August 31st

An exciting early morning encounter with the Hermann's gull got the sightings going and set "the bar" for the remainder of the trip. We leisurely cruised into Blackfish Sound where we encountered the A30"s, a family group of 9 northern resident orcas, traveling slowly as they rested together. The scene that unfolded before us was breath taking, the orcas diving and surfacing in unison while three humpback whales foraged for herring just behind them. Every few second the peaceful silence out on the water was dominated by a loud blow as the various whales surfaced to breath before disappearing back beneath the surface, on occasions the humpbacks flashing us quick glimpses of their tail flukes before diving.
Other wildlife seen included, Steller sea lions, harbour seals, great blue herons, the usual plethora of seabirds plus the first ancient murrelet we have seen all season.

August 30th

Both the SV Tuan and the MV Cetacea were out on the water today. The morning tour was spectacular, thin wisps of mist clung to the shoreline well into the early afternoon creating a wonderful atmosphere with the orcas black silhouette standing out in stark contrast. We watched as the I31's, A36's and the I15's, foraged and socializing along Johnstone Strait. This behaviour was punctuated by the occasional breach, spy-hop and tail-slap, while we listened to outstanding vocals via the hydrophone. The orcas vocalizations also attracted the unwanted attention of a small group of Pacific white-side dolphins who charged onto the scene mobbing the orcas for food scraps. On the way home we were also lucky enough to see a group of river otters.
The MV Cetacea had an equally awesome afternoon full of fantastic R-Clan vocals. The passengers on board had a wonderful, intimate encounter as they watched a young juvenile orca perform a number of spectacular breaches. The orcas seemed to escort the MV Cetacea home as they passed by Alert Bay on their way out to Queen Charlotte Strait.

August 29th

A fresh wind blew across the strait as we sailed through Blackfih Sound in search of orcas. The first thing we came across however was a group of atleast 100 Pacific white-sided Dolphins. They charged towards us and once nearby passed along both sides of the SV Tuan before we changed course and cruised with them towards the east. Some of the animals didn't hesitate to breach clear of the water delighting everyone aboard with excellent views of their whole bodies. Once we had left the dolphins we found the largest group of Orcas we have seen this year so far. Whales from 7 different matrilines were present making up 68 animals in total. They were in 3 large groups not too far from each other or us and when we dropped the hydrophone we were lucky enough to hear a few great vocalizations from them. On the trip home we all enjoyed organic tea and fresh baked scones to cap off an excellent morning on the water.
A Heermann's gull was also seen near our departure point at Alder Bay which is unusual as this gull is normally found much further south.

August 27th

The wildlife encounter this morning was amazing! We entered Blackfish Sound pursuing the distant blows of a young humpback whale which lead us directly into the middle of a mass feeding frenzy. We sat with our engines off while four humpback whales foraged and dived around us feeding off the various herring balls. We were also privileged enough to witness two young humpbacks frolicking together showing off their beautiful tail flukes as they cartwheeled and splashed. An incoming flock of Rhinoceros Auklets soon sped into the feeding activity not wanting to miss out on the plentiful fish, bouncing their bodies like skimming stones along the surface of the water as they landed quickly in order to get into the action! The whales and sea birds were not the only ones making the most of the abundant food, on the way home we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a loan harbour seal tearing into the pink meat of a freshly caught salmon.

August 26th

Humpback blows greeted us as we made our way into Blackfish Sound. We watched in awe as a pair of humpback whales lunge-fed through a large herring ball amidst a squalling mass of seabirds. As the herring ball eventually broke-up the humpback pair split to go their separate ways passing along either side of the boat. It was hard to know where to look! We left Blackfish Sound and cruised through a cluster of islands as we entered Johnstone Strait, it was not long before we were joined by an active pair of Dall's porpoises who chased and darted around the bow of the SV Tuan in a display that took us by complete surprise. As we neared Robson Bight (Ecological Reserve) we could see the distant blows of orcas approaching in our direction, I67 (a large male resident orca) was out in the middle of the Strait foraging for Chinook salmon while other members of his family hunted closer to the shoreline, their blows highlighted against the dark backdrop of the forest and surrounding mountains.

August 25th

Our tour today was wonderful, from beginning to end! Shortly after leaving the dock this afternoon a large Black Bear moving boulders in search of food was sighted along the Vancouver Island shoreline, a second bear was sighted shortly after on another beach, it to was busy foraging amongst boulders while the tide was low. It was a great start to the tour. As we neared Cracroft Point in Johnstone Strait, the A30 pod, a family of nine orcas were sighted, they were well spread out, foraging for salmon. As wind conditions were perfect, the main sail was hoisted and passengers enjoyed the blissful experience of sailing with the orcas. It was wonderful being able to listen to the A-Clan calls of the A30's via the hydrophone as it trailed along behind the boat as we sailed. It was later on in the tour at Weynton Passage that we witnessed the parade of incoming pods of orcas re-entering Johnstone Strait, the I31's, I15's and A36's. The first orca that made it into the Strait was A32, his A-Clan vocal could be heard as he entered, he was well ahead of the other groups of orcas who were spread out behind him in Weynton Passage. What a powerfully awesome sight it was to see so many orcas surging forth in various directions. As they moved further east in Johnstone Strait we continued our tour viewing some 25 plus hauled-out Stellar Sea Lions. It was on our way home that we were joined briefly by a small group of bow-riding Dall's Porpoises.

August 24th

A super sunny day out on the water that began with an early morning rendevouz with several Orcas and a Humpback Whale in the vicinity of Blackfish Sound. Numerous orca fins could be seen in the distance in the early morning light; many were resting on the surface while a few youngsters interacted playfully with one another. A Humpback blow appearing out of nowhere was seen as a striking contrast in size to that of the orca blows; the sound distinct and clearly audible above the sounds of orca blows. The A24's and some R pods were heading east in Blackfish Sound ahead of us and numerous others could be sighted at the entrance to Blackney Passage, we seemed to be in two minds of which direction to head for! We chose to linger and take a closer look at the Humpback Whale as it foraged alongside of the A36 brothers, they too were steadily foraging and it was wonderful to see the two species passing. The ocean sparkled, seabirds and marine mammals were feasting, sea lions were hauled out relaxing and amidst it all, the mesmerising A-Clan calls of the A30's and A36's could be heard via the hydrophone. To sum it all up, as one passenger quietly remarked, "it is all so beautiful".

August 23rd

The morning proved to be excellent, blue skies, a gentle cool breeze and transient orcas on the horizon! Both the SV Tuan and the MV Cetacea were out in Blackfish Sound "island hopping" with the transient orcas as they hunted for harbour seals amongst the kelp beds. A successful kill had been made earlier that morning so the orcas (T10 and her son T10B) were in no hurry to move on, but instead patrolled the shoreline providing a fantastic encounter for all on board. The afternoon was spent with a couple of groups of northern resident orcas, the A36's a bachelor group of three brothers, and the I15's a large family of fourteen orcas consisting of four sisters and their offspring. We traveled alongside these two groups as they intermingled, foraged and rested their way towards Johnstone Strait, encountering Dall's porpoises, Steller sea lions and harbour porpoises along the way.

August 22nd

A truly magical morning. We headed out into Johnstone Strait through a thick blanket of fog and switched off our engine as we approached the shore line of Hanson Island. We dropped the hydrophone into the water and waited, within minutes the sound of blows could be clearly heard as an orca materialized out of the fog in front of us. We watched as she foraged close to the shore and was then engulfed back into the fog, leaving us once more to listen to her blow and underwater vocalizations. It felt unreal just sitting and absorbing the limited world around us listening to the distant calls of shore birds mingled in with the sounds of the waves breaking and the blows of the nearby orcas. What seemed like an age passed in just a few minutes as the fog started to thin, slowly revealing more of our surroundings. The rest of the 8 hour tour was just as mystical as we encountered Dall's porpoises and then later a group of Pacific white-sided dolphins as they mobbed the resident orcas for food scraps. The Afternoon was spent surrounded by the A11's, a family of 9 resident orcas (the most famous being Springer who was adopted by this group after being orphaned in 2002). We sat watching transfixed as the orcas foraged, snoozed and socialized then we slowly made our way through the islands into Blackfish Sound were we observed an humpback whale feeding before we headed home.
The MV Cetacea also had an awesome afternoon tour which was spent with the orcas just off Robson Bight as well as encountering bow-riding Dall's porpoises on the way home.

August 21st

Today was fantastic out on the water. We spent both the morning and the afternoon tours with the A30's, a family of 9 northern resident orcas, as they foraged along Johnstone Strait and up into Blackfish Sound. When conditions were right we hoisted the main sail and cruised silently beside the orcas, dropping the hydrophone to listen to their calls which were amazing (possibly the best I've heard yet this summer). At one point the SV Tuan and MV Cetacea were surrounded by foraging orcas trying to avoid the constant harassment of Pacific white-sided dolphins mobbing them for food scraps!
Other wildlife sightings today included a large group of Steller sea lions hauled out on sunny rocks, a Dall's porpoise and young calf as well as a small group of black oyster catchers, Harbour seals, a Cassin's auklet, and the usual array of gulls, sandpipers, alcids, Bald Eagles, a Kingfisher or 2, and the odd Great Blue Heron. Unfortunately many of these species have been seen coming into contact with the diesel spill from yesterday! We will be continuing efforts to making sure that this eco-system and it's inhabitants are looked after during this rough time.

August 20th

Disaster struck Robson Bight this morning as a large barge transporting heavy machinery capsized in the reserve emptying its cargo into the depths resulting in a fuel spill over 8 km long! Robson Bight was established as an ecological reserve back in the 198o's when it was discovered to be a hub of activity for the resident orcas during the summer months. The scale of this disaster has yet to be gauged, but can perhaps be best illustrated by the diverse wealth of wildlife living in these waters. Today alone we were privileged to encounter eight different types of marine mammal, this included the resident orcas, transient orcas, a humpback whale, a minke whale, harbour porpoise, Dall's porpoise, Steller sea lion and harbour seal. A fuel spill like this can take months to clean up and have a huge effect for the environment and the wildlife in it. A clean-up mission is currently underway which will hopefully minimise the damage already done and set in place procedures to make sure this never happens again.

August 19th

Thanks to Paul Tixier for this serene shot of the SV Tuan and a bull Orca.


Today was fabulous! Thick fog blanketed the Strait as we made our way towards Robson Bight where we encountered a large group of resident orcas traveling at speed towards us. The morning was spent alongside these whales as they foraged for salmon down Johnstone Strait. After lunch we switched off the SV Tuan's engine and listened to fantastic orca vocals over the hydrophone. We were entranced watching a large group of resident orcas foraging in front of us when all of a sudden a young humpback whale surfaced practically in the middle of them with a loud trumpeting blow followed by a flash of its tail-fluke as it dove! If this was not exciting enough a small group of Dall's porpoises arrived on the scene, darting and diving around the orcas mobbing them for food scraps! Wherever we looked something action-packed and magical was happening! Humpbacks, orcas and porpoises all in the same area. Truly spell-binding.
Other exciting wildlife encounters included spotting a Parasitic Jaeger as well as an Common Tern, both un-common in this area.

August 18th

The morning started off calm and gentle with a light breeze and warming sun. The SV Tuan made its way down Johnstone Strait where we caught up with a large family group of resident orcas known as the I15's (14 individuals in total). The orcas were resting as they slowly made their way towards Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. Resting behaviour is evident when a group comes close together surfacing and diving simultaneously. We later encountered the A12's, (8 individuals in total) in Blackfish Sound and followed them as they traveled through the archipelago, exploring through kelpbeds along the way. Once back in Johnstone Strait we could see orcas in every direction as there were at least 5 different families (over 40+ individuals) all foraging and socializing in the one area, the hydrophone picked up amazing vocals. Other wildlife encounters included a large group of Dall's porpoises bow-riding the SV Tuan, as well as a huge haul-out of Steller sea lion sun bathing on the rocks

August 17th

Spray broke over the bow of the SV Tuan as we cruised through the islands towards Blackfish Sound accompanied by a small group of Dall's porpoises riding in our wake. We had not gone far when we saw a big splash ahead in the distance, and just in case we had missed it the first time it was followed by a couple more! We hoisted the sails and as we got closer we were able to see a young humpback calf frolicking in the chop, rolling on its back waving pectoral fins in the air, tail-slapping, cart-wheeling and most impressive of all performing a number of spectacular breaches - the calf was obviously enjoying the windy weather! The encounter was made even more exciting as a third humpback joined the mother and calf, all foraging stopped as the trio of whales socialised, diving and surfacing meters from each other an interaction this intimate rarely seen considering humpback are usually solitary.

August 16th

An early morning thunderstorm passing Alert Bay provided an element of freshness to the outward journey! As the SV Tuan made its way into Blackfish Sound we encountered a large group of resident orcas (consisting of the family groups the I15's, A24's and A12's) traveling in our direction as they foraged, rested and socialized their way towards Johnstone Strait. We traveled with them, listening to their unique calls and vocalizations via the hydrophone, watching various members of the group spy-hoping, tail-slapping and generally rolling around waving pectoral fins in the air for all to see - it was a fabulous sight! Other highlights of the tour included watching humpback whales foraging and the rare sighting of a peregrine falcon hunting red-necked phalaropes.

August 15th

Glorious sunshine and a cool breeze greeted us as we left the dock and made our way into Johnstone Strait. The A30's, a large family group of resident orcas, were foraging towards us spread out across the strait in search of salmon. A fantastic encounter soon followed as they passed the SV Tuan on ether side. We followed the orcas as they made their way into Blackfish Sound where we then joined by the MV Cetacea (who had also had some spectacular viewings of Steller sea lions and a bald eagle chick on the verge of fledging). The afternoon was spent listening to orca vocals via the hydrophone while observing them forage and socialize, as well as watching a couple of humpback whales (mother and calf) lunge feed through a herring ball.

August 14th

Todays tours were fantastic! The morning was spent in the glorious sunshine watching the resident orca group the A36's (consisting of three notorious brothers) foraging in Queen Charlotte Strait accompanied by A34 and her offspring. The afternoon got off to a spectacular start when we encountered a mother black bear with her two cubs searching for lunch on the beach! We soon caught up with a large group of resident orcas (the I15's), as they snoozed in the afternoon sun, it was amazing to watch the whole group raise and dive simultaneously as they made their way up the Strait towards Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. The homeward journey was capped off by a sighting of Pacific white-sided dolphins as they raced passed us, and a small group of very energetic Dall's porpoises as they darted and dived around the front of the SV Tuan.
Other wildlife seen included Common Murres, Rinocerous Auklets, Marbled Murrelets, Red-necked Phalaropes, Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, Pigeon Guillemots, Cormorants, Black Oystercatchers, Glaucous Winged Gulls, California Gulls, Harbour Seals, and Steller Sea lions.

August 13th

The fog parted as we made our way into Blackfish Sound, unveiling the beautiful surrounding islands and distant mountain tops. Silence was broken as a large humpback whale performed dramatic cartwheels and flamboyant tail-slaps as we passed by on our pursuit of orcas, closely followed by a bombardment of Dall's porpoises racing and darting in front of the bow of the SV Tuan, delighting everyone onboard. As the fog cleared we got our first sighting of the orcas, a large male foraging along the shore while his mother (matriarch A12) chased salmon in the deeper water of the Strait. The remainder of the voyage was spent traveling alongside the pair of resident orcas as they made their way along the coast in search of fish, providing fantastic photo opportunities for those onboard!

August 12th

This afternoon we ventured down Johnstone Strait and met up with two groups of resident orcas, the A24's and A11's. We could view orca blow as far as the eye could see, spread out across the strait foraging on both sides around us. We switched off the engine, hoisted the sail and dropped the hydrophone into the water enabling as to listened to the stunning vocals as the orcas searched for salmon. We then cruised through the islands looking at bald eagle nests and foraging sea lions where once out the other side of we caught up with 2 Humpback whales foraging in Blackfish Sound. We watched as mother and calf made spectacular dives, flaunting their beautiful tail flukes for all to see.

August 11th

Today was pretty amazing! While pondering which of two resident orca groups we should meet up with (both being a suitably long distance away from the SV Tuan), a small group of transient orcas materialised in front of us. We followed the transients as they foraged close to the shoreline hunting amongst the bull kelp forests for harbour seals. The Dall's porpoises that we had been watching only minutes before had quickly disappeared from the scene (for they are also predated by transient orcas). The passengers on the afternoon tour were lucky enough to view both the transient and resident orcas, seeing firsthand the different foraging techniques used and the behavioural variation between the two groups. Where the transients were unpredictable, changing direction and speed frequently, the residents seemed to be much more relaxed and methodical in their foraging, vocalizing freely and often. These unique encounters were too much for one visitor who was overwhelmed and reduced to tears by the shear beauty of these animals.

August 10th

The morning voyage started off in johnstone Strait watching Houdini, a well known female humpback whale and her 7 month old calf Poke (named for the "poke" shaped indent on it's back) foraging through the Bull-kelp beds close to shore. After leaving mother and calf the SV Tuan made its way through the island into Blackfish Sound were we encountered a huge ensemble of resident orcas. There were over 40 individuals from 7 different matrilines (families groups) all foraging for the newly arrived salmon. During the max flood the SV Tuan and the MV Cetacea watched as numerous groups of orca took advantage of the strong currents and funneled themselves through the island channels to emerge out the other-side in Johnstone Strait. Both the SV Tuan and the MV Cetacea followed the resident orcas as they made there way towards Robson Bight (Ecological Reserve) listening to stunning vocals along the way as well as viewing other spectacular wildlife such as bald eagle fledglings preparing to leave the nest and Steller sea lions foraging fish through the strong currents.

August 9th

Today was amazing. It's hard to know where to begin! No more than 10 minutes into an 8 hour tour we came across a beautiful black bear foraging along the beach looking for tasty snacks under the rocks, then 40 minutes later we saw are fist signs of orcas. We were heading down Johnstone Strait towards Robson Bight (the ecological reserve) when we caught up with the A30's, a large family group of resident orcas who were making in the most of the calm sunny weather by sleeping their way down the strait. Things started to get exciting within minutes (as if it wasn't exciting enough already) for we had spotted at least three other groups of orcas heading up the strait toward us and the A30's! What followed can only be described as breathtaking, the SV Tuan's engine was switched off and we drifted with the currents with our hydrophone in the water listening to a symphony of calls as the four individual groups of orcas socialised and frolicked around us. It was truly amazing. Thinking it was hard to beat an encounter that was as "one-off" as this mornings, the SV Tuan cruised through the islands into Blackfish Sound were we spent the afternoon viewing humpback whales foraging and lunge-feeding though balls of herring, an event that in itself would have been truly rememberable was the perfect finale to an action packed day on the water

August 8th

This morning was beautiful and sunny with fluffy white clouds speckling the sky as we made our way down Johnstone Strait. The majority of the day was spent in the company of the A30’s and I11’s, two large family groups of resident orcas consisting of 18 individuals in total! We followed the two groups as they slept, foraged and socialised their way to Robson Bight (Ecological Reserve) where we were also able to observe a mother humpback whale and calf foraging close to the shore line. After lunch the SV Tuan was joined by the MV Cetacea as we waited outside the reserve for the orcas to emerge from the rubbing beach while we listened to their underwater vocalisations. Highlights of the trip included watching a young juvenile orca breach 150 meters from the boat, and cruising all the way home with the orcas foraging for salmon along side us.

August 7th

The SV Tuan was cloaked in mist as we left Alert Bay in search of orcas. We made our way through Queen Charlotte Strait listening for the sound of blows until the eerie sight of a large male dorsal fin materialised out of the fog in front of us. The large male orca was A33 a northern resident killer whale accompanied by a smaller female A12 (his 66 year old mother
and the family's matriarch). The SV Tuan followed this group, which was also ing the company of the A24’s (a small family group of only four orcas), as they slept and socialised. The fog had dissipated by the afternoon unveiling a breath taking view of the surrounding mountains and islands. With the sails up we followed the orcas through Johnstone Strait listening to their vocalisations as they foraged. We were not alone as we cruised by the shoreline where we spotted 3 black bears who were searching for crabs and other tasty snacks, one mother was shadowed by a very young cub who seemed more interested in scrambling over the large rocks than searching under them.

August 6th

Today was an incredible day for seeing the stunning variety of nature North Vancouver Island has to offer. The SV Tuan set of down the Johnstone Strait and met a resident orca family known as the A30's as they were foraging for salmon. On the return journey we were lucky enough to see a minke whale. The MV Cetacea followed the A30's before they entered Robson Bight listening to their eerie vocalizations via the boat’s hydrophone. This afternoon the MV Cetacea and the SV Tuan headed out to Blackfish Sound and the surrounding islands and saw four humpback whales foraging. A mother humpback and her calf,
famous in the area, put on a breathtaking display leaping out of the water and crashing back with an almighty splash! We also observed Steller sea-lions catching dogfish amongst dozens of mobbing gulls. On the way home we also saw a pacific white-sided dolphin with her very young calf close to her side. This final sighting capped off a wonderful day of seven species of marine mammal seen complimented, as ever, by high tea on the high sea.

August 5th

A fresh clear morning greeted the SV Tuan as we left harbor. Today's first sighting was the three brothers of the A36's, a resident pod of orca. Their synchronized porpoising suggested they were currently asleep, three abreast and heading straight for us. After some careful maneuvering we watch them gracefully cut through the water and head away across the strait. We didn’t have to wait long for our next excitement. Now we were watching nine members of the A12 matriline, another resident orca pod, as they all came to the surface to breath between deep dives. We observed several juveniles, an adult female and an adult male in one group and a little way ahead was another adult male and his mother, the group's matriarch - a riveting sight to be sure. Having watched for several minutes we left them to their feeding and set of to catch up with the A36's who seemed to have woken up and had also started foraging for food. We travelled in parallel with them as we headed towards home. MV Cetacea spotted 3 humpbacks and also saw the same groups of orca and listened to their vocalizations over the hydrophone, capping of another great day of whale watching around the archipelago.

August 4th

The sky threatened rain as we set out from Alert Bay this morning, but the dull sky gradually cleared into a glorious blue clear afternoon. We hadn't gone far before coming across Houdini, a local humpback, and her calf. The calf, barely 7 months old, put on a great display leaping out of the water before crashing back with an almighty splash. Later we sighted several magnificent resident orca (from the matriline A12) , we tracked them for a while as they foraged for salmon. After admiring the incredible B.C. scenery whilst cruising around various islands we struck orca gold again - the three brothers from the matriline A36! We watched whilst these formidable animals glided back and forth feeding on the salmon returning to spawn. This capped a memorable tour for both the SV Tuan and MV Cetacea

August 3rd

This morning we headed out and found the A30 matriline of Orcas. The group consists of the matriarch A30 (a grandmother at the ripe age of 60 years old), her two sons (aged 37 and 32) and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren! The day was spectacular, we had the sails up and cruised alongside the orcas as they slept, foraged, and socialized while we listened to their vocalization via the hydrophone. The SV Tuan and the MV Cetacea also sighted humpbacks, Dall's porpoises, Steller sea lions and lots of harbour seals.
Other wildlife sighted throughout the day included three bald eagle chicks, harlequin ducks, cassin's auklet, marbled murrelets and leach's storm-petrels.

August 2nd

The morning got off to a fantastic start for we had not gone far before we were the center of attention for a group of very frisky Pacific white-sided dolphins who delighted everyone on board with their bow riding and acrobatic skills. The SV Tuan and the MV Cetacea also encountered a young humpback foraging in Blackfish Sound as well as a group of resident orcas in Queen Charlotte Strait. The orcas consisted of the familiar A36's (a bachelor group of three brother), and the A24's (a well known matriarch and her three offspring) as well a surprise visit from the R7's (three orcas that are rarely spotted in this area). The day was glorious, we switched off the engine and watched the orcas foraging and socializing in the sun, punctuated by the occasional vocalization over the hydrophone. Truly spectacular.

August 1st

The morning began amongst bow riding Dall's porpoises and the trend continued throughout the day delighting everyone aboard on both morning and afternoon tours. The seas remained calm and the skies fluctuated between mist and clear blue making for some excellent scenery as we cruised through the archipelago. The highlight of both trips was our encounters with mother and calf humpback whale as the calf has proved itself to be very surface active showing off its pectoral fins and tail flukes altered by the odd full breach!
Other wildlife sighted throughout the day included harbour seals, Steller sea lions, harbour porpoise, bald eagles, black oyster catchers, 2 wandering tattlers, rhinoceros auklets, 3 Cassin's auklets, common murres, california gulls and a ring-billed gull.

July 31st

The water was calm and sparkling with sunlight as we headed out this morning. Houdini ( a well known female humpback) foraged for small fish while her 7 month old calf goofed around. It was comical to watch. The calf rolled on to its back waving its pectoral fins high in the air, followed by a couple of tail slaps, a breach, and some more fin waggling, this lasted for most of the morning! The afternoon was spent near Robson Bight Ecological Reserve watching a group of resident orcas foraging and chasing salmon. One particular high speed chase ended in a kill which was shared between the group; dropping the hydrophone into the water we were able to listen in on their vocalization as the fish was consumed.
Other wildlife sighted throughout the day included harbour seals, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, bald eagles, rhinoceros auklets and common murres.

July 30th

The sun shone brightly as we headed out towards Blackfish Sound. We hadn't gone far when we found a female humpback and her calf foraging through the calm waters. As we watched the calf arch its back to make a dive, flashing us a view of its tail-fluke, we were taken by surprise as moments later it was launching out of the water in a spectacular breach clearing the surface and twisting in mid-air to land on its back, then performing the same feat another three times. Truly magnificent! As if this was not enough we later caught-up with a small group of resident orcas (A34 and her offspring) and watched transfixed as they lunged out of the water chasing salmon, we were even lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the three year old calf breaching.
Other wildlife sighted throughout the day included harbour seals, bald eagles, red-necked
phalaropes, Leach's storm-petrels, rhinoceros auklets and common murres.