On a beautiful sunny day, our team at Vancouver Island Whale Watch set out on a mission to spot some of the most elusive and majestic creatures of the ocean, the orcas. We were thrilled to hear that the transient orca pod, the T049As, had been spotted travelling south from Texada Island, and we knew this was an opportunity not to be missed.

As we set out on our journey, we could feel the excitement and anticipation building among our passengers on all three of our vessels. Our experienced crew was ready to guide the guests through the waters to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

After a brief journey, we spotted the pod off in the distance. We could see the tall dorsal fins of the orca breaking through the surface of the water as they travelled in a coordinated formation. It was a sight to behold, and our passengers were in awe.

The T049As are a family of 7 transient orcas. Today only 5 of the T049As were present as T049A1 Noah and T049A2 Jude were off on their own adventures. The members of the pod present were:

T049A ♀ Nan (1986)
T049A3 ♂ Nat (2011)
T049A4 ♂Neptune (2014)
T049A5 ♀ Nebula (2017)
T049A6 (2022)

The T049As are a tight-knit family, and we could see the bond between them as they swam closely together. We could also see the young calf swimming alongside Nan, learning the ways of the ocean.

Our crew was careful to maintain a safe distance from the pod, as we do not want to disrupt their natural behavior. We pride ourselves on being responsible whale watchers, ensuring that we do not harm these creatures in any way.

After an hour, it was time for us to say goodbye to the T049As. We could see them travelling further south towards their next destination, and we were grateful to have been able to witness their journey.

After leaving the T049As, the boats split apart and each had their own porpoise adventures!

Kula headed to Halibut Bank where they saw a lot of Harbour Porpoise! Harbour porpoises are usually solitary or found in small groups of up to five individuals. They are not as social as other species of cetaceans, and they tend to avoid boats and humans which made this experience so much more thrilling. They are known for their relatively slow swimming speeds, reaching up to 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour).

Our other vessels got to see some Dall’s Porpoise, a much less common sight on our tours. They are named after William Healey Dall, an American naturalist who first described the species in 1873. Dall's are a relatively large porpoise, with adults reaching up to 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) in length and weighing up to 480 pounds (220 kilograms). They have a distinctive black and white coloration, with a black and white dorsal fin and white sides and belly.

Dall's porpoises are known for their high-speed swimming ability, often reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) and sending off a spray of water known as a Rooster Tail behind them. They are social animals and are often found in groups of up to 20 individuals, although larger groups have been observed. Today a large pod darted around our vessels, showing off their speed as the crew and guests sat back in amazement.

Soon it was time to leave the porpoise and other wildlife behind, and all three boats headed back into the Nanaimo Harbour.

At Vancouver Island Whale Watch, we are dedicated to providing a safe and responsible whale watching experience. We believe that it is important to educate our passengers about these amazing creatures and the importance of conservation efforts to protect them.

If you're interested in seeing the T049As or any other species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in their natural habitat, join us on our next whale watching tour. Our experienced crew will guide you through the waters and provide you with an unforgettable experience.

Today’s photos were taken by Marine Naturalists Cheyenne Brewster, Vanessa Vereschahen, and Aly Kohlman and you can see them all below!