It was a crisp, clear day as two of our whale-watching boats set out from Nanaimo for an exciting day of marine wildlife sightings. As our two boats left the docks of Nanaimo, they split up to cover more ground in search of whales and other marine wildlife. One boat headed directly into the open waters of the Strait of Georgia, known for its rich feeding grounds and frequent whale activity. The other boat decided to take a different route, cruising through the picturesque Southern Gulf Islands before passing through Gabriola Pass and rejoining the search in the Strait of Georgia.

While one boat was busy covering the wide, open waters, the second boat made a quick stop at a well-known spot among the locals—Stinky Rocks. True to its name, Stinky Rocks is a hotbed of marine life, particularly Steller Sea Lions and Harbour Seals. As the boat neared the rocks, we were greeted by the sight of these charismatic creatures. The Steller sea lions, the largest of the sea lion species, were particularly active, basking in the sun and splashing in the water with their characteristic playfulness. A few harbour seals lounged nearby, their smaller, sleek forms offering a quieter but equally enchanting sight.

Meanwhile, our other boat in the open waters had its first encounter of the day—a humpback whale known as Kappa (BCX0158). Kappa seemed to be in feeding mode, lifting her enormous tail high above the water before diving down for minutes at a time, chasing schools of fish and krill beneath the surface. Watching this behaviour, it's clear why humpbacks are such beloved creatures. Their tail, or flukes, rises elegantly above the water as they prepare for a deep dive, giving onlookers a perfect photo opportunity and a glimpse into their feeding habits.

The boat stayed with Kappa for a while, watching her graceful movements as she dove and resurfaced in the calm waters of the Strait. The thrill of seeing a humpback in its natural habitat never gets old, and Kappa's majestic display set the tone for what would be a day filled with more humpback sightings.

After enjoying some time with Kappa, the first boat continued on its way and soon came across another pair of humpback whales: Snoopy (BCY0770) and Magpie (BCY1124). These two whales were also in the middle of feeding, displaying their magnificent flukes as they dove down for deeper dives. They appeared to be slowly travelling east, moving in tandem and showing off their synchronized tail movements. It's moments like these that leave observers in awe of how synchronized and graceful these massive creatures can be.

While Snoopy and Magpie were captivating the attention of one boat, the other vessel that had made the stop at Stinky Rocks had its own luck. After leaving the sea lions and seals behind, they encountered their own pair of humpbacks: Honu (BCX1856) and Kraken (BCZ0180). Unlike the more leisurely movements of Snoopy and Magpie, Honu and Kraken seemed to be in a playful mood. The two whales swam very close together, occasionally surfacing in perfect unison. At one point, the crew and passengers even heard some vocalizations from the pair during a close surface—an incredible experience for everyone on board.

As the first boat finished up their observation of Snoopy and Magpie, they decided to join the other boat, allowing everyone to enjoy the antics of Honu and Kraken together. The sight of two boats watching this dynamic pair of whales was a beautiful reminder of the cooperative nature of whale-watching tours—everyone shares in the wonder.

From here, the boats split up once again to explore different areas, maximizing the chances of more sightings. One boat soon came across a trio of humpback whales: Sherwina (BCY0961), Spock (BCY1134), and Barge Boy (HW-MN0502814). The three whales were travelling together, moving slowly and methodically through the waters.

Meanwhile, the other boat decided to do their own visit at Stinky Rocks for a look at the sea lions, and they were in for an extra treat. The sea lions were very active as we watched them, jumping out of the water in playful displays. One particularly energetic sea lion was seen playing with what looked like the spine of a fish, tossing it into the air and chasing after it like a toy. This playful display was both entertaining and a reminder of the vibrant marine ecosystem thriving around these rocky outcroppings.

As the day began to wind down, both boats made their way back toward Nanaimo. But the day's magic wasn’t quite over yet. One final pair of humpback whales—Stripe (BCZ0004) and Mathematician (BCY0785)—made an appearance, swimming peacefully through the golden glow of the setting sun. This serene sight was the perfect way to close out the day, as the whales' graceful movements mirrored the calm waters and the brilliant colours of the sunset.

Soon both boats found themselves back in Nanaimo, thrilled with all the wildlife that they got to see today. The onboard Marine Naturalists Vanessa Vereschahen and Aly Kolhman captured some amazing photos today, all of which can be viewed below!

October 13, 2024 - Humpbacks, Humpbacks, and more Humpbacks!

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