October 15, 2024 - A trip to Humpback Land
Today’s adventure started with high hopes and eager anticipation as we set out from Nanaimo, heading into the beautiful waters of British Columbia with the goal of spotting some whales. Our day began as we ventured through Dodd Narrows, a stunning and narrow passageway that leads into the Southern Gulf Islands. Known for its strong tidal currents, this area is both picturesque and teeming with marine life. The narrow channel squeezes the water between the islands, and as we passed through, we couldn’t help but marvel at the rugged landscape and swirling currents that would guide us toward today’s marine encounters.
After winding through the Gulf Islands, our journey took us to Porlier Pass, a hotspot for marine activity thanks to the powerful tidal currents that mix the waters. Located just across the Strait of Georgia from the mouth of the Fraser River, this area is rich in nutrients—perfect for attracting marine wildlife.
And then, the moment we had all been waiting for—on the horizon, we spotted the unmistakable tall, bushy blows of humpback whales! As we approached, it became clear that these were familiar whales: Barge Boy (HW-MN0502814), Malachite (KEY0047), Stripe (BCZ0004) and Mathematician (BCY0785). These four humpbacks were relatively close together, with Barge Boy feeding at a distance, while the others—perhaps feeling more social—travelled much closer together.
We were treated to some incredible surface behaviours: the whales rolled at the surface, slapped their massive pectoral fins against the water, and flicked their tails in playful gestures. At one point, the curious trio even came right alongside our boat, giving us a few exhilarating moments of being close to these gentle giants before they returned to their activities further away.
Just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, more whale blows caught our attention on the horizon. We headed over to discover Arial (BCY0767) and Polyphemus (BCZ0342), two more humpbacks focused on feeding. It was an important reminder of the whales’ preparation for their long journey south, as this feeding ground is crucial for them to build up the energy reserves they’ll need for migration. Watching them forage in the nutrient-rich waters was both a calming and awe-inspiring experience.
After our amazing encounters with the humpbacks, we continued north to a place known as Stinky Rocks, where the waters were alive with the playful antics of Steller Sea Lions. These massive creatures splashed and darted through the water, while nearby Harbour Seals lounged lazily on the rocks. The sight was made even more magical when a bald eagle soared overhead, a symbol of the wild beauty of this region.
As we made our way back toward Nanaimo, we made one final stop at the Harmac Pulp Mill. Here, a group of California Sea Lions had gathered, barking and lounging near the mill. Their deep, distinctive calls echoed across the water, reminding us once more of the incredible biodiversity that thrives in these waters.
A big thank you to the onboard Marine Naturalist Vanessa Vereschehen who captured these amazing photos of the encounters throughout the tour, which are available below!
Barge Boy going for a dive.
A fluke waterfall from Barge Boy.
The underside of Barge Boy’s tail.
Stripe (front) and Malachite (back) surfacing together.
Stripe surfacing in he calm water.
The underside of Stripe’s tail.
A close look at Malachite as he approached our shut-down boat.
Barnacles getting a free ride on malachite’s fluke.
Stripe lifting his tail sideways.
The underside of Stripe’s tail.
Mathematician going for a dive.
A fluke waterfall from Mathematician.
The underside of Mathematician’s tail.
The underside of Malachite’s tail.
Mathematician’s dorsal fin beside Stripe surfacing.
Mathematician flicking his tail sideways.
Stripe rolling just below the surface.
One of the Trio exhaling.
Malachite all stretched out at the surface.
Two half flukes from Malachite (left) and Stripe (right).
Malachite going for a dive.
Arial’s nostrils and dorsal fin.
Arial in front of the Coastal Mountains.
Arial preparing to dive.
Polyphemus creating a fluke waterfall as they dive.
Th underside of Polyphemus’ tail.
A happy looking Steller Sea Lion.
Some playful sea lions jumping from the water.
A young gull on the last of the rocks.
A happy Harbour Seal hanging out with the gulls.
A Steller Sea Lion hanging out with the gulls.
A Bald Eagle keeping an eye on us from the treetop.
A drooling California Sea Lion at Harmac.
A cormorant drying it’s wings before making the flight home.