Today was an incredible day on the water; we not only got a double species day, but we got to meet both species of calves! The full fleet left the dock this morning rearing to go, and our vessels shot out into the Strait to start the search.
Cascadia headed out to Entrance Island while the other two vessels searched closer to shore. After only searching for a few minutes, Cascadia soon spotted a couple of blows! It was a pair of Humpbacks enjoying the rough water. Guests were also getting the fully immersive experience, getting pretty splashed in the waves. Some tours are just as wet as the whales! This pair was Mathematician (BCY0785) and Stripe (BCZ0004). This pair was most likely feeding, getting ready for their long journey back to Hawaii.

Cascadia stayed with these two while the other vessels continued the search for more marine life in calmer waters. Though it took a little while, the wait was well worth it! We soon came across more blows, and this time it was Humpback mom Zephyr (BCZ0414) and her new baby! By this point, the wind had started to calm down, and the waters were more serene. It wasn’t long before Cascadia showed up to join the pair. Zephyr’s little calf is a 2024 baby, and this pair will soon be preparing for their journey to Hawaii, where they will part ways for good. Humpback calves only stay with their mothers for one year before they’re on their own. When Zephyr’s calf was born, he would have been about 10–15 feet long and already weighed up to a ton—that’s one big baby! Eventually, he will grow to around 50 feet long, just like his mother. While nursing on the fat-rich milk, this little guy grows about a foot each month. After watching this adorable pair play in the rolling seas, we wanted a smoother ride home, so we passed through Polier Pass and into the shelter of the Gulf Islands

As soon as we entered the inside passage, Kula spotted more blows accompanied by tall dorsal fins—it was Orcas! How lucky were we to encounter another baby! What a treat to meet two new members of the Salish Sea on one trip. The Orcas were having what we like to call a “T-party,” where multiple pods come together to socialize. The Orca present at this gathering were:

T60D Onca ♂ (2004)
T60E Lynx ♂ (2008)

T019 Nootka ♀ (~1965)
T019B Galiano ♂ (1995)
T019C Spouter ♂ (2001)

T036 Flapjack ♀ (≤1970)
T036B Tattertip ♀ (1998)
T036B1 Bhotia ♀ (2009)
T036B2 Greenfelder ♀ (2013)
T036B4 (2024)

This baby Orca wouldn’t be as large as Zephyr’s baby at birth, but it’s still no lightweight! The Orca calf would have been around 7 to 10 feet long at birth and could weigh up to 800 pounds. Eventually, this baby will grow to anywhere between 22 to 28 feet long, feeding on its mother’s nutritious milk. The pods appeared to be finishing up a hunt just as we arrived, and we watched as some birds moved in for the scraps. After their meal, we travelled slowly with them, taking in their beauty before leaving them to their journey and heading into port.

We also visited our Steller Sea Lions at a place we call “Stinky Rocks,” named after the odour these pinnipeds are known for! While the Stellers are large and contribute the most to the smell, our Harbour Seals haul out nearby and add to the stink as well! Both seals and sea lions dine on over 100 different species of fish, squid, octopus, and crab, and frequent regurgitation gives them some pretty foul breath. We also spotted one of our majestic Bald Eagles perched high in the treetops! Altogether, it was a fantastic—and wet—day out on the water!

Enjoy the photos below, taken by Marine Naturalists Aly Kohlman, Val Watson, and Vanessa Vereschahen.