You couldn’t have asked for better weather than we had today! The sun was shining, the winds were calm, and our semi-covered boat gently left the dock, setting course for the beautiful Strait of Georgia. We cruised over the top of Gabriola Island, ready to begin our search in the open waters.

It didn’t take long for one of our sharp-eyed guests to spot what we were hoping for, the iconic black dorsal fins of orcas slicing through the water not far from Entrance Island. One towering dorsal fin stood high above the others, a telltale sign of a large adult male, and many of the fins bore distinctive notches and scars. This made identifying the group, an apparent T-party, quite easy for our crew! In total, we had six whales present, representing four different matrilines. It was:

T065 Whidbey II ♀ (~1971)
T063 Chainsaw ♂ (~1978)

As we watched, the whales moved slowly and stayed very close together, leading to some speculation that they might have been taking a group nap. Orcas, like all cetaceans, practice uni-hemispheric sleep — they rest one half of their brain at a time while continuing necessary activities like surfacing to breathe. Typically, this behaviour is highly synchronized within a tight-knit matriline, often led by the matriarch. However, today the movements weren’t perfectly in sync, likely due to the unique mix of whales travelling together. Even so, the group stayed loosely coordinated, communicating softly through the water.

After spending some wonderful time with the sleepy travellers, we left them to continue their slow journey and began heading south to see what other wildlife the Strait had to offer.

We travelled down past Gabriola Island and into the Flat Top Islands, eventually reaching the east side of Valdes Island, where we found a lively haul-out of Steller Sea Lions. We affectionately call their rocky outpost "Stinky Rock" thanks to the unmistakable scent that lingers from the sea lions' large numbers and their less-than-hygienic habits! These massive animals are impressive in size, with males reaching up to 2,800 pounds and females up to 800 pounds. Steller Sea Lions are opportunistic feeders, dining primarily on fish but also occasionally snacking on cephalopods like the Giant Pacific Octopus and various squid. Their unbrushed teeth and ample sun-baked "contributions" to the rock certainly do their part in creating the famous odour, but despite the smell, the sea lions themselves are endlessly entertaining to watch as they bark, posture, and splash into the water.

The surrounding area was alive with bird activity as well. Huge flocks of Bonaparte’s Gulls fed in the nearby waves, and we were treated to the sight of these delicate birds resting along the rocks just down from the sea lions. These gulls are only passing through our waters on their long migration north to southern Alaska and central Canada, where they’ll nest during the summer, uniquely, in trees rather than on the ground like most gulls! Among the resting flocks, we also spotted a beautiful pair of Harlequin Ducks. It was easy to tell the males from the females: the males sported brilliant, colourful plumage, while the females wore a more muted, camouflaged look.

After enjoying the bustling scene at Stinky Rock, we made our way to the Flat Tops themselves, where we found a group of curious harbour seals lounging on the rocky shores. We watched a few of them galumph, that adorable, awkward wriggle, down the rocks to slip into the water. While clumsy on land, harbour seals trade that for amazing agility and speed in the water, where they are true masters of their element.

Our journey continued through the scenic Southern Gulf Islands as we made our way back toward Nanaimo, with a couple of final stops in Northumberland Channel. Near the Harmac Pulp Mill, we spotted California Sea Lions lazily stretched out on the log booms, barely stirring as we floated by under the warm afternoon sun.

We also visited the Gabriola Island shoreline, where we were treated to a special sight: Bald Eagles tending to their nest, while nearby cormorants busily prepared their nesting sites. It was wonderful to see so many birds during their breeding season, a perfect closing chapter to our day filled with wildlife encounters.

Finally, we returned to Nanaimo, thrilled by all the incredible experiences the day had brought. Our onboard Marine Naturalist, Val Watson, captured some fantastic photos throughout the trip, which you can view below!

April 23, 2025 - A slightly sleepy T-party near Entrance Island