Have A Whale Of A Time With The Orcas Off Vancouver Island, Canada
The best place in the world to see the majestic orca killer whale in its natural habitat has to be Johnstone Strait off the north coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

Have you been whale watching or are planning to go soon? If so we would love to hear all about your experiences (perhaps with a photo or two). You can contact us via our contact page.

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Whale Watching
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This 224-page title ventures into the secret realm of cetaceans, where whales are sovereigns of the deep, and playful dolphins merrily hold court. Informative essays look at all matters cetacean, from their renowned intelligence to the history of whaling, as well as providing a guide to the top whale and dolphin watching destinations around the world. A Travel Tips section includes carefully selected listings of specialist touring and lodging facilities. The work is lavishly illustrated with more than 250 spectacular photographs as well as 13 specially commissioned maps.
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Every summer from June through to October, a population of between 200 and 300 orcas gather here to feed and socialise, making it the perfect time to go whale watching in one of the most beautiful parts of our world.

Killer whales or orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family and their distinctive black and white colour makes them the easiest of the sea mammals to identify. And it’s not just orcas that you will see. The waters around Vancouver Island are home to an amazing variety of sealife including gray whales, humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions.

The Summer months can be busy, but by September the tourist crowds have started to thin and the true beauty and tranquility of Vancouver Island can be enjoyed. Not that it ever gets THAT busy. Although the largest island off the west coast of North America and about three quarters the size of New Zealand, it is home to only about 700,000 people.

You can choose to watch the whales from dry land or there are numerous commercial whale watching ventures operating out of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Alert Bay, Telegraph Cove, Kelsey Bay and Campbell River who will take you out onto the water for that up close and personal experience. Look out for operators who are members of the Whale Watch Operators Association.

Ocean Explorations offer exhilarating three hour trips aboard their three Zodiac boats which can accomodate up to 12 passengers each plus the two crew members. Tours are led by an experienced guide and each boat is equipped with hydrophones, under water acoustic systems that amplify the noises made by killer whales so that you can hear them loud and clear.

Boats depart throughout the day and the cost of a trip with Ocean Explorations is CAD$85 per person (about £37 at the time of writing), with discounts for students and children under the age of 16. They also operate a CAD$59 stand-by price so it’s well worth asking about reduced rates.

For the even more adventurous why not go whale watching in a kayak? Blue Planet Kayaking offer five day Orca Explorer trips that combine the simplicity of travelling by sea kayak and sleeping in lodges and tents with gourmet food and wine. As well as kayaking through prime orca territory, you will get the opportunity to explore the Indian Group Islands and the ancient native village of Mamalilaculla, home of the Kwakwaka’wakw people.

The maximum group size is just six on all Blue Planet Kayaking scheduled expeditions (larger custom or family groups can be accommodated) and no previous kayaking experience required. The price per person for this once in a lifetime adventure is CAD$1,299 which includes food and snacks.

The Whale And Dolphin Conservation Society, through its travel wing Out Of The Blue is organising two trips that start out aboard the 62ft wooden sea boat, Blue Fjord, with cabin accomodation, before heading for the natural remote beauty of Harris Island where you will stay as guests of Orcalab, the WDCS’s orca research centre. You will also spend a day grizzly bear watching! Dates and prices are on the website.



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