We arrived at the western boundary of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve just as the orcas made their way past the boundary heading to the west, they were grouped in a large resting line, moving slowly, synchronized as they surfaced to breathe and mesmerizing to watch! It was a beautiful sight, and as we sat idle and drifting with the engine off they surfaced and we could see that they had grouped together but were continuing on, tight along the Vancouver Island shoreline; at one point the A25’s (A61 & A85) were in the lead with the A23’s directly behind followed by the A30’s and all of them silent. Soon after, we observed as they again formed a large resting line moving away from the shoreline they began crossing over to mid-strait as though making for Blackney Pass and Blackfish Sound. It was an awesome sight to see the three family groups totalling 18 orcas, travelling and resting together as one and a sight long remembered by those onboard today. Other sightings included: a minke whale, dall’s porpoises, harbour seals, a harbour porpoise, rhinoceros auklets, common murre, marbled murrelets, red-necked phalaropes, california, mew and glaucous-winged gulls and bald eagles.