Happy Hour for the Whales!

Our passengers and skipper had a spectacular day on the water with wonderful flat, calm conditions on the water that made it like glass and the sun out in full force. Today was almost overload, people said upon their return and so much was happening they could hardly take enough pictures.

There were birds everywhere, literally thousands and huge bait balls that attracted them. Guests were mesmerised by the Pigeon Guillemot and Sooty Shearwater that were immersed in the bait ball and amazed at the sheer number of them. Humpbacks were out in numbers - 2 near Orcalab, 6 at Bold Head and 3 in the Plumper group of islands: leaping out of the water, opening their mouths wide for trap feeding and making a huge splash with all their feeding action!

After seeing the Humpbacks, it was almost time to return when our skipper Jon heard that Orca were heading west and he swimming along the Vancouver Island shore and near Cracroft Point - the A25, and our other residents that have been seen frequently in the past couple of weeks: I4s, I15s, I65s and I27s. In fact, our skipper said it was the largest group he had seen so far this season numbering about 20.

Dall’s porpoise also made an appearance at Orcalab in Blackfish Sound. Stellar sealions were also swimming about near Orcalab and were spotted in the Plumper Islands. Altogether an absolutely amazing day witnessing the energy of wildlife diving and dipping in the ocean for the fish that sustain them.