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Written by: Jessie Leo Orca Spirit Adventures is currently symbolically adopting the J17 Matriline with the Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program through Ocean Wise. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness and support conservation-oriented research and education efforts focused on the endangered southern resident killer whale population. By adopting the matriline, Orca Spirit…

The Uniqueness of Humpback Whales The humpback whale is highly recognizable from both above and below the surface, with distinctive features that set it apart from other species. Many people are curious about why the humpback whale is so unique, with its long pectoral fins, funky hump-like shape, and its lumpy, bumpy skin texture. Here,…

Written by: Megan – Lead Naturalist Humpback calf FIRST TRIP OF THE SEASON!! We were super excited to set off on Thursday! And it did not disappoint, our first whale of the year was a 2022 calf BCY0876! This most likely would have been the calf’s first time making the big migration journey. We are…

Written by: Megan, Lead Naturalist What does Orca Spirit do to ensure Marine wildlife safety, is a fantastic question. For us protecting the Salish Sea is the centre of everything we do. This is reflected in our mission statement: “Our goal is to offer guests wildly authentic whale and wildlife experiences while preserving and protecting…

Written by: Megan, Lead Naturalist A popular question we get asked is, when is the best time of year to go whale watching on Vancouver Island? Here at Orca Spirit Adventures, we run whale watching tours all throughout the year. This is because the marine life of the Salish Sea is constantly changing and we…

Written by: Megan, Naturalist Sometimes on our trips, we head west towards a local ecological reserve called Race Rocks. It’s the most southern point of British Columbia and has the second-oldest lighthouse on it. But what we are all really there for is our favourite furry friends – the seals and sea lions. But what…

Written by: Marisa, Lead Naturalist Quite consistently as we are on the water, we have been seeing amazing displays from our Humpbacks. A favorite of these being lunge and flick feeding. Surface feeding of any kind paints a beautiful picture of trophic interaction between a plethora of animals. In this area of the Salish Sea…

Written by: Griffin McCulloch, Onboard Naturalist The Grey whale, Eschrichtius Robustus, has been very elusive this whale watching season. For the first time in the entirety of the spring and summer months, this past September the 7th, Orca Spirit Adventures saw its first Grey whale make its appearance. You can imagine how all the crew,…

Written by: Lori, Lead Naturalist What a wonderful week of whale watching it has been here at Orca Spirit Adventures! This week we were able to see a lone male Orca, a coordinated hunt, and pay a visit to Race Rocks Lighthouse! This week we were fortunate to see the lone male orca known as…

Written by: Lori, Lead Naturalist With the off-season coming to an end, we could not have been more excited to head out into the Salish Sea for our very first covered vessel tours of the year! We certainly missed the wildlife, and it was a very special treat to be able to see some of…