Captain’s Blog

The Magnificent Bald Eagles of the North Pacific Coast!

May 26, 2021

            Photo Credit: Rachael Merrett- Orca Spirit Marine Naturalist Bald Eagles are an icon of the Pacific Northwest. Whether they are soaring high above, perching in a tall tree, or clutching a fish from the ocean, they are always spectacular to see. Bald Eagles are a large raptor species that […]

The Harbour Seal: Fuzzy, Cute and About to Have Babies!

May 5, 2021

Meet the Harbour Seals! Harbour Seals are the most abundant marine mammal in British Columbia. They sure are abundantly adorable and always exciting to see! With so many different haul out sites within the Salish Sea, guests are sure to spot Harbour Seals on any of our tours. With their annual pupping season about to […]

Seven Famous Killer Whales

December 2, 2020

Originally posted: May 2015 Many Killer Whales have become famous over their lifetime. Some for heroic acts, others for entertainment, some for sad stories of their capture and life in captivity. In this post, we look at 7 Famous Killer Whales that have stolen our hearts over the years. Tahlequah Tahlequah, officially named J35, was […]

Victoria Whale Watching Report: Southern Resident Killer Whales – K Pod and Race Rocks!

September 27, 2020

Sunday, September 27th, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour This afternoon, we headed out into the Juan de Fuca Strait with gorgeous conditions for finding wildlife in the Salish Sea. We travelled South West for a while with beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains and saw several Harbour Porpoises in the area. These are the […]

Victoria Whale Watching Report: Killer Whales (T18 Family!), T’Luk, and Much More!

September 26, 2020

Saturday, September 26th, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour Today was set to be a special day as guests joined us on the Pacific Explorer and we set out west on the Juan de Fuca Strait. Some trips we need to go far to find whales, other days they are close to Victoria. Well today […]

Port Renfrew Whale Watching Report: That’s a Wrap on the 2020 Season!

September 24, 2020

Written by Matt Burnaby, Zodiac Captain This summer in Port Renfrew was unlike any other we have experienced in the last four years. Open ocean swell and vast fog banks are the primary challenges we overcome while exploring the rich marine ecosystem of the area’s surrounding offshore waters. During our voyages the experience provided by […]

Victoria Whale Watching Report: SRKW J-58’s First Breath!

September 24, 2020

Thursday, September 24th, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour What a day to be on the water! The Pacific Explorer made its way out of the Victoria Harbour with its 14 guests and 3 crew not expecting to have the trip of their lives. The trip started with a nice visit from Scuttle the Humpback […]

Port Renfrew Whale Watching Report: Doing Our Part in Being Responsible Whale Watchers

September 12, 2020

September – 9am/1pm Zodiac Vessel Tours The privilege that comes with visiting such naturally beautiful places should always be paired with the responsibility to better understand and preserve nature. It should be the foundation for which all eco-tourism industry is built upon. The slightly remote waters off Port Renfrew have become a focal point for […]

Victoria Whale Watching Report: Welcoming the New Baby (J-57) of the Southern Resident Killer Whales!

September 11, 2020

Friday, September 11th, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tours A blanket of smoke has settled over much of the South Coast with fires raging in Washington, Oregon, and California and resembles fog on the water. The smoke would not deter us from watching marine life today as we headed out onto the Juan de Fuca […]