Captain’s Blog

Meet the Whales of K-Pod in 2019 from the Southern Resident Orca Population!

March 18, 2019

K-pod is the smallest of three pods belonging to the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population. While these whales can be seen during our whale watching season, the K-pod is often the last pod to show up in the Salish Sea during the spring and summer months. The Southern Residents have a strict diet of […]

Meet the Whales of J-Pod in 2019 from the Southern Resident Orca Population!

March 11, 2019

J-Pod is one of three pods that belong to the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population. It is believed that this population has used the Salish Sea for tens of thousands of years to hunt their preferred prey- Chinook salmon. The population is the most highly studied population of marine mammals in the world, and […]

Meet the Whales of L-pod in 2019 from the Southern Resident Orca Population!

March 4, 2019

L-Pod is the largest of the three pods that make up the Southern Resident Killer Whale population. Not only are they the largest, they also include the oldest living Southern Resident, Ocean Sun (L-25) who is estimated to have been born in 1928. Mega (L-41) is the oldest male in the Southern Resident community, born […]

Whale Watchers Scholarship 2018 Contest – 3rd Place

December 28, 2018

This is our second year of our whale watchers’ scholarship in order to raise awareness and give back to the community. As we said last year, We understand that the pursuit of education and knowledge will lead to better solutions in the future, and want to help students to be able to afford the costs […]

What Is The Difference Between Transient and Resident Killer Whales (Orcas)

November 16, 2018

The waters surrounding Victoria are an exciting place to go whale watching because there are so many different types of wildlife that call this region home.  People from around the world flock to this area, excited to have an opportunity to see the greatest predator in the world’s oceans- the killer whale! Photo Credit: Rachael […]

Giants of the Salish Sea : Humpback Whales

August 7, 2016

Standing at Clover Point and looking out into the Salish Sea, it’s hard to believe there are giants swimming just off in the distance: humpback whales. Humpbacks reach lengths of 17 m (55 ft) and 40,000 kg (88,184 lbs). They are predominantly black with variable amounts of white ventrally. The whales have huge pectoral flippers […]

How the Oldest Killer Whales On Earth Stay Young

August 2, 2016

How would you react if you were told, for the first time, that your species was only expected to walk the Earth for 30 or so years at a time? 50 years? 100 years? You’d probably race to the nearest health food store to pick up some kale and spinach, either to prolong your life […]

Why Do Orcas Hate Great White Sharks So Much?

July 19, 2016

Let’s take a trip back in time. No, not to a time before hunting decimated whale populations all over the world (although you’d read that post, wouldn’t you? Of course you would, who wouldn’t?). Let’s go back to elementary school. So, not quite as painful, but almost. You’re swaying calmly on the swings when the biggest, […]

Our Legends: Killer Whales & the History of the Coast Salish People

June 21, 2016

Imagine coming face to face with a legend. Picture walking slowly along on a quiet mountain trail and coming to the realization that you’re not alone, that some forgotten primate from another generation was watching your every move. Imagine a great creature in the sky blocking out the light of the sun itself, casting a […]