Whale Watching
Whale watching is one of Vancouver Island’s most popular activities. No wonder: about 80 magnificent Orcas (killer whales) alone live in the waters off the southern island coastline year-round.
 Diving Orca, Oak Bay Marine Group photo
Orcas, minke, grays and dolphins
The waters of the “Salish Sea” (collectively the waters of southern Vancouver Island and of the southern Gulf Islands) abound with marine life: in addition to Orcas, gray whales migrate through in massive numbers between March and October, while porpoises, dolphins and sea lions reside here.
Further north, the protected waters of Johnstone Strait as well as of the Blackfish and Broughton archipelagos offer accessible and often predictable locations to view Orcas — plus minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea lions and seals.
This area is also alive with 10,000 years of Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations culture, which you can learn about as part of a guided excursion.
Spot whales from May through OctoberThere are some outstanding whale-watching operators in the region that offer fascinating expeditions - check our listings for details on these companies.
What to expect on a whale-watching tour:
Tours are usually comfortable and smooth; but be prepared for bumpy rides at times, especially in the smaller, high-speed zodiacs. On windy days, expect to get wet (operators usually provide waterproof life-preserving suits to wear over clothes).
Hydrophones have been added to many of the tours so that while watching, you can hear them communicating with one another. Onboard guides — often marine biologists and naturalists — also offer their expertise, enriching the overall experience.
Expect to spend about 3-5 hours for each tour and remember not to disturb the whales and other wildlife while close to them.
What to wear on your guided, whale-watching journey:It is always cooler on the ocean, so dress accordingly. Layer, layer, layer: on a warm summer day, you can wear shorts, t-shirt and sandals, but bring along pants and a fleece sweater or vest, along with soft-soled shoes. Pack cameras, sunglasses and sunscreen, bottled water and a plastic bag to keep personal items dry.
On cooler days, layer up with pants, short or long-sleeved t-shirt, fleece sweater, gloves, toque, soft-soled shoes and/or rubber boots. Check with your tour operator for more information.
Whale watch from a kayakAn ideal way to explore the maze of islands, sheltered waters and marine wildlife is on a guided kayak tour. Some operators set up base camp on small islands that offer easy access to whale-watching areas — though you can often spot them right from the shore.
Expect to paddle, on average, 4-5 hours a day on guided tour. This varies considerably depending on weather conditions, tides and currents.
A word or two on kayaking safety:• Stay at least 100 m (330 ft) away
• Approach whales from the side
• Maintain low speed
• Do not feed or swim with the whales
Here is a list of some specific areas on Vancouver Island that make for great whale-watching opportunities! These include:
Tofino & Ucluelet
In Tofino and Ucluelet, whale watching can be done by land or sea and many places along the shoreline make good viewpoints. While 22,000 grey whales pass through en route to their Arctic feeding grounds in March and April, the May to October season is when many whales take up residence in these waters. There are some particularly good viewing spots along the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet and in the Wickaninnish Centre in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, which is equipped with telescopes. Of course, the most thrilling way to catch sight of whales is from the water with a number of guided tour companies to choose from. Besides grey whales, you may also see humpback whales, Orcas, seals and sea lions cavorting in these waters.
Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill and Alert Bay
There's no better place to view Orcas than the waters around Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill and Alert Bay. Two hundred Orcas reside here for part of the year, while many of them frequent the waters of the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve in Johnstone Strait to take advantage of its many salmon runs and "rubbing stones." Northern resident Orcas love to rub their bodies on the smooth stones of the reserve's beaches - they are the only whale population that does this and no one knows why! Other species on view include minke and humpback whales, Dall's porpoises, Pacific harbour seals and Steller sea lions.
Southern Gulf Islands
The southern Gulf Islands lie in close proximity to the feeding grounds of Orcas, with their waters home to three pods of southern resident Orcas. Sightings are most common between May and November, when great numbers of salmon, their staple food, are spawning nearby. Guided whale-watching tours can be joined directly from Saltspring Island; tour companies operate on nearby Vancouver Island as well. Renting a kayak or taking a ferry between the southern Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island and/or the mainland are affordable ways to view whales from the water. Other species on view include Dall's and harbour porpoises, seals, sea lions, bald eagles and many kinds of sea birds.
The main southern islands, Salt Spring, Galiano, Mayne, Pender and Saturna, all offer regular ferry service from Vancouver Island and the mainland, while an inter-island ferry service makes hopping between these islands easy.
Victoria
The best time for whale watching in the Victoria area is during the feeding season from May through November. During this time, tours operate daily from Oak Bay. Choose from a catamaran or high-speed aluminium passenger vessel. Sidney is the closest departure site for the Haro Strait and San Juan Islands viewing areas; several whale-watching companies operate from the downtown waterfront there. Sooke is the closest departure site for the Sombrio Point and Race Rocks viewing areas. Depart from the Sooke Harbour Marina in a high-speed zodiac.
Find out more about some of the province's excellent whale-watching operators by clicking on the Show All Whale Watching Listings link below.
>Show all Whale Watching listings
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