An informative guide to British Colubia's whale watching attractions and what kind of whales you'll see there.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be close to a Killer Whale in its native habitat? Well, if you visit the coastal waters off of Vancouver Island, British Columbia between the months of February and May, you are sure to experience the adventure of a lifetime. Mid-March to mid-April is peak whale watching time. Companies like The Great Canadian Adventure Company and Ocean Outfitters will take you out on a boat so you can experience these giants in the wild. Tours range from a couple of hours to all day and you will sail on an open-sided zodiak, a comfortable cabin cruiser or if the wind is right, a sailboat.
There are three types of whales that you might see on your trip. Killer Whales are identifiable by their gray patch shaped like a saddle behind their dorsal fin. Since these whales are black in colour, this patch makes them visible from miles away. These whales travel in pods with the oldest female taking the lead. The bulls weigh on average 9,000 kilograms and reach almost 10 meters in length. The cow's life expectancy is an amazing 50 years.
The Gray Whales are recognizable by the barnacles that cover their 30 ton bodies. In the spring they make their way past the western coast of Vancouver Island en route to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. You can view them from Pacific Rim National Park and there are several companies that provide excursions. The communities of Tofino and Ucluelet host The Pacific Rim Whale Festival at the end of March each year; contact the Pacific Rim Whale Festival Society for information on next year's festival.
The Humpback Whale's long pectoral flukes and pale underbellies is what set them apart from other whales. They visit the Pacific region in the summer, making their way up from their breeding grounds in the waters off Hawaii and Mexico.
Whale watching companies usually take passengers on a zodiac onto the open water to view the whales. Don't think that you will get close enough to touch the whales though. There are strict guidelines set by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that protect the whales and ensure that they are not disturbed. You would not be able to get closer than 100 meters and the maximum viewing time from that distance is 30 minutes. Diving and swimming with the whales is strictly prohibited.
A couple of good books to read before embarking on a whale-watching trip are:
"Guide to Watching Whales in Canada" by Mimi Breton available at www.chapters.ca and "Transients: Mammal-Hunting Killer Whales of British Columbia, Washington and Southeastern Alaska" by John K.B. Ford and Graeme M. Ellis.
There are plentiful examples of other wildlife such as eagles, dolphins, sea lions, porpoises, seabirds and bears that inhabit the coastline of British Columbia. So book your trip, bring your camera (and a raincoat!) and enjoy a "natural" vacation.
