Vancouver Island Whale Watching has been a focus of scientists living on Vancouver Island for a long time - well before whale tours became available. Since 1972 Canadian biologists have led the pack in the study of whales. For instance, in the 1970’s a pioneer mammalogist, Michael A. Biggs, of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans located in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island was part of the identification studies photographing markings of Killer Whales thus enabling scientists to determine population size and dynamics, migratory patterns, reproductive data, longevity, age at maturity and birth and death rates of Killer Whales (orcas).

Vancouver Island naturalists have played a big role in the conservation of whales in the region. Some of the groups dedicated to the preservation of whales are the Greenpeace Foundation which was created in Vancouver in 1970 and also the West Coast Whale Research Foundation which combines science and conversation techniques in preserving the whale population.

Because of conversation efforts of many in BC, a vibrant tourism industry has been created called Whale Watching off the coasts of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Whale Watching started on the Islands in the late 1970’s. The migration patterns of the whales is what dictates the Whale Watching season. The west coast Whale Watching Tours operate mainly from April to the end of September.

As of 1984 there was over 50 Whale Watching companies conducting regular Whale Watching Tours exploring the coastal waters of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. In 1983 the Federal Government formulated guidelines for Whale Watching designed to protect the whales by enforcing rules for how close the Whale Watching Tour boats should be when viewing the whales.

Whale Watching today has grown to be one of the most popular eco activities on the west coast enjoyed by many. Some view whales from floatplanes while others at sea level via a kayak or on board, either, a high speed zodiac with bumps, air time and binoculars in hand or a large covered heated touring boat with upper patio viewing decks and telescopes, see-through floors, under water cameras and microphones, on board coffee and washrooms.

Often other wildlife makes an appearance on a Whale Watching Tour like Black Bears, Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, Elk, Sea Otters, Sea Lions, Seals and Porpoises to name a few.

The stars of Whale Watching are the Gray Whales from the eastern north Pacific and every spring these Gray Whales migrate along the coast from Mexico all the way up to Alaska passing by Vancouver Island. Records show sometimes Grey Whales only migrate as far as Vancouver Island and have been recorded as living off the west coast of Vancouver Island for 8 months before they head south in the fall and winter months, passing Vancouver Island, back to do some serious mating and calving action in the lagoons of Mexico.

Grey Whales are also known as Eschrichtius Robustus which is, basically, a baleen whale. Grey Whales average 40 -50 feet long and weigh about 50 tons! Heck a newborn calve will measure 12 feet and weigh 1 and half tons. Grey Whales are tubular and bulky and tapered at both ends having a elongated head with 2-5 deep ventral grooves along the throat, small flippers with pointed tips and wide flukes separated by a median notch and they love to breach (jump out of the water).

The Killer Whales (Orca) live in tight inbred groups called pods. Killer Whale pods are also matriarchal - meaning that calves after 12 years old having matured to full size and are still traveling with their Mothers making for good whale watching conditions and whale pod sizes. The smaller pods are relatively known as transient whales which are more mobile exploring the west coast from Alaska to Washington dropping in on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The larger whale pods are known as resident pods which grow fat following the salmon - in a cat and mouse fashion - around and around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

A Killer Whale, also known as Orcinus Orca, is a toothed whale, Odontoceti, commonly referred to as an Orca and also known as a Blackfish of BC. Killer Whales grow to 25 feet long and weigh up to 6 tons. Orca Calves are 7 feet at birth and 450 pounds and nurse for about two years. Although they inhabit the waters all year long , summers is the best time to see Killer Whales in their natural habitat.

Whale Watching Tours also will come across, at times, the Humpback Whale. The Humpback Whales are also known as Megaptera Novaeangliae is also a baleen whale, Mysticeti, belonging to the family of rorqual whales can measure up to 57 feet long and weigh 40 tons. Whale Watching Tours often claim Humpback Whales are the most robust if you can find one to observe. Humpbacks have a small dorsal hump, long wing-like flippers (up to 16 feet) , distinctive head knobs, a rounded protuberance near the tip of the lower jaw and 13 to 37 ventral grooves. Humpbacks are usually covered in whale lice and barnacles and because no two Humpback tails are alike the tails are used for identification purposes. Whale Watching Tours have the opportunity to view the Humpbacks in the summer months only.

Whale Watching Vancouver Island