Whale Watching in BC

[mac.FINN]

Recently got back from Victoria BC where my girlfriend and I went on a 3.5 hour whale watching expedition.
We went out in a 12 person inflatable Zodiak. First we went to a small conservation area out at sea which was full of harbour seals and water birds. Then we drove out to abour 5 miles off the Washington coast when we finally saw them. Orcas. A pod (we were told) of 23 whales including some babies and some enormous males. Our guide dropped a hydrophone into the water and through several large speakers in the boat, we heard them singing.

It was an awesome experience, and of course, I took pictures. Enjoy.

J-pod
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/6163/orca5ht9.jpg


Another tour boat
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/8504/orca3gu0.jpg

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/5264/orca6om2.jpg

[mac.FINN]

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/9872/orca1bi7.jpg

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/3725/orca9lu5.jpg

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6122/orca7hg3.jpg

[mac.FINN]

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/566/orca2ey7.jpg

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4600/orca4fz8.jpg

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9145/orca8ec0.jpg
This last shot, a mother and her calf surfaced right beside our boat, probably within 10-15 feet. It was so unexpected and so quick that I nearly missed it. Too bad I still had my zoom lens on, so I couldn't get them both in full.

[urstwile]

Cool shots Mac! :) I've always wanted to go on a whale watching tour, we always seem to miss the season. This year, perhaps. I think the season here is late November through January.

[JPnyc]

Well I'm of italian descent. What you call "whale watching" we just call family gatherings.

[mac.FINN]

lol.. we usually call that feeding time at the zoo.

[Exodus]

Really cool pictures Mac! The closest thing I've come to that was a Dolphin tour off the coast of Savannah, GA. It was cool but I really would like to see some whales one day. Glad you hade a nice vacation!

[balou]

Fun! I'd love to do that some day.

[amelia]

Those whales are close and huge and absolutely beautiful! These are great images mac.FINN! Now I only wish I could experience what sounds they made.

[Red Kittie Kat]

Wow mac!! Great shots darlin...... I am so jealous .... I would love to see something like that one day :)

[Satchel]

mac - those are awesome! 10 feet away? That's gotta be pretty impressive! I like very first shot, all the fins sticking out of the water and the first picture on the third post, how they are coming out of the water at the same time... nice shots.

Thanks for sharing (and the heads up on the other thread)

[mac.FINN]

10 feet away? That's gotta be pretty impressive!

Thanks Satchel, and yeah it was. When they came up beside us they cleared they're blow holes and it made a loud whooshing noise. One of the ladies in the boat nearly jumped out she was so startled. No one expected them that close.

[Satchel]

I bet... I hear they are pretty loud (especially that close) Did you guys get sprayed too?

A friend of mine has some awesome shots of her parents swimming with a blue whale. They went on a whale watching tour in Hawaii and got lucky enough to see a blue whale. The tour guides weren't going to let them swim with them because they didn't pay for that but then decided to let them because it was so rare... those suckers are HUGE!

[mac.FINN]

I hear they are pretty loud (especially that close) Did you guys get sprayed too?

Think of a fat guy holding his breath then walking up to you and then huffing it out... now image that guy weighs 6000 lbs. I got sprayed a little...not really much though, I was at the front of the boat and they surfaced behind me.

I'd love to go blue whale watching! They're incredible animals, and yeah they're huge. The Orca's where impressive in size, but they're the second smallest whale I think. I couldn't imagine swimming around a blue.

[Satchel]

I have never even seen the ocean. I saw some Dolphins in the Golf of Mexico and I thought that was awesome... I can only imagin I would love to go whale watching!

I guess my friends parents tour guides weren't expecting any blue's on the thour they just happen to show up, or that's what they tell all the tourists to make them feel special?

[Juggnoxalo]

Great pictures mac, reminds me of when we went dolphin watching in Florida.

[Red Kittie Kat]

I saw some Dolphins in the Golf of Mexico


We used to watch the porpoises come into they bay off the Gulf all the time.... they are so much fun to watch ..... but, I would do just about anything to get to go on a whale watch. They are beautiful creatures

[morea]

I touched one once.

[Red Kittie Kat]

My niece went to Disney last year and went someplace down there where you can swim with the dolphins...... she loved it .... said it such an amazing experience.

[Tyger]

That must have been quite the experience mac, good job on capturing those moments.