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Our open boats comfortably seat 12 passengers and have a washroom onboard!
Explore BC's beautiful coastal vistas!
We provide anti-exposure suits to help protect you from the elements.
Humpback whales have return to our coast each spring and stay until the late fall
After a winter of fasting, humpback whales return to BC to feed.

Whale Watching Nanaimo Open Boat Tour

By Vancouver Island Whale Watch
9.8 out of 10
Features
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
Overview

Immerse yourself in BC's coastal wildlife as you travel through the gulf islands archipelago in search of killer whales (orcas), humpbacks, sea lions, porpoises, eagles, and more. Your guide has an academic background in biology and a passion for marine life! Whale sightings are guaranteed or your next trip is FREE. Hop onboard our 12-passenger zodiac style vessel and you'll experience whales and other marine life right at water level! We'll fit you for an anti-exposure suits that will keep you warm and help protect you from the elements.

Activity location

  • 90 Front St #5
    • 90 Front Street
    • V9R 5H7, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • 90 Front St #5
    • 90 Front Street
    • V9R 5H7, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

Check availability


Sorry this activity isn't available on Sat, Nov 2
Please choose a different date

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedToilets onboard
  • What's includedWhat's includedBinoculars onboard (shared between guests)
  • What's includedWhat's includedAnti-exposure suit provided
  • What's includedWhat's includedSunscreen available
  • What's includedWhat's includedCaptain is certified by Transport Canada
  • What's includedWhat's includedProfessional guide with academic background in marine biology
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedThe listed price does not include parking, which costs around 7-8 dollars CAD for the day.
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedLunch is not included.
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedGratuities
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedTransportation to/from office

Know before you book

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
  • Not suitable for pregnant women.
  • Minimum numbers apply. If there are not enough passengers to meet requirements, there is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation, in which case an alternative date or full refund will be offered.

Activity itinerary

Your day begins by checking in at our office 45 minutes before your departure time and then you'll head down to the boat as a group. You'll then be introduced to the Salish Sea ecosystem and wildlife as you cruise through the Gulf Islands archipelago in search of whales and other marine life. You'll learn about the different types of whales that use the Salish Sea, including their natural history, and their roles in the marine food web. Throughout your adventure, your captain will be in touch with other whale watching companies over VHF radio and will plan your route to maximize the area covered between vessels. You'll spend a full hour viewing whales, and your marine naturalist will provide real-time insights into their behaviors. Onboard catalogues are used to identify individual whales, and this data will be collected throughout the season and sent to the Centre for Whale Research, Keta Coastal Conservation, and the BC Cetacean Sightings Network. Your tour will wrap up with an educational talk on marine conservation focusing on threats to BC orca, and conservation initiatives will be discussed.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES90 Front St #5
    • 90 Front Street
    • V9R 5H7, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE90 Front St #5
    • 90 Front Street
    • V9R 5H7, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

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