Frequently Asked Questions

We see whales over 95% of the time! In fact, we see whales so consistently that if you don’t see any on your trip, your next trip is on us. Your free trip never expires and is non-transferable. (Vouchers do not apply to private charters)

We are lucky to be in an area where whales can be seen all year round - this is why we offer tours year-round (some restrictions apply)! We see whales as often on our morning tours as we do on our afternoon tours. During our warmer months (April-October), our Humpbacks are foraging in our waters before they migrate away in the winter. Our Orca can be found year-round.

July and August are often our busiest months. We recommend booking in advance if you plan to join us for a summer adventure.

The majority of our sightings are Killer Whales or Humpback Whales, and occasionally we see Grey or Minke whales.

We often see Harbour Seals, Steller and California Sea Lions, Harbour porpoises, Dall's porpoises, Bald eagles, and many other marine birds. There is also opportunity to witness the breathtaking scenery of the Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia’s Mainland coast, and the San Juan Islands. Each day is different depending on the route taken and time of year. Check out our photos in the "Marine Life" section of our website!

In accordance with Canadian law, we view whales at a distance of 100 meters, except Bigg’s (transient) orca, which are viewed at 200 meters. We do not view endangered Southern Resident orca on our tours.

Conservation of our ecosystem is one of the main educational goals of our company – that is why we are proud to have been the first company in British Columbia to watch only healthy and growing populations of whales. When we opened our doors in 2018, we vowed to watch the growing populations of whales (Humpbacks and Bigg’s orca) solely and to avoid our critically endangered Southern Resident orca population. At that time, the Bigg’s population was still mysterious, and it was thought they were not as common in our area as the Southern Resident population. Many believed it was impossible to operate in our area without watching the Southern Residents. We proved that that was not the case and have been happy to support the push for stronger regulations to protect the Southern Residents ever since.

Our vessels seat 12 guests, leading to smaller and more personal trips. Every species we see on our tours matters to us, and we pride ourselves on educating everyone on board. If you have any additional questions, You can speak one-on-one with your Marine Naturalist throughout your tour.

Along with onboard education, we provide every tour with a blog entry catered to their specific outing, full of additional information and photos so you can easily show your friends and family what whales you saw!

The tours are not suitable for pregnant women or for those with a fragile neck or back, as sea conditions are variable. Please get in touch with us if you'd like more information.

Every morning our Captains look at a variety of sources to double-check weather conditions. However, sea conditions are always variable - we always say “prepare for the unexpected”. While it can look calm and nice inside the harbour, it may be breezy and wavy outside the islands.

Seasickness is very specific to each individual and can occur in all weather conditions. We recommend Gravol or a similar anti-nausea medication if you are prone to motion sickness. Seasickness can occur in all weather conditions.

While our vessels are similar in size and trip length, there are some things you should keep in mind while booking:

· Open Vessels: Full-body anti-exposure suits are mandatory on our Open Zodiacs year-round as per Transport Canada regulations. These suits fit similarly to a snowsuit. We offer Mustang’s full range of suit sizes from XS to 4XL. If you are concerned about suit fitting, please give our office a call and you may come in beforehand to try the suit on. Our Open Vessels are ideal for adventurous individuals as you will be in the elements (sun/rain/snow) the entire tour. Our Open Vessels require everyone on board to be at least 5 years old.

· Semi-Closed Vessel: You do not wear an anti-exposure suit on board this vessel – instead, PFDs are located on board the vessel. Our Semi-Covered Vessel is a good choice for anyone who may want to get out of the elements (sun/rain/snow) during their tour. All ages are welcome aboard our Semi-Covered Vessel.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs on board our vessels. However, we are happy to help you onboard and store any walking aids inside our office for the duration of your tour.

All of our whales are wild – they are not tagged or tracked. We never know where they will be from day to day, so travel time varies leading to the range in tour length. Typically tours are 3-4 hours long with roughly 1 hour of that time being time spent with the whales. In rare cases, tours can extend as long as 5 hours if the whales are at the edge of our range. We are unable to accommodate choosing tour lengths on Public tours.

Private charters are available on request or by booking an Ultimate Freedom Tour on our website - we are able to accommodate minor requests in length on our charters (some restrictions apply).

Yes, all of our vessels have a toilet (“head” in boat terminology) onboard.

We recommend dressing warmly in layers and closed-toed shoes. Even in the summer, temperatures are significantly cooler on the water. Passengers on our open boats are provided with anti-exposure suits that offer protection from wind and sea spray.

You're welcome to bring any food you like! We recommend ready-to-eat items like prepared sandwiches. There are several vendors nearby, so you can purchase food right before your trip.

Guests will receive a full refund or credit with 24 hours’ notice of cancellation, or 48 hours for groups of 6 or more and charters.

Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather, lack of bookings, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Please contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation.

No-shows and bookings cancelled with less than 24 hours (48 hours for groups of 6 or more and charters) notice will be charged the full price.