Both our semi-covered vessel, Kula, and open vessel, Keta, set out today under beautiful skies, heading up the Strait of Georgia in search of wildlife. With eyes peeled and cameras ready, our crews scanned the waters for signs of whales - and before long, their patience was rewarded. North of Parksville, we spotted the familiar blows and flukes of a humpback pair.

After grabbing some photos and comparing them to our catalogues, the whales were confirmed to be Maverick (BCX2120) and her 2025 calf (BCX2120 calf 2025)! This is our first year seeing Maverick in our area, as she usually spends her feeding seasons farther north around Campbell River. It’s always exciting when a “new-to-us” humpback visits, especially one as well-known as Maverick.

Her calf was immediately recognizable - not only for its fluke, like most humpbacks, but for its unique appearance. This young whale has an unusual, almost “two-toned” coloration caused by a minor skin condition. While the exact cause is unknown, it may be a form of acne or mild infection. Over the years, we’ve seen a few calves with similar marks who have all grown up to be perfectly healthy adults, so we believe this little one shouldn’t have any issues!

What really caught our attention today, though, was this little whale’s enthusiasm for breaching! Time and again, it launched itself out of the water - twisting, splashing, and sending up massive plumes of spray. Breaching remains one of the ocean’s mysteries. Scientists believe whales may do it to communicate (perhaps signalling to others or warning of danger), to help remove parasites, or even just for fun. Whatever the reason, it’s always an incredible sight to witness!

After spending some time watching Maverick and her acrobatic calf, our vessels continued further into the Strait. Word soon came in of a possible orca sighting near the Sunshine Coast, and our crews eagerly made their way over. Before long, three dorsal fins broke the surface – two tall ones, and one significantly shorter one. It was the T101s, a common matriline for our waters:

T101 Reef ♀ (≤1969)
T101A Rush ♂ (1993)
T101B Lagoon ♂ (1997)

This family group consists of Reef (the matriarch) and her two sons, Rush and Lagoon. They’re fairly easy to recognize: all three have perfectly smooth dorsal fins with no notches, which is quite rare amongst our Transient (Bigg’s) orca. Reef’s fin is unusually tall and straight for a female, and her two sons tower beside her as they travel. Today, they were moving steadily along the coast – the epitome of typical Transient (Bigg’s) behaviour. Orca can cover incredible distances in a single day, and much of their time is spent simply on the move, patrolling their range in search of prey.

Once our time with the T101s came to an end, we made one more wildlife stop at the White Islets, a favourite haul-out spot for pinnipeds and seabirds alike. The rocks were alive with noise and movement - Steller Sea Lions roaring and posturing for space, with two massive males seen “neck jousting” in the shallows.

Neck jousting is a common form of play and practice among male Stellers. They press and shove each other with their necks and chests, testing strength and dominance without resorting to full-on fights. These sparring matches prepare them for the fierce battles of the breeding season, when they compete for access to females. Nearby, Harbour Seals lounged quietly in stark contrast - content to rest and soak up the autumn sun while the sea lions bellowed beside them.

As the day drew to a close, Kula found one final surprise on the way home - another pair of humpbacks! One of them was identified as Mammoth/Ocean (BCX1710), recognizable from her fluke, as well as a series of propeller scars on her left side from a previous vessel strike. Her companion has yet to be identified, as they didn’t fluke during our encounter, but we’ll keep working on identifying her companion from the dorsal shots we managed to get!

With the sun beginning to lower over Vancouver Island, our vessels turned back toward Nanaimo, wrapping up a day full of discovery, energy, and the endless wonders of the Salish Sea.

Please enjoy these photos taken by Marine Naturalists Vanessa Vereschahen and Jordan Robinson!

October 5, 2025 - A bouncing humpback calf and orca by the Sunshine Coast