It was a classic West Coast day - cloudy skies with a cool breeze - as Kula set off into the Salish Sea. Today’s journey took us out into the Strait of Georgia, the beautiful waters that separate Vancouver Island from the mainland of British Columbia. Many of our humpback whales spend the summer and fall months foraging in these waters, and that’s exactly what we were hoping to find!

Our guests and crew scanned the horizon, eyes peeled for signs of whales - a blow, a fluke, or maybe even a breach. Before long, our patience paid off when we spotted a pair of humpbacks travelling together, and one suddenly launched out of the water in a spectacular breach!

We carefully approached, eager to learn who these two were. As the whales began to dive, they lifted their tails high into the air, leading to the perfect moment to capture photos of their unique markings. Each humpback has a highly unique fluke pattern caused by a distinctive combination of pigmentation and scars that acts like a "fingerprint" to tell individuals apart. Using these photos, we were able to identify the pair as Kappa (BCX0158) and Kappiroto (BCX0158 calf 2025), a well-known mother-calf duo that has spent much of the summer near Gabriola Island.

Kappiroto seemed full of energy today, being seen breaching, back-diving, and tail-slapping. At one point, they surfaced with their pectoral fin raised high above the water. These long fins are a defining feature of humpbacks and are the largest pectoral fins of any whale species. A full-grown humpback’s pectoral fins can reach up to 4–5 metres (14–16 feet) in length - that's about a third of their total body length! In fact, their scientific name, Megaptera novaeangliae, means “big-winged New Englander,” a nod to these impressive appendages.

After enjoying this heartwarming mother-calf moment, we said goodbye and continued our journey. Our next destination was the infamous “Stinky Rocks,” a small rocky haulout well-loved by our local pinnipeds. True to their name, the rocks were covered in Steller Sea Lions, lounging and bellowing across the water, causing their fetid breath to be smelled all around them. These massive animals can be pretty territorial, pushing each other around for the best sunbathing spots. Still, on colder days, it’s not uncommon to see them huddled together in what we like to call a “cuddle puddle.” Here, they share body warmth, which helps them conserve energy against the cooler temperatures of autumn. Nearby, a few Harbour Seals - their smaller and plumper cousins - were hauled out as well, taking a more peaceful approach to resting by napping quietly through all the commotion.

Once we had our fill of our fin-footed friends, we headed back out and began travelling along Gabriola Island’s shoreline. Soon after, another tall blow caught our attention near the shore. As we approached, a large fluke lifted high out of the water - it was Nike (BCX1377)! Nike is a regular in our area, having returned every year for over a decade! They are easily recognized by the distinctive “swoosh”-shaped marking on the right side of their fluke.

After spending some time with Nike, we began our journey back toward Nanaimo, grateful for another incredible day on the water. Every trip is a new adventure, and it is always exciting to see what the day will bring!

Please enjoy these photos, taken by Marine Naturalist Val Watson!

October 20, 2025 - Some precious mother and calf time, plus a solo humpback as well!