This afternoon’s tour promised to be a great one.

The sun was shining overhead, and thanks to the sightings from the morning trip, we had a good idea of where we were headed. We departed from Nanaimo and aimed south toward the Southern Gulf Islands. Our journey took us through Dodd Narrows, a fun and fascinating spot due to the strong tidal currents that rush through. As we pushed through the swirling water, we admired the churning eddies around the boat. We weaved through some of the smaller islands before heading out into the Strait of Georgia, eager to see what wildlife might be waiting for us on Stinky Rock today.

This rocky outcrop is often a hotspot for activity, especially among the pinniped species that frequently haul out there. On one side, we typically spot Harbour Seals basking in the sun, and today was no exception. These seals tend to stay in the same general area year-round, only leaving the rocks to swim and hunt for fish. They’re one of the cutest animals we see, with their rounded faces and large, dark eyes. These features aren’t just for looks; they’re adaptations for aquatic life. Their large eyes help them see in the low-light, murky waters of the Salish Sea, and their rounded shape helps streamline their bodies, reducing drag as they swim.

In addition to the Harbour Seals, a couple of bird species also caught our eye. A Great Blue Heron was enjoying the sunshine, wings stretched out to soak up the rays while it rested. Nearby, a few Black Oystercatchers stood out with their small black bodies and striking orange beaks.

The final, and often most impressive, animals at this stop were the Steller Sea Lions, typically the highlight due to their massive size (males can weigh up to 2,800 pounds!) and playful antics. They’re rarely still, often sparring on the rocks, playing in the waves, or diving with dramatic splashes into the sea. The largest male present, affectionately nicknamed “Stinky Steve,” was joined by another sizable sea lion who earned the name “Stan the Man” thanks to a creative guest. After watching their lively behavior for a while, it was time to leave Steve, Stan, and the rest of the crew to their day. We had orcas to find!

The orcas we’d seen in the morning, the T075Bs, were now making their way out of Porlier Pass. Time to meet up with them again! The T075B matriline includes four members:

T075B Pebbles ♀ (1995)
T075B2 Jasper ♀ (2015)
T075B3 Rubble (2017)
T075B4 Petra (2021)

When we encountered them, they were moving quickly, and with a bit of swell, caused by both breeze and current, we got to see quite a bit of them as they surfaced. In addition to their tall dorsal fins (which can reach 3–6 feet high), we had excellent views of their saddle patches and even their eye patches. Eye patches are a more unusual sight on tours, but always exciting to see. These white markings are believed to distract prey during hunts, possibly drawing attention and attacks away from their more vulnerable eyes. There’s also speculation that these patches serve in non-verbal communication among orcas, but more research is underway.

After spending time with the T075Bs, we let them continue their southbound travels while we turned north toward home, still scanning the waters for more wildlife. Good thing we did, because we spotted a humpback whale!

This humpback, Incognito (BCX2053), was quite interesting at the surface, doing small circles and flicking their tail as they dove, splashing water dramatically each time! While we weren’t entirely sure why Incognito was flicking their tail this way, it was certainly fun to watch. Our best guess is that they were feeding just below the surface, given their quick directional changes. Most humpback feeding happens underwater, leaving us to guess what exactly they’re up to! The rich productivity and biomass of our local waters make them excellent feeding grounds, but that same abundance, along with suspended sediment, reduces visibility in the water column. Once whales dive, it becomes a bit of a guessing game to figure out where they’ll surface next.

After enjoying some quality time with Incognito, we continued back toward Nanaimo. Just before reaching the dock, each of our two vessels had slightly different, but equally interesting, encounters with Bald Eagles.

The open vessel saw a Bald Eagle flying toward the harbour marker with a fresh fish dinner in its talons. Guests got to watch as the eagle feasted, until it dropped the fish and began tidying up after its meal. Meanwhile, the other vessel cruised along Gabriola Island and stopped at the Gabriola Bluffs to view Cormorants nesting on the cliffs and the Bald Eagle nest just south of the bluffs. In the nest were two young eaglets! Always entertaining to watch, the eaglets were making goofy faces and squabbling with each other, as siblings do.

Both eagle encounters were a wonderful way to end an already incredible trip! Our two onboard naturalists, Val Watson and Desarae Poier, captured some fantastic photos throughout the day; check them out below!

June 16, 2025, 3:30 PM - Spending time with the T075Bs and Incognito the Humpback!