On this lovely morning, all three boats set off into the Salish Sea for an adventure! Vessels Kula, Cascadia, and Keta left the dock and headed south to start their adventure. As our vessels cruised the calm seas, they kept a keen eye out for any fascinating wildlife.

After passing through the Porlier Pass, between the Valdes and Galiano Island, our open vessel, Cascadia, had spotted some whale blows in the distance! Upon arrival, the humpback whales present were none other than Uluka (BCX1702), Yogi (BCY0409), Fader (BCY0195), and Poptart (BCY1014). They continued to observer Fader and Poptart, and watched as Uluka and Yogi broke off and headed southbound on their own adventure. Additionally, guests aboard Keta had spotted a separate blow in the distance. Upon arriving on the scene with this mystery whale, it was identified as Graphite (BCX2077).

The great thing about humpback whales is that every single individual is unique. As they grow and age, each whale develops its distinct patterns and markings. These features on the underside of the tail fluke allow us to identify individuals and catalogue each whale.

Every identified humpback in British Columbia is given both a nickname and a code. The code always starts with BC (for British Columbia) and is followed by X, Y, or Z, based on the amount of light coloration on the underside of the fluke:

X whales: Mostly dark, with only 0–20% light markings.
Y whales: 20–80% light markings.
Z whales: Over 80% light markings.

Y and Z whales are often easier to identify because the light areas create a strong contrast. X whales, however, can be more challenging as many lack contrasting or distinctive markings. In these cases, we look for subtle clues: unique notches, the ridgeline of the tail fluke, or small bumps that can be compared to known individuals. Matching dorsal fin shapes can then help confirm the whale’s identity with confidence!

Once Cascadia had their fair share of Uluka, Yogi, Fader, Poptart, and Keta had their share of Graphite, they continued on their search northward. One stop they made along the way was at “Stinky Rock”, a small rock outcrop along the shore of Valdes Island. Those unfortunate enough to be downwind of the Sea lions that hang out there get to find out why the rock has this nickname! Since there are so many animals eating, sleeping, feeding, and defecating together on one small rock, the smell is as bad as you imagine it to be!

The Steller Sea Lions that haul out there are the largest species of sea lion in the world. They exhibit a trait called sexual dimorphism, where males and females exhibit different physiological characteristics. Females only grow to be one-third the size of mature males, with males reaching 11 feet long and weighing upwards of 2500 pounds, whereas females max out at around 800 pounds and reach 8 feet long. The size difference is a crucial advantage for the males during the breeding season, which has just begun and runs through mid-July. During this time, dominant males claim and defend harems of females on rocky haul-outs. Incredibly, these males will fast and remain on land, without entering the water to feed, for the entire two-month period. When they get the chance to feed, they’re feeding on schooling fish, squid and octopus.

Additionally, on a nearby rock were some skittish Harbour Seals! These seals only weigh up to 280 pounds and grow to be 6 feet long. Males and females are pretty indistinguishable from each other, unlike sea lions. The snout of harbour seals is shorter and more blunt when compared to that of sea lions. These cute little pinnipeds are considered true seals because they belong to a different evolutionary lineage compared to sea lions. One of the key differences lies in their anatomy: true seals lack external ear flaps (pinnae) and have smaller front flippers. Additionally, their pelvic bones are fused, which limits their ability to move on land, but it gives them a powerful advantage in the water. This adaptation enhances thrust and agility, crucial when evading their primary predator: the killer whale.

The boats left Stinky Rock and picked up where they left off, continuing north. Upon reaching a small collection of island off the east side of Gabriola called the “Flat Tops”, some more blows had been spotted! It appeared to be a mother humpback whale and a calf! The mother-calf duo was Kappa (BCX0158) and her 2025 calf. It’s always amazing to get to enjoy the energetic babies as they first arrive in our area. Humpback whale calves only stay by their mother’s side for a year, and in that time, there’s a lot for them to learn. When first born, these ‘tiny’ calves (about 10-16 feet/3-4.5 meters) are dependent on their mothers’ high-fat-concentration milk to help them bulk up and quickly grow, so quickly that they can gain an impressive 100 lbs (45 kg) of weight daily in their first weeks of life! When spring is finally in the air, the mother-calf duo will start their migration to the cooler northern regions where their feeding grounds are located. Thanks to cross-matched sightings on Happywhale, we know Kappa’s breeding ground is Hawaii, so this pair made quite the journey to get here from there! Once mothers and calves reach our waters, the mothers will slowly start to wean the calves off their milk and start teaching them how to hunt and forage. The majority of the humpback diet in our area consists of krill, but they will also dine on small fish if given the opportunity. When the leaves start to change colour and the cold winds of Autumn begin to blow in, our humpbacks will start heading back south to return to the same breeding grounds. Generally, calves will stay with their mothers this whole trip so that they can learn the route both north and south, but sometimes they will part ways a bit early, leaving the calf to start adventuring solo a bit earlier in life.

Kappa and her baby were observed breaching out of the water, executing some spectacular aerial displays. There are lots of good reasons why these humpback whales might breach out of the water. One theory is that they are doing it to have fun! Additionally, they could be doing it to scratch an itch. Humpback whales have lots of parasites on the outside of their bodies, including sea lice and barnacles. It's thought that humpback whales flop onto their sides or chins to break or loosen some of their itchy parasitic friends. It's also believed that humpback whales breach to communicate! Since sound travels over four times faster underwater, these loud slaps could be used to communicate between humpback whales or to deter boats or other wildlife such as Orcas.

Not only were Kappa and her baby breaching, but another humpback whale had been spotted in the distance, catching some air! It was Crackle (BCY1227) jumping high out of the water, creating big splashes as they landed below. Additionally, Hammer (BCY1222), Split Fluke (BCX1068), her 2025 calf, and an unidentified friend were also in the area, buzzing around. Our vessels enjoyed the presence of these fantastic animals for a short while before continuing back towards Nanaimo.

Before entering Nanaimo, our open boat, Cascadia, made one last stop at the rocky bluffs of Gabriola Island. The cliffs provide ample nesting space for birds, including Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots and various types of Seagulls.

Enjoy our photos below, captured by our Marine Naturalists Cheyenne Brewster, Hayleigh Hilbert, and Aly Kohlman.

July 31, 2025, 10:30 AM - Soup is on the menu: the Humpback variety!