September 9, 2025, 10:30 AM - Humpbacks in the Strait of Georgia
We left Nanaimo this morning with the sun shining overhead and an adventurous route planned through the Southern Gulf Islands. Our path took us through Dodd Narrows, Ruxton Pass, and Gabriola Pass before arriving at Stinky Rock, where a group of Harbour Seals were soaking up the morning sun on the rocks.
From there, we pushed out into the Strait of Georgia, where our search quickly paid off: our first humpback of the day! It was none other than Beak (BCX1606), a familiar visitor to the area. Beak was busy feeding, diving with powerful fluke lifts as he searched the depths for krill and small schooling fish. Humpbacks aren’t just incredible to watch; they also play an essential role in the ecosystem. As they feed and dive, they act as “nitrogen pumps,” moving nutrients through the water column that fuel plankton growth and help sustain the food web.
Not long after, we came across another humpback, Snoopy (BCY0770), feeding on their own east of Galiano Island. While it’s common to see these giants travelling solo, we also frequently spot pairs or small groups as the population continues to recover. It’s hard to believe that not so long ago, humpbacks were nearly wiped out in these waters by commercial whaling. Today, their return is one of the Salish Sea’s most powerful conservation success stories, and with it, we’re seeing more opportunities for whales to socialize, forage, and thrive.
With time slipping away, we turned back inside the islands for our journey home. Just when we thought the day was winding down, we got the best kind of surprise: a pod of orcas right in our path! Careful watching and slow travel in these channels paid off as we spotted the fins of the orca that turned out to belong to T059 and the T059A1s. This family isn’t one we see often in our area, making the encounter extra special.
T059 ♀ (<1970)
T059A1 ♀ (2006)
T059A1A (2023)
Though we only had a short time with them, the views were unforgettable. The morning sun lit up the surface as the orcas cut through the water, their blows catching the light: a picture-perfect ending to our adventure.
Our marine naturalist, Aly Kohlman, captured some incredible moments from today’s tour. Scroll down to see the highlights!
A river otter enjoying a meal on the docks.
River otter watchig us watching them.
A group of Harbour Seals enjoying the sunshine.
Harbour Seals lounging on the rocks.
The underside of Beak’s tail.
Beak’s dorsal fin as he surfaces.
Beak lifting his tail for a dive.
Cn you spot all the barnacles on Beak’s tail in this photo?
Snoopy letting out a breath!
Snoopy’s dorsal fin.
A very bumpy Snoopy going for a dive.
A fluke waterfall from Snoopy as he dives.
The underside of Snoopy’s tail.
T059A1 had this very distinct notch!
Can you spot the smaller notch on T059’s dorsal fin?
T059A1A surfacing.
T059A1A surfacing beside their mom, T059A1.
A beautiful look at T059 in the lead, with T059A1 exhaling behind her.
T059 surfacing with her blow backlit by the sun.
A great look at T059A1A as they surface.
T059A1surfacing in the sun.
The whole gang surfacing together: T059A1A in the front, T059A 1 in the middle, and T059 in the back.