We headed south to start the trip, travelling through the Southern Gulf Islands before making our way into the Strait of Georgia. As we reached open waters, the boats spread out to search different areas, and it didn't take long for the wildlife to start adding up.

One boat stopped at Stinky Rock, where Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions spent time hauled out on the rocks. Stinky Rock is a favourite place to find both species, and it offered a chance to slow down and watch the animals resting, calling and interacting with one another.

Meanwhile, the other boat had found something a little further out: Humpback whales. And not just one or two. There were a lot of humpbacks in the area.

As we began putting the pieces together, we realized we were looking at several different groups of whales spread throughout the same productive area. Sherwina/Dreamer (BCY0961) and her calf (BCY0961calf2026) were travelling alongside Eeyore (BCY1221), while Scratchy (BCY1022) and Thunderbolt (BCY1517) were together nearby. A third group consisted of Kraken/Monarch (BCZ0180), Meqe’ (BCZ0492), and BCX2316.

Three trios and a pair, all using the same general area.

The whales focused primarily on feeding, surfacing, and diving throughout the area as they searched for food. At times, however, social activity seemed to mix in as the different groups moved around one another. Humpback whales are not always solitary animals, and feeding areas can bring multiple individuals together where food is concentrated.

Before long, both boats joined the encounter, and we found ourselves surrounded by what could only be described as a humpback soup.

Whales surfaced in different directions, disappeared beneath the surface, and reappeared somewhere else. With so many individuals in the area, there was always something happening. It was a perfect example of how productive waters can bring whales together, even when they may not necessarily be travelling as a single group.

And then, everything changed.

A sudden burst of activity came from one of the groups. In the same moment, Eeyore, Sherwina and her calf all launched themselves out of the water.

Three humpbacks breached at once.

A triple breach is an incredibly rare sight, and seeing three whales take to the air together was one of those moments that seemed almost impossible to process in real time. There was barely enough time to react before the whales crashed back into the water.

Our telephoto lenses were ready, but even they couldn't fit all three whales into the same frame. Sometimes the best moments happen faster than a camera can capture them.

After spending some time with the large gathering of humpbacks, the boats began making their way north again. One vessel stopped at Stinky Rock to spend some time with the Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions, while the other continued searching the surrounding waters.

Once again, the search paid off. Off Gabriola Island, the second boat came across another trio of humpbacks. Cassiopeia (BCY0796) was travelling on his own, while Manta (BCZ0155) and Europa (BCX0854) were nearby. Like the whales we had encountered earlier, these three were actively feeding in the area.

It was remarkable to see how many humpbacks were using the waters around us that day. From the large gathering earlier in the trip to this smaller group off Gabriola Island, the Strait of Georgia was clearly providing plenty of opportunity for these whales to find food.

Eventually, it was time to turn back toward Nanaimo.

Between the Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions at Stinky Rock, the many humpbacks spread throughout the Strait of Georgia, and an unforgettable triple breach, it was a day that showed just how much life these waters hold.

Photos by Marine Naturalists Hayleigh Hilbert and Evan Hessels are available for you to view below.