Two boats left Nanaimo ready to explore the Salish Sea, beginning the day by heading south through Dodd Narrows and into the Southern Gulf Islands. From there, we continued our search through the islands before eventually heading out into the more open waters of the Strait of Georgia.

Along the way, one of the boats stopped at Stinky Rock, a familiar gathering place for some of the area's marine mammals. Steller Sea Lions hauled out on the rocks, taking a break from the water, while Harbour Seals rested nearby. It was a chance to slow down and enjoy some of the smaller marine mammals that call these waters home before continuing the search offshore.

In the Strait of Georgia, we found our first whales of the day, and they were humpbacks.

Two pairs were travelling in the same general area: Big Momma (BCY0324) and Kappa (BCX0158), along with Orion (BCX1251) and Vivaldi (BCX1704). The four whales appeared to be actively feeding, spending time at the surface before disappearing below again. Their dorsal fins appeared as they travelled through the water, and every so often a fluke would rise into view as one prepared for another dive.

Humpbacks in the Strait of Georgia spend much of their summer and early fall taking advantage of the area's seasonal productivity. The Strait is an important feeding ground, with upwelling and other oceanographic processes helping concentrate the small schooling fish and krill that fuel these enormous animals.

We enjoyed our time watching the four humpbacks before turning our attention north. Earlier in the day, a pod of orcas had been reported farther in that direction, and we decided to make the journey in hopes of relocating them.

As we searched through the waves, the anticipation grew. Finding a whale reported earlier in the day is never guaranteed. The animals can cover surprising ground, and changing conditions can make tracking them a challenge. But eventually, we found them.

Our cameras came out quickly as we began documenting the group, comparing dorsal fins and saddle patches to determine exactly who we were looking at.

The answer was the T023s.

T023 Janice ♀ (≤1964)
T023D Axle ♀ (1993)
T023D3 Robin ♂ (2012)
T023D4 Sixx (2015)
T023D5 Wildside (2019)
T023D6 Mars (2026)

The group was travelling southeast along the Sunshine Coast, moving confidently through the waves. As they surfaced, we got excellent views of their distinctive eye patches and saddle patches, with their dorsal fins rising clearly above the water. Every now and then, the waves lifted them higher, giving us those dramatic glimpses of their bodies moving through the swell.

There is something particularly impressive about watching Bigg's Killer Whales travel through rough water. Their powerful bodies seem perfectly suited to the conditions, and they can cover long distances while maintaining a steady pace. Seeing the T023s making their way along the Sunshine Coast was a wonderful example of that strength and efficiency.

Eventually, though, it was time for us to begin our journey home.

The boat that had not stopped at Stinky Rock earlier in the day made its own marine mammal stop, this time at the Halibut Bank ODAS buoy. Steller Sea Lions had hauled out there as well, giving the crew and guests an opportunity to watch these large pinnipeds resting above the water.

From the Southern Gulf Islands to the open Strait of Georgia, the day had taken us through a variety of habitats and brought us encounters with some of the Salish Sea's most recognizable marine mammals. Humpbacks were feeding offshore, the T023s were travelling along the Sunshine Coast, and Steller Sea Lions and Harbour Seals were making use of their favourite haul-out spots.

With both boats safely back in Nanaimo, another day of Salish Sea exploration came to an end. Please enjoy the photos included below, captured throughout the trip by onboard Marine Naturalists Hayleigh Hilbert and Evan Hessels.

September 16, 2026 - West Coast Waves and Wildlife in the Salish Sea