The day began with all three of our vessels heading out into the Strait of Georgia, spreading out across the rich waters in search of wildlife. With plenty of ocean to explore, our boats covered different areas, and before long, each vessel had found humpback whales of its own.

One boat encountered a lone humpback, Fader (BCY0195), while the other two found pairs of whales travelling together. Orion (BCX1251) was travelling alongside the legendary Big Mama (BCY0324), while Frankenstein (BCX1358) was accompanied by Prowler (BCX1660). All three encounters showed signs of active feeding, with the whales travelling through the area and surfacing regularly.

One of the less glamorous, but incredibly important, signs of feeding was also making an appearance at the surface: whale poop. Humpback whales play an important role in moving nutrients through the marine ecosystem. As they feed at depth and return to the surface to breathe, they also bring nutrients back into the ocean's upper layers. Their waste provides nutrients that can help support the growth of microscopic organisms such as phytoplankton, which form the foundation of the marine food web.

This creates a fascinating feedback loop. More nutrients can support more phytoplankton, which supports more of the small organisms that feed on them, ultimately helping provide food for the fish and other animals that humpback whales depend on. In this way, feeding whales are not simply taking from the ecosystem. They can also help replenish it.

Eventually, all three of our vessels converged on the same sighting, joining Frankenstein and Prowler as they continued travelling and feeding together. After what appeared to be a productive feeding session, the pair seemed to have some energy to burn. They began showing off at the surface with energetic tail slaps and pectoral fin slaps before each whale launched itself partly out of the water a couple of times.

Seeing humpbacks breach is always special, especially when it happens unexpectedly. After watching this burst of energy from the whales, it was time for us to continue our journey.

Our next stop was Stinky Rock, where the humpbacks gave way to an entirely different collection of marine wildlife. Steller Sea Lions gathered around the rocks, while Harbour Seals could be spotted nearby. Above the water, a variety of seabirds added to the activity, making for a busy and lively stop before we began our journey back toward Nanaimo.

On the way home, we made one final stop at the Gabriola Bluffs. The towering sandstone cliffs are home to nesting Cormorants, and from the water we were able to watch these seabirds moving around the dramatic shoreline. The cliffs provided a fitting final wildlife encounter before we turned our bow back toward Nanaimo.

From three separate humpback encounters in the Strait of Georgia to Steller Sea Lions, Harbour Seals, seabirds, and nesting Cormorants, it was a day that showcased just how much life can be found throughout the waters surrounding Nanaimo.

Please enjoy the photos taken throughout the trip by onboard Marine Naturalists Val Watson, Hayleigh Hilbert, and Jordan Robinson.