Thursday, June 4th

Our morning tour left the dock with a crew of four, Jenna, Helen, Cassie and Captain Brad. We drove east towards Chain Islands to see Flotsam’s with seals, a variety of aquatic birds and an eagle. We decided to swing around through the middle of the strait and encountered a group of harbour porpoise’s congregating in a tideline. Word reached Captain Brad of a minke whale not far from us which we pursued. It graced us for two surfacings before we headed back east. While passing through race rocks there was an elephant seal molting and a few harbour seals.

It was a perfect day for an afternoon trip on the strait. We arrived at Hein bank shortly after we left and upon arriving discovered five minke whales feeding. On glass-like water, with the sun on our backs we watched the minke’s and harbour seals feed. After some great viewing we left and headed toward Beaumont Shoals. The upwellings make for a good feeding ground for ocean mammals and we were lucky enough to find a number of porpoise’s playing a feeding. We headed back to dock with everybody pleased with their tour.

Another fine evening to be out on the water. Captain Brad, Cassie, Jenna and Helen took a group of excited cruise-shippers out and headed towards Hein Bank. Previously, in the afternoon tour, we had spotted a number of minke whales at Hein Bank. We watched as harbour seals as they satisfied their curiousity by popping their heads out of the water and checking us out! With eyes focused on the seals, only a few passengers caught a glimpse of the first surface of three minke whales – hooray! We stopped the engines to allow the whales to come by and listened to see if anyone could hear them. We stayed with the whales for some great viewing, then we headed up to Beaumont Shoals to meet our friends, the harbour porpoises. Never ones to let us down, the little guys gave a grand performance and an evening spectacle. What a nice way to end a busy day!