this is my second time with 5 star whale watching . I like support local companies and they do a great job. Whales are unpredictable but seeing three whales was super cool. The naturalist were awesome and the captain ( Andrew ) always knew where to go to find those beautiful creatures . Will definetly make another adventure with this company.

This was a great experience. We saw two different types of whales that came super close to the boat. The guides were all really knowledgeable and personable. I would totally recommend this for anyone.

We had a whale of an adventure. The crew seemed so disappointed to leave the whale area, as they knew the names of all the whales we saw!!! A Great morning with a wonderful crew. Pl;ease note its a somewhat rough boat ride getting there, but well worth it

We had a great time. We saw so many humpback whales, apparently unusual to see them in groups. They were slapping the water with their tales and doing cartwheels. The guides were very knowledgeable and helpful explaining what was happening and even identifying some of the whales we saw.

The booking process was great. Genevieve was just lovely. The boat trip itself was disappointing. The crew including the captain, were more interested in taking their own photos, often in front of paying clients. There was a yellow line next to the captain's area which so happened to be the best photographers area.. if you crossed it, you were told off like a child. I am a qualified skipper and have been recently on a number of other whale watching trips. This captain wanted the space to take his own photos. It wasbt a safety issue as the boat was not moving. The priority of the crew was disappointing. Also other boats didn't hang around were we were and they all saw orcas. .. they didn't even try. So don't believe the photos. We hung around most of the time by dormant humpbacks who weren't doing anything. The other boats moved on.

this is the fourth time we have used five star and each time our expectations were exceeded by leaps and bounds..not only are the staff knowledgeable but very friendly and courteous and it was obvious this wasn't a job but a life style. their passion was obvious and they are extremely careful to not infringe on the inhabitants of the ocean and were very respectful of those that reside there..for an unforgettable whale watching experience five star is my only choice

Great friendly, knowledgeable guides. Good boat and lovely sighting of humpback whale and sea lions.

I booked the larger Catamaran boat two weeks in advance. The idea was that the larger boat would be more stable, as some in my family get motion sickness. Eight days before the our trip, Five Star called me to say that their Cat was not going to be available, due to needing repair. They rebooked us on their other smaller boat. The day of the trip, was very windy. We had to wait to see if the Captain was going to call off the trip due to the wind/waves, but it went ahead. Because of the limited seating on board, we ended up sitting outside and some of our group, including myself, got soaked with sea spray due to the waves and wind. Aside from the spray, the boat handled the choppy waters well and no one got seasick. We did end up getting a very close encounter with a pod of Orcas and had a fun trip. I was disapointed though, that we had to pay extra $$, because Five Star changed the vessel.

My experience with 5 Star Whale Watching was incredibly frustrating. We booked a tour, but it was canceled multiple times. The first time, they claimed the boat was broken, and they didn’t even inform us in advance. To avoid this happening again, we requested a tour for the following week, and they assured us they would use their smaller boat to ensure it wouldn't be canceled. However, I was shocked when they called again, claiming the boat was broken once more! This level of unreliability and lack of professionalism is unacceptable. Instead of offering any compensation, they suggested we cancel and book with another company. I strongly advise against booking with 5 Star Whale Watching. There are other companies out there that value their customers and can provide a more reliable and professional service.

We had our entire family get together for several activities in the Victoria area and while it was a bit hectic to get 14 of us including 6 grandkids going in the same direction, it was a great experience. One of the highlights was our Whale watching trip on the morning of August 7. The "Shadow" accommodated 12 of us nicely and with the cabin we were able to keep kids warm in the cool environment on the ocean. The key to our trip was the staff of Five Star with Captain Gordon doing his utmost to find whales and maneuvering around Race Rocks in the currents so we could see seals and sea lions and Naturalist Mika telling us about the wildlife and keeping the younger kids entertained with books and stories we had a great 3 hours on the water. Unfortunately we did not see more than a fleeting glance of a whale and we really appreciated the offer of a repeat trip based on their guarantee. Being local, we plan on another great opportunity to get the family together that i know will be made even more special by our new friends at 5-star.

Our family had a wonderful time on this tour. Gordon (Captain) and Mika (Naturalist) did a great job leading our adventure and leading us to wildlife. Our day out didn’t have much in terms of whales—one sleepy humpback who surfaced pretty regularly, and sadly no Orcas…but that’s how it goes sometimes. It’s a big sea, and as Mika said, sometimes spotting the whales is like finding a needle in a haystack. All in all, a memorable afternoon I’ll cherish for a lifetime. Thank you Gordon and Mika.

I have been on 15 whale watch trips in my life. I have a degree in Biology and am a science teacher. I know a bit about whales. I have NEVER experienced such good service as I had from Gordon and Genevieve. WOW! SUPER NICE and knowledgeable. They made the trip more fun. I have waited 50 years to see Orcas and was lucky that Gordon found 4, including this mom and baby (pictured below). WELL WORTH THE COST! Thanks you two for caring about how good an experience you help to create.

This was a great tour! Our Captain, Gordon and Mika, the naturalist onboard, were knowledgeable, kept us safe and we saw several pods of Orcas on the sunset tour. We loved that it was a small group!

This was an amazing experience with Gord as our pilot and Rianna as our expert on whales and the waters we explored. They both had so much info to share, welcomed questions and were just fun to be with. Both clearly had an abundance of respect and love for the whales and their habitat; and Gord had many years of experience to share with his passengers. We saw many whales! and it was just a thrilling adventure to be out on the water. I was grateful for the big jacket/life jacket as the water sprayed us.

The booking was quick and easy. The boat is clean and meets all safety standards. The crew is excellent, friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to answer all your questions. It really was a unique experience.