I've seen plenty of migrating whales along the California coast before, but seeing them up close doing what whales do was a whole new experience for me. The setting between Quadra and Cortes islands is absolutely breathtaking, and then seeing the whales spouting and diving with that backdrop was incredible. In addition to the whales, we saw sea lions and Biggs orcas (my first time seeing orcas!).
Captain Jen is an outstanding guide. She is intimately acquainted with the weather, tides, her boat, and the individual animals families too, easily recognizing them by their tail flukes. Originally our group was going on another adventure, but weather conditions made us turn back (always trust the captain!) and she gave us the option for this itinerary instead which turned out to be fantastic, definitely a highlight of my time in Canada.
The boat is a very comfortable Zodiac, and every guest wears a full survival suit, which are warm and cozy and waterproof, which is very welcome as it can be windy and wet out of the water. A delicious homemade lunch of sandwiches, hot beverages, and cookies was also served during a break at Cortes Island. And even just sitting there eating lunch we saw jellyfish and birds. Jen is passionate about her work, and has extensive knowledge on the ecosystem, and an enormous amount of respect for the animals. If you're considering a wildlife excursion that is highly professional, ethical, but also exciting, personable and fun for people of all ages, you won't regret going with Wild Waterways. I know I'll be going out again next time I am in the area!
