Sunday, August 29, 2010

Ocean Magic Wildlife Adventure Aug 29 12:15pm

Our 12:15 Ocean Magic Wildlife Adventure was a blast. Capt. Scott took us south, and soon had us viewing Humpback Whales. This mother and calf have been in our area for a few weeks. Then we were off to look for Killer Whales. It wasn't long till Capt. Scott found our whales. These magnificent Resident Killer Whales were working the waters off the southern tip of San Juan Island. They exhibited feeding behavior, moving randomly over large areas looking for salmon, and the salmon were even jumping out of the water. It is great to see them work the water for their staple diet of salmon. We had tail lobs, spy hops and breaching. Truly a great visit with this marine apex predator. Our crew of Rhonda, Casey and Michaela answered all our passengers questions and passed on a great wealth of marine knowledge. An amazing wildlife adventure with Prince of Whales. (Crew Photo of Capt Scott, Rhonda, Casey, Michaela and Marie, Clint was taking the photo, also a rare photo of Myles, Zodiac Cowboy aka "Mountain Man")
Clint "Orcawizard", Marie "Orca-Magic"

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Ocean Magic Wildlife Adventure Aug 28 3:30pm

It was another westcoast summer day with warm temperatures, and plenty of blue skies. Capt. Gord, and crew members, Scott and Rhonda took the 3.30pm Ocean Magic out of the harbour and charted a course south of Victoria to find a mother and calf Humpback Whale that were slowly traveling south west. Their slow speed indicated they were in resting mode. We watched with fascination as this twosome took several breaths at the surface and then disappeared for several minutes. We left them to head east, and north up Haro strait, where we found Southern Resident Orca, members of K and J Pod foraging off Henry and Stuart Island. Several youngsters were traveling close to their mothers. We enjoyed family groups traveling past the Ocean Magic. Our return trip took us past Seabird Lighthouse, where a Gray Whale was visible among the kelp beds. With three species of whale in a three hour trip, we returned to the harbour beaming. What an exciting trip once again with Prince of Whales.
Marie, Orca-Magic.

Zodiac Wildlife Adventure Aug 28 3pm

Our 3pm Zodiac Wildlife Adventure was set everything and more. Our Skipper Myles "Mountain Man" slipped our zodiac from its dock in Victoria's inner harbor and took us into sunshine and calm seas. We first headed south to a report of Humpback Whales. We caught these gentle giants a few miles south of Victoria. They were gently rising for air on the flat calm seas. It was a mother and calf that have been in the area for the past few weeks. Our trip then turned east as we headed off in search of more wildlife. Our trip took us past Oak Bay and on up Haro Strait where we caught up with Killer Whales. We enjoyed watching them as the came up for air, spy hopped, breached and tail lobbed. After a great viewing of the Killer Whales and on our way back our eagle eyed skipper spotted a Grey Whale off the southern tip of Discovery Island. This whale was working the shallow waters right in the kelp beds, rising softly for air.
A triple play of whales today, Orca, Humpbacks and a Grey. All our passengers were smiling after this great adventure with Prince of Whales.
Clint "Orcawizard"

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Ocean Magic Adventure Aug 26 3:30





Today's weather conditions gave both crew and passengers were treated mother nature at her strongest. During the 3:30 afternoon trip the sea conditions improved quite a bit although still quite bumpy, we were able to comfortably travel over to San Juan Island (Lime Kiln area) to view members of the southern resident killer whales. We saw mainly Jpod including J28 Polaris and her calf J46 and Blackberry J27 who pulled up along side of us surprising everyone ! (Funny how they can do that even when they're supposed to stay 100 m away from us ;).) Although enduring some big water even over in Haro Strait, everyone enjoyed their time with the orcas today and no one let a little over dramatic west coast weather take that way from them.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ocean Magic Adventure Aug 25 3:30






(Here is a silent stabilized shorter edit of some of the above clips)

What an awesome trip today was! We started the 3:30 Ocean Magic trip by visiting our Gray whale called GRAY PANTS who was foraging off of Discovery Island. We then headed onto Turn Point where members of J and K pod were on the move north. The color and weather conditions were picture perfect. Families traveling together, activities such as breaching and lots of tail slapping! After all these years I finally have captured a breach (on video) in front of Mount Baker. Please enjoy the photos and video of today's awesome journey.

Ocean Magic Wildlife Adventure Aug 25 12:15pm

The Ocean Magic sailed into the sunshine from Victoria's picturesque inner harbor. Our Skipper Anna took us east to Trial Island were she put us in an excellent position to view Ocra. We had all three Pod's of Killer Whales J, K and L. They were slowly making their way east towards San Juan Island. We enjoyed watching them Tail Lob, Breach, Spy Hop and Porpoising as they swam in the clear sunlit waters. We all enjoyed the magic of these special mammals, and our crew passed on a wealth of knowledge to our passengers. Capt. Anna then took us to view a Grey Whale. This gentle giant worked the the clear water, rising up in the showing its barnacle encrusted body. This was a great day of marine wildlife viewing with Prince Of Whales.
Clint "Orcawizard"

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Ocean Magic Wildlife Adventure Aug 22 12:15pm

The 12:15 Ocean Magic sailed into calm seas and sunshine. Prince of Whales Capt. Scott took us west to Race Rocks and we enjoyed the sights of Stellar Sea Lions feeding on salmon. These huge sea lions were taking advantage of the tide sweeping the salmon over the shallow waters around Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. We then headed east and our skipper put us onto a Grey Whale. This gentle giant was working the shallow water by a kelp bed, rising up for air. This was yet another great wildlife adventure with Prince of Whales.
Clint "Orcawizard"