Nanaimo Whale Watching and Marine Wildlife Tour

Immerse yourself in BC's coastal wildlife as you travel through the gulf islands archipelago in search of killer whales (orcas), humpbacks, sea lions, porpoises, eagles, and more. Your guide has an academic background in biology and a passion for marine life! Whale sightings are guaranteed or your next trip is FREE. You'll cruise through the Salish Sea in comfort and style onboard Kula, our 12-passenger vessel. Kula offers covered seating with sliding windows at each seat and a large open deck at the back of the vessel that provides unobstructed views of scenery and wildlife.

Meeting Point

90 Front St #5

90 Front St #5, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7, Canada

Our office is located on Front Street on downtown Nanaimo's seawall.

What's included:

• Toilets onboard
• Binoculars onboard (shared between guests)
• Sunscreen available
• Captain is certified by Transport Canada
• Professional guide with academic background in marine biology

Not included:

• The listed price does not include parking, which costs around 5-7 dollars CAD for the day.
• Lunch is not included.
• Transportation to/from office

What to expect:

90 Front St #5

Your day begins by checking in at our office 45 minutes before your departure time and then you'll head down to the boat as a group.
You'll then be introduced to the Salish Sea ecosystem and wildlife as you cruise through the Gulf Islands archipelago in search of whales and other marine life. You'll learn about the different types of whales that use the Salish Sea, including their natural history, and their roles in the marine food web.
Throughout your adventure, your captain will be in touch with other whale watching companies over VHF radio and will plan your route to maximize the area covered between vessels.

You'll spend a full hour viewing whales, and your marine naturalist will provide real-time insights into their behaviours. Onboard catalogues are used to identify individual whales, and this data will be collected throughout the season and sent to the Centre for Whale Research, Keta Coastal Conservation, and the BC Cetacean Sightings Network.

Your tour will wrap up with an educational talk on marine conservation focusing on threats to BC orca, and conservation initiatives will be discussed.