Pacific White Sided Dolphins

The Seasonal Guide to Whale, Wildlife and Bear Watching in Campbell River, Vancouver Island

Written by Maddie Lemke Wondering when to spot the best wildlife on our tours? It’s a common question, with answers as dynamic as the wildlife itself. “What kind of wildlife will I see?” or “What are the chances of seeing specific animals?” – the excitement lies in the unpredictability. Many species around Campbell River are migratory, making each season unique in its offerings. While it… Read more »

Photography Tips for Your Whale and Wildlife Watching Adventure

Words by Maddie Lemke 📸 Bluetree Photography in partnership with Destination Campbell River Encountering whales in the wild is a special experience. Taking photographs on your tour is a great way to enhance lasting memories. However, capturing photos of whales is easier said than done. The boat is constantly moving, being rocked by the waves, and wildlife disappears and reappears unpredictably.  In this comprehensive guide,… Read more »

Humpback Whale Breaching

Does Wildlife Put on a Show?

Words and Photos by Zoe Hasenfratz Picture this, you find yourself on a whale-watching tour. You are bobbing about on the water, having just discovered several humpback whales. Suddenly, you start to witness some acrobatic behavior: pectoral fins waving back and forth in the air, tails slapping the surface, and breaching. As you watch the whales propel themselves out of the water in what nearly… Read more »

The fluke of a humpback whale showing as the whale dives into the ocean in front of Vancouver Island

Whales and Climate Change: The Whale Pump Explained

Written by Maddie Lemke Whales are not only magical creatures, but also play a vital role in the health of our planet. As we struggle with the effects of climate change, it is crucial to understand the significant contributions whales make in mitigating its impact. One such fascinating phenomenon is the “whale pump”, a process that showcases how (baleen) whales help sequester carbon dioxide and… Read more »

pacific white-sided dolphins swimming in the ocean

World Ocean Day 2023: How We Can Save Our Oceans

Written by Maddie Lemke Oceans cover 71 % of the planet and are home to important species and ecosystems that we rely on for food, livelihoods, climate regulation and more. But our oceans are facing a lot of challenges these days, with a lot of species and ecosystems being at risk. Most of those challenges are impacted by human actions including overfishing, plastic pollution, as… Read more »

a boat with people on it traveling through the water

Introducing the Tenacious III

Have you seen our newest addition to the fleet, the Tenacious III? This past season was our first in operation since bringing Discovery Marine Safaris under the Campbell River Whale Watching umbrella and with it, their flagship vessel the Tenacious III. Here are 10 Facts about the Tenacious III 1) She is 42’ or 12.8 m long 2) We can accommodate 30 guests onboard 3)… Read more »

Drawing of a whale tale that says Reading is a Whale of a Time

Whale-y Great Book Recommendations

  I’ve been a big reader for as long as I can remember. While I love a variety of genres, I’ve slowly been incorporating more non-fiction into my life. There’s something special about reading about a topic that’s close to your heart and it’s satisfying to have what you already know be validated! I won’t ever claim to be a whale expert, but these are… Read more »

Covered Whale Watching Vessel with guests on board

Introducing Our New Boat!

  Have you heard our great news? We have a new covered boat!     Check out our 12-passenger Eagle Craft with an outdoor seating area!  It was originally built in 1994 by Daigle Marine as a tour boat for a wealthy private island owner near Victoria. After that, the vessel lived most of its life moving crews in and out of logging camps along… Read more »

Landscape of ocean and land in the Distance. The sky is blue with clouds in the disance

We’re Open! – Business Operations Update

    Our doors are officially open, and we’re thrilled to get back on the water and provide our guests with the experience of a lifetime!   As of July 1st, we are running an assortment of daily tours on our zodiac and covered vessels: 3 hour Whale and Wildlife Evening Tour 4 hour Whale and Wildlife Tour 4 hour Ocean Rapids Tour (tide dependent)… Read more »

Grizzly bear on the shore, with a water fall in the back ground reads" Brand New: Spring Bear and Waterfall Tour"

Exciting new tour!

  Spring is in the air and we are excited to announce our brand-new tour! Two things that we love about spring are that we spot Bears that have just come out of torpor which is a lighter form of hibernation, and we get to see beautiful flowing waterfalls from the winters melting ice! Our Spring Bear and Waterfall tour will be the perfect tour… Read more »