WHALE WATCHING WITH STEVESTON SEA BREEZE ADVENTURES

Richmond, Brtish Columbia
by Susie Lee

This adventure will open the world of majestic Orcas and other marine creatures including dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and eagles. Immerse yourself in marine nature and enjoy the scenic coastline near Vancouver, British Columbia. Steveston Seabreeze Adventures is dedicated to revealing the natural wonders of the ocean right before your very eyes.

THE CAPTAINS

Rick Thompson, Lloyd Nakade and Bob Morimoto are co-owners and operators of Steveston Seabreeze Adventures, located in the quaint historical fishing village of Richmond, British Columbia. These friendly, outgoing captains have been lifelong residents of Steveston and have been involved in the commercial fishing industry for over thirty years. With their combined knowledge and familiarity of the area, they established Steveston Seabreeze Adventures which offers fishing charters, whale watching tours and bike rentals.

ON BOARD

Throughout our adventure, it was a real treat to have Jillian, a certified naturalist on board. She was a wealth of knowledge and she helped us identify many of the wildlife we encountered. I saw several bald eagles on the beach and perched on the logs. We also spotted otters and seabirds along the way. I was astonished how much wildlife was seen on the scenic boat ride down the Fraser River as we made our way to see the whales.

I discovered from our guide that there are 3 types of orca killer whales. The offshore whales that live deep in the ocean, feeding on large schools of fish, the transient whales who feed on marine mammals, and the resident whales who frequent this area to feed on the salmon runs in this region.

Orcas are also known as killer whales because they are one of the top predators in the ocean. Together they will attack, share and eat larger preys, such as other whales. They also consume fish, squid, seals, and penguins. Orcas live in family groups called pods with the eldest female being the leader of each group.

WHALE SIGHTINGS

It took us forty minutes to cross the windy Strait of Georgia into the sheltered waters of the Gulf Islands. When we reached our destination, we were greeted by a pod of Orcas called the J Pod. It is believed that there 3 pods of orcas living in this areas, the J, K. and L pod. When the 3 pods get together to mate during the summer time, they form a “super pod” of over 80 whales.

The majesty and magnitude of the Orcas astounded me. There was a sense of beauty about these creatures that inspired me as I observed them in their natural environment. The whale watching charters have to keep their distance from the pods in order not to intrude into their space. Any close up encounters are left entirely up to the whales.

Sometimes it was hard to predict where the Orcas would surface. There were a few times when they poked their heads out of the water as if they were curious to what the whale watching vessels were up to. Every so often we heard a loud blow and saw a cloudy spray surface from the water. It was the Orcas breathing and blowing air through their blow holes. Not only did we see them but we also heard them through the hydrophones that were on board. We heard clicking, screeching and whistling sounds from the whales as they communicated to each other. Jillian said that there are different sounds for different purposes: for mating, locating prey or simply communicating to each other. Also, different pods will speak a distinctive “dialect” which enables them to recognize their members.

As we headed back to Steveston, we were accompanied by a pod of Orcas that happened to be traveling in the same direction as we were. At that same moment, I saw two Orcas swimming very fast toward the surface and rose above the water, falling back into the water with a huge splash creating a wake! That was a picture perfect finale to end our amazing oceanic journey!

FINAL THOUGHTS

It's so easy to take lots of pictures or video footages of these magnificent creatures but make sure you take the time to experience them with your naked eyes. I know a picture can be worth a thousand words but sometimes a photograph cannot capture the essence of what your eyes can see or what your heart can feel. So remember, take both photographic pictures and mental pictures. Experience their world. Experience their environment. Experience the time of your life!

FUN FACTS

• The scientific name of the killer whale is Orcinus Orca
• Orcas are found in all oceans of the world
• Researchers identify orcas by their dorsal fins and saddle patches (the grey patchy area behind the dorsal fin that is distinct to each orca)
• The male dorsal fin can grow up to to 6 feet
• Smarter and easier to train than a dolphin
• The killer whale is actually a large dolphin
• Orcas can dive to a depth of 100 feet (30 m) in order to hunt
• Orcas can swim up to 30 mph (48 km) in bursts in order to catch prey.

ADVENTURE TIPS

• Binoculars
• Flat, soft-soled shoes
• Camera or video camera
• Hat, sunscreen, and sunglass
• Snacks or beverages for the trip
• Jacket or rain coat (even on Summer Days, it can get chilly in the ocean)
• Washroom facilities on board
• Complimentary water, coffee, tea & hot chocolate on board
• They operate from April until the end of October
• 95% successful whale sightings or you will receive a non-expiry pass if you do not see one!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Steveston Seabreeze Adventures
12551 Number One Road
Richmond, BC
Canada V7E 1T7
Toll Free in North America: 1 (888) 272-7203
or call: (604) 272-7200
www.seabreezeadventures.ca

+ Part 1: CHILLIWACK RIVER KAYAKING
+ Part 2: STEVESTON WHALE WATCHING
+ Part 3: GLENN VALLEY STABLES
+ Part 4: GRAHAM SISTERS TRICK RIDING

+ Download PDF One-sheet
+ www.seabreezeadventures.ca