The best part about whale watching with San Juan Safaris? Every single day is different out here! New routes between islands, amazing views of different types of wildlife around every channel...it always keeps us on our toes and it's what makes our whale watches more than just a boat trip. It's an adventure!
Yesterday we had an opportunity to head up north towards Cherry Point, near the town of White Rock in B.C., to view a pod of transient killer whales. It looked to be an intermingling of some of the T100 and T123 families, and they were sure on the move! We caught up with them as they had just turned south, heading towards East Point. We were delighted to see them frequently up at the surface, those magnificent black dorsal fins slicing through the water and clouds of mist hovering over the pod as they took their breaths.
In order to reach this pod, we had to pass through an area of water known as the Boiling Reef. Where the Straight of Georgia and Boundary Pass meet, tide waters swirl at a maximum rate of about 5 knots. Our boats and captains can handle the swirling waters like pros, with absolutely zero cause for concern, and it makes for a fun cruise through the eddies and currents. It really does look like you're passing through a boiling reef!
It was fun to check out some happy chubby harbor seals hanging out near Saturna Island on our way home. You could almost forget that these cute Pinnipeds are one of the transients favorite snacks...
All in all, it was a wonderful day out on the water with some of our transients. Come join us next time!
Lauren Fritz
Whale Watch Naturalist
San Juan Safaris