Anyone ever done a whale watching trip?
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luvdduck · 07-09-2005, 11:19 PM

We are thinking of doing a whale watching cruise on our Vancouver/Victoria trip this Sept.
One of my guide books says the waters around Victoria are "teeming with Orcas" and I think it would be amazing to see some. A whale trip would, however, take a good chunk of time away from our touring.
So what to do? Anyone ever done one? Was it really cool? did you see whales?
We are going to Hawaii in Nov, and were thinking of doing a whale trip then (when we have a lot more time), but we wouldn't see Orcas and they're the ones I'd really like to see!
Any advice?

Thanks!!

Courtney892 · 07-10-2005, 12:05 AM

I have done several whale watching trips leaving from different points along Cape Cod. I have never seen an Orca as you mentioned, but I have seen LOTS AND LOTS of Humpbacks, in addition to many other types of whale. Last whale watch we went on we probably only saw about 3 whales, but the reason for that was that right off the bat after seeing a basking shark or two, we saw some type of rarely seen whale in the area we were watching (can't remember it right off the top of my head) they are usually seen for just a little bit and then they dive deep and you don't see them come up. This one was feeding and we probably trailed along with him for a good 1/2 our tour. It was quite awesome. I have had fabulous trips every time--I think probably about 5 trips I have taken. I'd highly recommend it!!

**chezp** · 07-10-2005, 04:27 AM

I'd love to hear everyone's experiences, as we've often looked into whale watching trips off the west coast of the States and Canada.

KathyL · 07-10-2005, 07:17 AM

I too have done whale watching trips off of Cape Cod. They have been pretty amazing. If you have the opportunity to do it (especially if you want to see the Orca) I would go for it on this trip unless you know you will be back in that area again. The only whales I have even seen have been the humpbacks...the tour boat was able to get pretty close, too. Good luck with your descision.

KathyL

**Colexis Mom** · 07-10-2005, 07:53 AM

We did one in Maine, and we did see a lot of whales! It took about 4 hours though, we went quite a bit offshore.

BethC · 07-10-2005, 08:06 AM

My parents have done one in Hawaii, Maine, and somewhere in the northwest. (I don't remember as they did a road trip up the entire coast). They love to watch the whales and brought home some incredible pictures! Any chance they get they have done and will do the whale watching trips. I do believe they have only saw humpbacks though. I would say go for it!

SHEANA1226 · 07-10-2005, 10:48 AM

I did one about 6 years ago out of Glouster, MA it was about 4 hours and it was wonderful! I would love to do another one. It is definately worth the time, I say go for it!

FanOfMickey · 07-10-2005, 12:07 PM

No, but always wanted to! A friend and I have been talking about going on one the last few years, one of these days we will go on one. I did see whales on a deep sea fishing trip once though. It was really neat, also saw some when going to Marthas vineyard.

Happymommy · 07-10-2005, 12:10 PM

I've done it twice in Cape Cod. It was lots of fun. We saw plenty of whales. I was 10 and 14 when we did it, and really enjoyed it.

debsta922 · 07-10-2005, 12:42 PM

I've been on a whale watch once from Cape Cod and it was so cool to see them up close. While I was in Seatle we took a cruise to Victoria and saw a couple whales from a distance, I would have loved to see them up close. I say go for it, to see an Orca in the wild must be awesome

katspjs · 07-10-2005, 03:05 PM

We did a whale watch about 10 years ago in Kennebunk, Maine. We saw silver sided purpoises and then a mommy, aunt and baby whale. They played around the boat, it was an awesome sight. We even saw one of them breach. I highly recommend a whale watch.

I would love to do a whale watch where you can see orcas. Very cool.

**DrDolphin** · 07-10-2005, 05:36 PM

I have done it in Hawaii - for humpbacks, the Pacific NW for orca, California for Greys and new england for Right Whales (very very rare). I loved it everytime!!!

**rescuesk** · 07-10-2005, 06:21 PM

We have done several whale watches from Cape Cod and they are all awesome. One trip we saw over 50 whales! That was a really high amount, but we have never been disappointed.

I would definitely go for it!

GoofyMom · 07-10-2005, 06:29 PM

How long are you going to be in BC? DH went to university in Victoria last year and he knows some people who went on a whale watching tour there. He says that they loved it and they did see lots of Orcas. The tour companies are very careful to say that they don't guarantee that you will see any whales, but they definitely do their best. This tour company is the one we looked at, but we decided not to go because I was too big of a chicken to go on the ocean in a little teeny tiny boat!

(Me = Land-lubber prairie girl!)

click here for a link to Tourism Victoria's info on whale watching there.

Shadowfax · 07-10-2005, 08:44 PM

I've been on many whale watching trips from my home state of Maine. I have loved them all and have not been disappointed yet. We see mostly humpbacks up here, but I have also seen finbacks, minke whales, basking sharks, harbor porpoises and seals. I would highly recommend it. After all, seeing a pod of Orca whales may be a once in a lifetime experience.