The whale watching around Victoria British Columbia is about as good as you can get. There are three resident Orca (Killer) Whale pods that ply the waters of Juan de Fuca Strait, Haro Strait and Georgia Strait from May until September looking for food. These resident pods feed on salmon, where transient pods feed on seals, sea lions, and fish. Between the three resident pods, there are about 80+ whales and on occassion they congregate together, which is one phenomenal sight. When they are together they seem to get very social and play. What a sight!

When you travel out to see the whales, most boats leave from Victoria's Inner Harbour. So, you have a choice of the type of boat you go in and how much you pay. You might want to shop around. For those thrill seekers, looking for fun in the sun, you will probably choose the rubber (Zodiac) type boats. They have hard floors but rubber edges. They fly like the wind and bounce a bit if it is wavy. If you are pregnant or have a bad back, this should not be your choice. If you want excitement, go for it. You can also choose boats that have a cabin. Most cabin boats have a viewing platform on the top, so when you are near the whales you can go up and have a better look. While you are on the move, you will be protected from the elements. There are also other choices like the red catamaran shown above. This boat has two large life rafts on board, so you do not have to wear survival suits. It also has two washrooms onboard, which can be a really nice feature. Ask about washrooms. You will be on the water for three hours. Some boats also have underwater listening devices.

What ever you choose, you are almost guaranteed a whale sighting. Most boats have an 80% or higher percentage of postive sightings. They see whales a lot.

Be sure to bring a camera, a telephoto lens, and luck. When the whales breach you need to be pointing the camera at them. You have but a second to get your shot. So, you have to appreciate the shots shown here, taken by Orca Girl, Chantelle Tucker.

Enjoy your whale watching around Victoria, on Vancouver Island British Columbia. In addition to observing Orca's, you might also see Minki Whales, Humpbacks, Greys, Pilot whales and others, as well as seal, sealions, sea birds, porposies, dolphins and more.