Whales
May 12th, 2005, 01:28 PM
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Whales
Were planning a trip,, don't know where to go though... my husband and I, and our son will be turning 3 the end of the summer. We are looking at the end of Sept or the first of October. A 3 night vacation... flying out from Toronto... to Nova Scotia, Quebec? BC?? somewhere to see whales... thats our main thing... and to keep this a cheap as possible......
where would be the best spot in Canada at that time of year to see whales?
and can someone give me and idea of what accomodation would be like and the cost per night?
also....
when whale watching.... how close do you actually get to them,, close enough to take pictures or is this something you need binoculars to see....i've always thought you'd be up close but perhaps i'm wrong... and lastly is it dangerous?
I grew up during summers out in Glace Bay NS and i've been everywhere, but whenever we would go to see the whales... the weather would be to bad, so we couldn't go out. So.... i still want to see the whales.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Mary
where would be the best spot in Canada at that time of year to see whales?
and can someone give me and idea of what accomodation would be like and the cost per night?
also....
when whale watching.... how close do you actually get to them,, close enough to take pictures or is this something you need binoculars to see....i've always thought you'd be up close but perhaps i'm wrong... and lastly is it dangerous?
I grew up during summers out in Glace Bay NS and i've been everywhere, but whenever we would go to see the whales... the weather would be to bad, so we couldn't go out. So.... i still want to see the whales.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Mary
May 12th, 2005, 04:44 PM
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September/October would be near the end of the season in BC... but for whale watching, that's where I'd head. There are a ton or orca watching expeditions, whether you leave from Vancouver or Victoria, it's up to you. Legally, whale watch boats must stop their engines within 100m of the whales. Essentially, the boat does a free float, and it's up to the whales whether they want to approach further or not. I've been several meters away from orcas...
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/5aa9a/#TL will show you a photo I took when I went orca watching. We were around the Gulf Islands when we spotted them. We cut the engines, and then the whales decided to come closer to us.
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/5aa9a/#TL will show you a photo I took when I went orca watching. We were around the Gulf Islands when we spotted them. We cut the engines, and then the whales decided to come closer to us.
May 12th, 2005, 10:34 PM
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There are excelent whale-whatching opportunities at the Westcost (BC) of Kanada. Most tours start from Vancouver Island. There are different locatitions for whale-whatching tours and dependend on the location you will see different types of whales.
I prefere the Orcas and I did several tours in September there. We spotted allways several whales (up to 20) and we came very close to them. Some whales dived directly below the boot. We have made very scenic tours in Port McNeill and Telegraph Cove. The season will end middle of October (depending on the weather).
Another good location is Tofino (westcost of Vancouver Island), but you will see different whales there (Humpback & grey whales). The sea is more rough there than in Telegraph Cove or Port McNeill (north/east cost of Vancouver Island), as the area not so protected against wind and this can prevent good sightings in case of bad weather.
If budget is no problem you can also hire a boot and do more private whale-whatching trips.
I prefere the Orcas and I did several tours in September there. We spotted allways several whales (up to 20) and we came very close to them. Some whales dived directly below the boot. We have made very scenic tours in Port McNeill and Telegraph Cove. The season will end middle of October (depending on the weather).
Another good location is Tofino (westcost of Vancouver Island), but you will see different whales there (Humpback & grey whales). The sea is more rough there than in Telegraph Cove or Port McNeill (north/east cost of Vancouver Island), as the area not so protected against wind and this can prevent good sightings in case of bad weather.
If budget is no problem you can also hire a boot and do more private whale-whatching trips.
May 18th, 2005, 03:46 AM
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Hi, what is a Boot?
and i'm wondering how well my son would do on a boat with other people... i'm guessing a boot may be a private boat? if so i suspect that would be better for us, as he may not do to well for a long period, and i wouldn't want to be stuck out there with a crying baby, and or ruin other peoples whale watching experience...
and i'm wondering how well my son would do on a boat with other people... i'm guessing a boot may be a private boat? if so i suspect that would be better for us, as he may not do to well for a long period, and i wouldn't want to be stuck out there with a crying baby, and or ruin other peoples whale watching experience...
simply means "boat".
May 18th, 2005, 05:11 AM
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oops, thankyou for clearing that up...
does anyone know if you can book a private whale watching excursion? and what the cost might be...
I think that would be best, then if my son had a problem we could ask them to turn back, at our own expense nobody elses.
Thanks
does anyone know if you can book a private whale watching excursion? and what the cost might be...
I think that would be best, then if my son had a problem we could ask them to turn back, at our own expense nobody elses.
Thanks
May 18th, 2005, 12:51 PM
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excuse me for typing errors.
Hee are some links for private whale-whatching charters (Port Hardy/Vancouver Island):
www.catalacharters.net/whales.html
www.coreysfishingcharters.com/whalecharters.htm
www.sealegend.com/adventure.html
overall overview for tours on the North of Vancouver Island:
www.ph-chamber.bc.ca/tours.html
The "non-private three hour whalewhatching tour" at the west cost will cost you 70 CAD/person to 90 CAD/person.
It is not required to be quite during a whale-whatching tour, as the whales dive most of the time.
Look at
www.whaletime.com/mackay
There are also several other locations on Vancouver Island, where you can participate on a whale-whatching tour (Tofino, Saward, Clearwater, Victoria).
Hope this will help to plan your trip.
Hee are some links for private whale-whatching charters (Port Hardy/Vancouver Island):
www.catalacharters.net/whales.html
www.coreysfishingcharters.com/whalecharters.htm
www.sealegend.com/adventure.html
overall overview for tours on the North of Vancouver Island:
www.ph-chamber.bc.ca/tours.html
The "non-private three hour whalewhatching tour" at the west cost will cost you 70 CAD/person to 90 CAD/person.
It is not required to be quite during a whale-whatching tour, as the whales dive most of the time.
Look at
www.whaletime.com/mackay
There are also several other locations on Vancouver Island, where you can participate on a whale-whatching tour (Tofino, Saward, Clearwater, Victoria).
Hope this will help to plan your trip.
May 19th, 2005, 03:35 AM
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wow, thankyou tom, thats a great help!
very much appreciated.
I heard from one place that says there is an age restriction of 4 years old, but they could take us out privately...( my son is two at the moment and just like a baby hard to keep quiet, but it concerns me that if the trip became to long for him, or he became scared, whatever, that the crying would ruin the others trip, its hard to quiet a two year old!!
, he might be just fine, i don't know, but at the worst, if we have to go privatly and he has any problems we can have them turn back, not ruining anyone elses time... so i will check all these links out... just have to figure it all out and see
very much appreciated.
I heard from one place that says there is an age restriction of 4 years old, but they could take us out privately...( my son is two at the moment and just like a baby hard to keep quiet, but it concerns me that if the trip became to long for him, or he became scared, whatever, that the crying would ruin the others trip, its hard to quiet a two year old!!
, he might be just fine, i don't know, but at the worst, if we have to go privatly and he has any problems we can have them turn back, not ruining anyone elses time... so i will check all these links out... just have to figure it all out and see
