Where can I best see Orca whales in the wild?
Feb 13th, 2014, 04:49 PM
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Feb 13th, 2014, 05:53 PM
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Spiro- fun to see your pictures- I recognized many of the places. Happy to see you using Shutterfly- my daughter was just hired by them and she will get , I think, $3000 a year for Shutterfly products this year.
Feb 14th, 2014, 02:30 AM
#26
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The orcaswatch that was suggested above offers 2 kinds of boats. One is a raft(which is the one I would use, if I went with that company). I think the raft is fast and would be able to re-position a lot faster, so more time with the whales. Plus gets you out into the water faster. The other boat isn't a large boat, but still more people on it. The disadvantage of the raft is that it could be cold and I don't think you can stand up on it, but I could be wrong. The smaller boat that we were on allowed you to go inside out of the elements or be outside. It wouldn't be as fast as the raft. The huge disadvantage of James Maya is that he starts from Snug Harbor not Friday Harbor. Meaning you going to have to take your car on the ferry or catch a taxi when you get to Friday Harbor.
Feb 14th, 2014, 04:49 AM
#27
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I'm wondering which one would be better for a photographer. I would imagine it would be easier to support yourself on the boat and more steady for camera and in terms of positioning yourself.
Feb 14th, 2014, 07:15 AM
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Well, it sounds like you really would like to do it. Heck, do both boats. The whales are pretty much 50 yards away from you most of the time, but they do swim up, around, under the boats.
You will be able to see and hear a lot of their activity.
I will say the Orcas are probably more impressive and easier to see. However, the humpbacks are just so huge and massive that seeing one of them is truly a "wow" moment.
You will be able to see and hear a lot of their activity.
I will say the Orcas are probably more impressive and easier to see. However, the humpbacks are just so huge and massive that seeing one of them is truly a "wow" moment.
Apr 19th, 2014, 06:41 AM
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Johnson Straight British columbia Canada-take the kayak tour of 4-7 days. You camp with the great guides and hear the orca in the mornings as they come down the straight to Robinson Bright to "rub" on the rocks-no experience needed and will be an adventure you will never forget-solo female traveler in my late 40's when I went and the rest of my fellow travelers were from Germany-it was awesome!!!!
Apr 19th, 2014, 06:59 AM
#32
This is at the top of my bucket list. Not sure if you are interested in kayaking, but if so...
http://www.outdoorodysseys.com/
http://www.outdoorodysseys.com/
Apr 19th, 2014, 11:40 AM
#33
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We stayed in Sooke, beautiful place. Not the best place to see Orca but this is the best sequence ever :
http://youtu.be/GIrsrRnerHY
Holy Grapes.
http://youtu.be/GIrsrRnerHY
Holy Grapes.
Apr 20th, 2014, 01:58 PM
#34
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We had great humpback + orca viewing on Alaska Kenai Fjords trip in May/June. The humpbacks are huge and great to see breaching, slapping tails. We were lucky and also saw several orcas breaching.
May 10th, 2014, 10:41 AM
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There are many whale watching excursions out of Anacortes, Washington which is about an hour and a half north of Seattle! They take you through the San Juans where there are multiple pods. I believe almost all of them come with a guarantee that if you don't see a whale, you'll get your money back. I believe the best time to go is December-January or March-May.
