Orca Waters Explorer – Overview
Located near the northern end of beautiful Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Johnstone Strait and surrounding areas are a sea kayaker’s dream. Separating Vancouver Island from the mainland archipelago, this narrow passage funnels the Pacific Ocean through its depths, creating an unparreled concentration of marine life. The very richness of the waters in this area results in an abundance of wildlife. The salmon annually migrate through these channels, and other wildlife follows. On our Orca Waters Explorer kayak tours trips we regularly see Orcas (killer whales), humpback whales, Minke whales, Stellar sea lions, harbour seals, bald eagles, black tailed deer, black bear and amazing bird life. This incredible ecosystem also supports an amazing array of inter-tidal life, best viewed from a kayak. Sea kayaking in the rich waters of Johnstone Strait is an experience to remember. This nomadic tour has everything; it starts in the protected waters of the Broughton Archipelago, where you’ll explore the many hidden waterways and discover ancient village sites where the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations culture thrived. Onward to Johnstone Strait proper, where we’ll spend our time here traveling the main channels of Blackfish sound and Johnstone Strait. These waters are the most consistent for wildlife, and as we paddle we’ll keep our eyes on the horizon for the blows from orca, humpback, or Minke whales. With over 200 orcas in the northern resident population, our chances of spotting them are excellent.
But there is much more to this area than whales; from the snow-capped peaks of the coastal mountains, to the verdant rolling hills of Vancouver Island, bears strolling the shoreline, eagles fishing in front of our campsite, a campfire at dusk – these are the beautiful subtleties of the area. This is our classic tour, and its’ popularity speaks for itself.
