Reviews of Vancouver Island Whale Watch (Travel Agency)

Wegdan Rashad

Wow what a wonderful experience. After this experience I have fallen in love with whales and how beautiful they are. Shy was passionate and taught us so much about the whales. We spotted 3 orcas and 2 humpback whales. I felt safe and comfortable the whole time. Definitely worth the money and time. Tips for future whale watchers, have sunscreen and a hat; the sun can be very strong.

Rebecca Gill

I really wanted to see orcas. I knew there was no guarantees, but our guide Ryan, came up to me during the ride to let me know we were heading to a possible orca sighting. Obviously he recommended me not to get too excited because, well these are wild animals. However, I was not disappointed. We were lucky enough to see two very active brothers. Thanks Vancouver Island Whale Watch and Ryan for a great day on the water.

Esperance Dou

It was definitely an amazing journey for the 4 hours. Ryan and Val are so passionate and we learned so lot during the trip. They were so patient and tried to let tourists view as more as could be,like Whales, sea lion,seal,bald eagle etc. Thank you very much for your professionals！

nindiya tiwari

Best experience ever! Was running late and scared to miss the tour but called to inform them. The staff was very kind and waited for us only to show the beautiful world living in the Pacific ocean. They are experts and share their wealth of knowledge along with a bunch of fun facts… can’t wait to go back. Thank you for the amazing experience!

Valda Behrens

Amazing!! A truely once in a lifetime experience. The guides are so knowledgeable. They told us what was happening as it was happening. I went out terrified and may have shed a few tears but I have a new respect for these majestic animals.

Jaden James

Our tour guide Shi was made our trip awesome! Very informational and genuinely wants to help answer any questions you have. Definitely going with this company again ! Awesome experience!

Alanna Blanchette

Had an awesome trip! Well worth the time and money. Saw both Orcas and Humpbacks, as well as various marine creatures. Val and James were very knowledgeable and friendly.

Brittany O'Brien

Great experience! Saw many humpbacks and a few pods of orcas :) staff were very friendly and knowledgeable, would definitely go again!

Jamie Seegmiller

My dad and I went on the open boat tour with Vancouver Island Whale Watch on June 7 - neither of us ever having been whale watching before. What an adventure! Captain Matt was an excellent navigator and Alana was an amazing guide. Alana was very knowledgeable about the orcas and other wildlife we saw and really ensured the company's heartfelt commitment to sustainable whale watching was communicated. If you're visiting Nanaimo, don't miss out on a Vancouver Island Whale Watch tour!! (Special shoutout to Natalie and Val, who greeted us with smiles and an enthusiastic "welcome!" when we arrived. We loved the whole vibe this company has!)

Igor Sheptun

Great experience. Couldn’t choose a place where to go whale-watching and found this on our way to Nanaimo. You have to be lucky to see all animals, but you can definitely see some. Recommending open boat!

Adela Baborova

Just booked our trip with Vancouver Island Whale Watch! They were super friendly and insightful on the phone - can’t wait for our trip!

Riekie Schumacher

Had an amazing morning trip. Our guide Cheyenne was very knowledgeable and friendly. Got to see several humpback whales and some breached the water!! Would highly recommend this place to anyone!

amy king

Thank you for the wonderful experience. It was definitely worth it.

Glenn Paquette

This was a lot of fun! Very knowledgeable staff and a super fun experience! Do yourself a favour and sign up for the tour!

deb Scott

great experience with Rodriguez and Capt Mike. Choppy water ---exhilarating ride---front seats are very wild---but worth it if you like Action:) and they delivered, we saw some humpbacks and the show was great, the information provided, interesting! and a boatride our family wont forget:)

Melissa Smits

Excellent company and a perfect day out! Safe, professional and genuinely passionate about what they do. Tour starts with a safety briefing and you get suited up for the afternoon, plus during these Covid days, added precautions due to that. We were out from noon till just after 4 pm, and we saw transient orcas, humpbacks and California sea lions, and 81 miles of gorgeous scenery. Can't speak highly enough about this, well worth the money and will be back!

Lorelei Storm

Excellent staff. We saw 6 whales. And 2 orca. Amazing presentation with knowledgeable staff. You gotta do this !

Clark Adams

Great time! Captain and guide were excellent, friendly, knowledgeable! We felt completely safe and comfortably on the open boat and could not have ask for a better experience

Carly Wenner

Fantastic experience! I grew up on Vancouver Island and had no idea how many cool animals were right in my backyard. Captain James and Alanna the naturalist were awesome. I was a bit worried it would be too cold in October but the suits they give you were very warm, and they also offered granola bars, ginger candies for seasickness and earplugs to protect against the wind. About an hour into the trip they told us that there was a whale sighting another hour away, the crew came by to ask if we were comfortable enough to make the journey which we were all keen to do. We were able to spot a small pod of whales and followed two males as they hunted. I was most impressed by Alanna’s knowledge and the emphasis on conservation. It’s very obvious they care a lot about the wellbeing of the whales and it sounded like they also participate in some research. I highly recommend this company!

Tino Pollock

Excellent experience! Exceeded all of my expectations, professional staff from the office, to the captain and especially the naturalist. The boats that we went out on were also very cool! Was expecting a "there she blows" day, take some pictures and if we were lucky get some sea water sprayed on my face. Was sized up for a very comfortable and warm work suit, sat down in super comfy seats with lots of room, given a quick intro by the captain about a few things, then had the naturalist (which I did not know was part of the trip) give us more information relevant to the wildlife and ecosystem than my brain could handle all at once. Our naturalist was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic throughout the tour and answered every question I could think of. Not only was all of this great, I got to see a view of the most beautiful place on earth that you cannot get without being on the water, islands, tidal currents, tug boats towing log booms, pleasure craft, yachts, cargo ships and many beautiful seaside homes on small islands. SO COOL!!! Thank you Vancouver Island Whale Watch for a great day!

David Stanley

I've taken this whale watching trip from Nanaimo twice, in 2020 and 2021. On both we saw orcas and humpbacks. It was great to get out on the water and cruise by the lovely chain of islands south of the city. It's not cheap but well worth the splurge.

Richard & Liz Bergeron

Highly recommend this tour company. All staff were awesome, so knowledgeable - the highlight of our time in Nanaimo!

Tammi Parsons

Had a great experience and learned alot from the knowledgeable crew. Relaxed trip with safety being a priority. I appreciated the time taken to point out both geographical, historical and ecological areas of interest. We saw whales and stopped for photos and just to take in the moment. Amazing. Also were treated to a visit to a lazy seal resting along the coastline and a glimpse of the cormorants habitat along the sandstone cliffs. Terrific.

Rodrigo Menezes

The best whale watching experience ever, the staff is amazing, and the company is truly engaged in the marine environment conservation.

Krista Dunham

Wonderful experience!! Saw a mother and calf humpback, it was beautiful. Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, I learned a lot. Captain was also very friendly and both were very professional. Can't wait to go again!

Rie (Barbara) Lowe

Thanks so much for this great tour. It was amazing seeing the humpbacks!

Jason Ross

Amazing experience and the staff were wonderful and gave us all sorts of interesting information throughout the trip. Got to see a humpback whale named Orion in the strait, as well as sea lions, seals, cormorants and vultures. Our family had an amazing time and would use them again next time we're on the island.

Keira Bowden

Great experience, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Plenty of time for pictures.

Client Care - Andrea

We had a great time with Vancouver Island Whale Watch last week. The weather was perfect, and the staff were excellent. So glad we could support this local company, and had such an awesome experience. We'll definitely be back.

Christin UD

(Translated) nice team and very nice tour :-) (Original) nettes Team und sehr schöne Tour :-)

My Corner

Great whale watching tour! Knowledgeable staff who answer questions all the way on the tour. We went in the semi-covered vessel, which nicely protected us from the wind, but allowed us to walk around as well. You could also open the windows to take pictures. They kept in close radio contact with other whale watchers and therefore were able to go straight to the spot where the humpback whales and orca's were hanging around. Saw a lot of them! Also seals (two different types) and bald eagles. Amazing trip!

Julie P

Very disappointed that we didn’t see any whales. We took a private tour, 4 hours of searching yet we didn’t see any. The worst part is that they did not give us a refund and compensation. It said it the contract that they would offer a free tour. I would definitely never go back.

nezzy (Nezzy)

What an amazing experience! Val was so friendly and very knowledgeable. Gave us so much information on all the whales we saw and even pointed out who is who. We got to watch a pod of orcas having a T party and a humpback whale with her calf. Highly recommend.

Amanda Burn (Mandaofthe6)

Booking Site was easy to navigate and schedule a morning tour. Had an unforgettable experience out on the 'Signature Whale Watching Tour - Open Boat'. Our Captain was professional and cordial, our Naturalist was enthusiastic and knowledgeable (not only about the wildlife, but also about the area). Definitely recommend the Open Boat Tour for the adventurous, would suggest the semi-covered boat tour to those with back conditions (as conditions can be rough crossing the Strait).

Manuel Riegel

Had a very good time watching the whales!! We can highly recommend!

Benjamin Glauss

The boat ride alone was pure fun! Go in the front for an extra bumpy ride. Furthermore, our driver navigated pretty well to the exact spot where an Orca pod of four was present. Explanations by our guide were informative. An extra plus is the animal and eco friendly approach sticking to official rules (not approaching too much, not seeking residents). Would definitely go again!

Felix Kercher

Val and Captain Mike did an awesome job! We saw a group of humpback whales and had a great time on the boat!

Derek Yan

Great experience and worth all the money! The experience took us to see both Humpbacks and Orcas. It was very informative and would recommend!

Catherine Bui

Was not expecting to thoroughly enjoy the whale watching as much as I did! Rrebecca and Captain Tino was informative and both enthusiastic & knowledgable. The 4 hour ride was long. However, well worth it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THE OPEN TOP BOAT. (20$ cheaper too and so much more fun). You go faster and get a much more intimate experience with the whales. Although, we did not see any orcas but saw sea lions, and seals. The humpback whales came about 3 metres close!!!!! Bring snacks, sunglasses, wipes (if you want to wipe down your safety suit - they do sanitize it before use).

Alex Carter

You won't be disappointed! Not only did we see a group of transient orcas, we also got an in depth explanation of the history of those specific orcas and the migration patterns etc. all while keeping it light and fun. Val and Mike were great and we saw a huge group of seals and visited some nests as well. Wonderful experience and you can tell just how much they care about the ocean and the animals within it. Would reccomend taking the offer of sunscreen (super nice of them) before and also during the ride! They gave us information on the importance of choosing your fish carefully and just how each one of us can really impact our oceans. Perfect experience for myself and my dad.

Kristina Pulkki

Exhilarating experience! Everything is in top notch condition and all staff members were lovely. We saw tons of wildlife (seals, sea lions, otters, eagles, and killer whales) and a beautiful chunk of the coast. We even zipped across to Vancouver to watch killer whales feeding. Highly recommend, and I will absolutely go again next time I'm on the Island.

Shana Watson

I've lived on Vancouver Island my whole life but had never seen Orca until I went out on the water with Vancouver Island Whale Watch. James was our captain and Val was our guide on all things related to marine life and mammals during our journey. We were out on the water for several hours, so you definitely get bang for your buck! We traveled all the way from Nanaimo to Saltspring Island, where we saw the whales! The pod we saw consisted of two adult females, a baby female, and a male whale. They were gorgeous! The baby orca was hilarious, not quite as graceful as the others..yet! This company is very conscious of staying the appropriate distance from the whales and not stressing them, placing value on the well-being of the animals. Val was incredibly knowledgeable about the gulf islands, whales, animals, boat safety, rules, and everything else you could think of. There was not a question she couldn't answer and I definitely learned a lot from her! James was an amazing captain and I felt perfectly safe with him at the helm! We took a different route there then back so you get a variety of scenery, all beautiful. 10 out of 10 experience! I would definitely recommend locals and visitors to Nanaimo alike to check out Vancouver Island Whale Watch! You will LOVE it!

Ella H

We enjoyed an awesome tour with naturalist Rebecca, and captain Rodrigo. We saw one pod of orcas, 10 sea lions, and 20+ seals. There were also lots of birds that we saw on Gabriola island. It was comfortable being in the partially covered tour boat, where you could sit or go out on the deck. Everyone on board wore masks the whole time and hand sanitizer was provided, so we felt that proper precautions were taken.

Kareem Rahma

We came from NYC to see some whales and we really did get our money’s worth here. We saw 2 different pods of killer whales as well as a lone humpback and various other species of marine life. The boat was clean and nice and the stuff was super friendly and happy to be on the water with us. Highly recommend this activity.

Jonah Ferguson

Great company and incredible staff! Very friendly welcome upon arrival by Jilann and Alanna, and Alanna was a great guide! I have been whale watching in Victoria before but that experience paled in comparison, due to the beautiful boat ride from Nanaimo, through the Gulf Islands, and to the tip of Saturna Island. During the trip we saw seals, eagles, and two pods of orcas! Would highly recommend this company.

Thomas Crossman

Got to see orca pods in a couple of loctions.

Charlie & Christy Stilwell

My wife and I visited Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, from Michigan. We knew we wanted to go on a whale watching tour, and we are SO glad that we chose these guys to go out with. The girls in the office were very pleasant and helpful. We can tell you this: Mike knows how to drive a boat! The ride alone was worth the money we paid for the trip. What a blast! Our guide was new with the company. Rebecca, we think? She had the same biology degree that my wife has, and said she was from the Northwest Territories. She really knew her stuff. Plenty of knowledge to share about the cetaceans, and other wildlife as well. We got some fantastic photos, which we will be putting into our vacation photo album. We were fortunate enough to see a pod of orcas!!, several bald eagles, harbor seals, stellar sea lions, and all of the cormorants. All of them. If we find our way back to Vancouver Island some day, we will most likely stop in to Vancouver Island Whale Watch to take another boat ride! Thank you all so much for a fantastic experience. We will never forget it! Charlie & Christy Stilwell

Duncan Macintosh

Informative and enjoyable outing. Very professional with staff taking making an extra effort to ensure we saw whales. Highly recommended.

Shayla Hindmarch

Had booked a tour for myself and 5year old daughter. The staff went above and beyond to make sure she had a great time and was comfortable. They were very informative and provided so much knowledge towards the species we seen. Will definitely be booking again!

Ana Joana Gorjao

I joined one of the open boat tours and really enjoyed it. Ryan and Silv were clearly very knowledgeable in their areas as Naturalist and Captain and made for a pleasant trip. Ryan shared lots of interesting and fun facts about whales and other sea creatures, as well as the area. Silv did amazing navigating the strait (weather conditions were not ideal) and making sure we got as little wet as possible! They both made sure we had plenty of time to enjoy the orcas and humpbacks we did spot, never leaving us feeling rushed! This is my second time whale watching (the first was in Victoria) and I would definitely use this company again.

Vanessa Vacalares

Awesome day! We saw a breach. Tour was very informative and boat ride was fun too.

Kels Chilton

A dream come true!! Cheyenne was an amazing on-board naturalist (a job I have dreamt of having since I was 5 and saw Free Willy for the first time.) we not only saw humpbacks, orca and a porpoise, but all grouped together. I’ve been on previous whale watching excursions but this one has topped them all. I got to live out my dream of seeing orca in the wild and be guided by someone passionate about the animals they were showing us. Not only was the wildlife AMAZING, but the boat ride was so fun. My boyfriend and I couldn’t stop giggling as our stomachs went into our throats from the waves. Like an amusement park ride. My boyfriend is TERRIFIED of the ocean but somehow the team and boat all made him feel at ease and best of all, he had fun!! I will be planning my next whale watching your with this company for sure. They’re not only passionate but so conscious of the SRKW issues. Great company.

Mindyourown Business

Experience of a lifetime! Would love the chance to do it again someday.

Samson

Very fun trip! 4 hours of fun on the open top boat with Rrebecca and Capt Tino! We manage to spend most of our time with not 1 but 2 humpbacks! Wow! Highly recommend.

Rich Phung

Must do when you are here

Madison Helpert

What a great trip! I got to see a pod of 5 Orcas, they really gave us an amazing experience!!

Anne Vaillancourt

This was one of the best experiences of our Vancouver Island trip ! Seriously worth it ! We saw a pod of transient orcas, a humpback and seals. Our guide was extraordinary !

Jolene Haack

The Zodiak might not be for the faint of heart, particularly on a windy day, but we loved it! The views were spectacular as was our marine naturalist on board. Every effort was made to find whales and we were rewarded!

Igor San

My first time trying to "hunt" the whales. I came with zero expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I thought the chances of seeing whales were very slim. Apparently the company has an app with other providers where they share the locations of whales. We saw two groups of hump back whales, a group of orcas, sea lions. Definitely go with open-zodiak type of boat you can be very close to the whales. Just the ride experience was amazing and our guide was very knowledgeable and explained every detail. It really felt like she is their second "human" mother.

Viorel Popovici

I was happy to see a hatchback whale, sea-lions, birds and eagle yesterday August 5. Wheal organized an a safe expedition of around 4 hours in in Pacific waters.The guide was very knowledgeable regarding the whales an wild life in the region. Beautiful day to remember. Thanks to the team making this possible.

Davis Appels

Fantastic experience with Captain Tino & our Marine Specialist Ryan. A wealth of knowledge and experience had us catching a glimpse of a humpback momma and her little one, sea lions, seals, and cormorants. Thanks Whale Watch Naniamo for the legendary adventure.

Rachael

Amazing Crew and people who care about the environment. I travelled with Whale Watch on June 12. The entire crew was very amazing. The trip was amazing. The staff work with other locals to know where whales and other sights might be. There is no competition, but only cooperation. They make every effort for you to have the best experience possible. The crew were highly knowledgeable and really good with everyone including some children onboard who had a chance to colour in at the end of the tour on our way back to Nanaimo. It wasn't rushed, and they truly want to give you the best experience possible. Couldn't recommend enough.

Pascal Ellapoulé

(Translated) Superb. Respect of distances with the animal. Observation that relies on patience. Animation and explanations by a naturalist. Exhilarating, moving experience and very well supervised by the guide and the captain. (Original) Superbe. Respect des distances avec l'animal. Observation qui s'appuie sur la patience. Animation et explications par un naturaliste. Expérience exaltante, émouvante et très bien encadrée par le guide et le capitaine.

Vân Anh Trần Phương

I love this whale watching tour. My family and I had an amazing experience. We left at 3 and came back at 7pm. Full 4 hours to see whales, sea lions and seals.

Imre Jules Juurlink

Had an amazing day watching humpback whales and learning about all the marine life of Vancouver Island. Our guide Rebeka was very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional and our captain Rodrigo was awesome. Really appreciate the ethical nature of how you do business and how you help protect our precious whales. Can't wait to go again! <3

Michael Berry

A truly memorable day at Sea with Captain Mike and Naturalist Val, aboard an excellent semi-covered vessel. My family and friends much enjoyed 4 hours aboard seeing about 10 orcas (within the 1 first 15 minutes), hundreds of sea lions, an Eagle, and the beautiful sights that Vancouver Island offers. This is an experience we will do every time we return to Nanaimo, BC. My family and friends all highly recommend the Vancouver Island Whale Watch experience.

James Troyer

Definitely worth it!

Emerald C

I had a wonderful experience this summer with the Vancouver Island Whale Watch company. I did the open boat tour in Nanaimo. I originally booked the covered boat and was concerned when they rescheduled me to the open boat due to boat maintenance but it was a great experience. They suit you up in very warm suits which can be necessary even in the middle of the summer. The staff were very friendly, professional and it felt safe and fun. They provided sunscreen and snacks. We had an amazing humpback whale watching show that lasted for several minutes and it felt so authentic and exciting. There was a medical emergency onboard and the staff responded quickly and did the best that they could to ensure the passenger got the best quality of care. It was unfortunate as we could have seen killer whales but everyone understood and afterwards the captain took us back out to go see some neat birds. Would definitely recommend if you're in Nanaimo or Vancouver. I had so much fun, it was an awesome company and so worth it.

Tonia Winchester

Our Guide Rebecca cared so much about us as participants and the mammals that we got to observe. She was so knowledgeable and spoke in a way that was so easy to understand. Her passion for the marine environment was palpable. Her and Captain Val were so respectful of the two humpbacks (Tempest and Calf) as we hung out with them for 1 hour with the engines off, just bobbing around. It was a marvelous day and we could tell that they really wanted us to have an amazing time while we learned so much important info about this delicate eco system.

Mike Daniel

A fantastic experience! Worth every penny/cent. The boats are great fun, but the views and coastline are a beauty to behold. The staff are excellent and very enthusiastic. You instantly know they care about their work and the wellbeing of all wildlife. We were fortunate enough to see two hump back whales and a school of orcas chasing their evening meal. Easily the best way of seeing the animals in their natural environment. Thank you very much.

Tracy Turk

We were so so pleased with this tour and I can't recommend it enough! Our boat was comfortable and we located humpback whales within an hour and were able to spend an hour watching them. We were having a fantastic time watching them and right towards the end we were treated to a rare double breach which was amazing to see. Our Naturalist Guide, Rebekah, was incredibly knowledgeable and our captain, Rodriguo, were amazing and just as excited to see the whales as the rest of us. We were able to also see seals, sea lions and cormorants. ABSOLUTELY go see them when you are in Nanaimo. Excellent COVID-19 safety guidelines as well. Thank you!

Taylor Zhou

Friendly staff! Amazing tour! I totally recommend this tour! We saw two groups of whales and the staff is very knowledgeable.

Kelly Funk

I have to say my 8 yr daughter will always remember these moments. The customer service is genuine. The crew on the boat makes the adventure fun as they're always engaging the passengers. I would recommend to bring a light snack and something to drink as the adventure has so much to offer. We saw 2 different types of whale, sea lions, birds, and few more animals. Can't remember them all. Thank you for the adventure. See you next year

Martin Velsen

We went with Vancouver Island Whale Watch for a team building day and had an amazing experience. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful, and fun and engaging. We had great weather and saw humpback whales, seals, bald eagles and more. Highly recommend this company, and we'll be back!

Judith Ameresekere

My friends and I had a fantastic experience with Vancouver Island Whale Watch! The semi-covered boat was safe and comfortable and our Naturalist Val and Captain Rodrigo were very knowledgeable about local Marine wildlife. Not only did they go above and beyond to ensure that we had a great experience whale watching, but it was obvious that they had genuine respect and care for the wildlife. They followed all the necessary conservation protocols during our tour. During our 4.5 hour tour, we were fortunate to see 2 pods of Orcas, several Humpback Whales, a harbour seal, and some sea lions. Overall, a terrific experience and well-worth the price!

Steven Jacob

Our family had a great time on the tour. Natalie and Mike were very responsive in answering our questions; they also made sure our daughters were interested.

edina bencsik

Over priced ! We had a reservation at 3:30pm to 7:30pm and we were done at 6:32pm . Where is the another hour ?

Lee Green

Well managed by people who genuinely care for the whales. It was a great day out and everyone was super friendly and professional.

Becca Roosma

Wonderful experience, staff were knowledgeable and helpful.

Kyle I

Had a great experience. The staff were very friendly and I was very impressed with the prompt responses to our inquiry . Highly recommend it to anyone who is looking around and choosing between different whale watching companies .

Frederick Lecoq

Super friendly staff. Very respectful of the environment. Highly recommended

Tina Hu

We were very happy with the tour. Even the boat ride itself is worth the $$ and time but it was extra special to see humpbacks, sealions, and orcas. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable and you can really tell these guides are not only tour guides but also care about the animals. Very happy with our day.

Jeanne Dawson

We went out on the zodiac with Ryan whom was so knowledgeable and educated us while we were on the tour. We saw Humpback whales, Sea lions and Harbour seals. The most amazing time.

Brian Atkins

An amazing trip seeing orcas within 10 minutes of leaving the jetty on a new rib. The marine biologist on board gave an excellent knowledgeable briefing before during and after and was happy to answer all the questions asked.

Laura Kampff

It was awesome!! The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable! It was so awesome to see such amazing wild creatures in real! Highly recommend.

Dan Pancamo

A must do

Hang

Very exciting seeing whale so close!

Marcy McIlwraith

Wonderful and knowledgeable crew. Loved the experience! Highly recommend.

Rob Morra

Whoever gives this place less than five stars is absolutely crazy! What a wild incredible adventure my wife and I had while in Nanaimo. Our captain was great and Rebecca was extremely knowledgable and a pleasure to be around. We were lucky enough to see a humpback whale with her calf as well as two separate pods of orca whales. Be sure to do the open boat tour! Worth every single penny!

Lindsay MacDonald

Wow! What an absolutely perfect day. Cheyenne and Manuel (sorry if I spelt your names wrong!) were the greatest guide and captain we could have ever asked for. We got to see so many of the different creatures that our spectacular Vancouver Island has to offer. Sea lions, bald eagles, cormorants, turkey vultures and....a humpback whale! Manuel's sharp eye spotted Hammer the humpback whale and we were given a wonderful performance by the young whale. He put on a show just for us I'm almost sure LOL The excitement that our hosts had for the wildlife was incredible...you can tell they love their job and sharing this beauty with people. I will definitely return to support this local company, and recommend that you give it a shot...you won't be disappointed!!!

Julie Gauthier

It was a perfect and an amazing tour with you guys. Val our guide was very professional. I’m still speechless... When I first saw that big dorsal thin came out of the water, my heart stopped!!!! Orcas are my favorite and because of you guys, one of my dreams became reality! Thank you so so much ????????????????????

Alexandra Serio

We had an incredible experience at Vancouver Island Whale Watch! We were able to see orca, a humpback whale, seals and sea lions in one cruise. The crew was knowledgable and professional. Highly recommend .

Adrian Liciu

Excellent adventure!Go for it!

Jason Martin

Ohhhh boy was it amazing had such a great day on the water we saw lots of whales and other wildlife I highly recommend this tour the guide was very insightful and the crew was so friendly and welcoming me and my friend had such a great day thanks again to the crew and guide I highly recommend this tour to families and friends...big jay

Karen McBride

What a great day! Saw orca, humpbacks, sea lions, harbour seals, cormorants...seemed all the wildlife came to see us instead of the other way around! Major kudos to the folks here for their care and concern for the whales and educating us all along the way. I'll definitely be back!

Andrea Stephens

The best day ever! X we were so lucky to see humpbacks and identify the ones we saw. We shall be heading out again just loved it!!!

Harsha Patel

Best whale watching tour ???? Rebecca, the guide was very cool and knowledgeable. Caption Sylvain knew exact spot to watch those beautiful whales. Best time in Nanaimo BC ????????❤️

Sandy Carey

It was one of the best days I've had in a very long time! The staff were knowledgeable, and super nice. We saw 2 humpback adults and a calf! I would 100% recommend this company!

Adam Steele

Took the tour with some friends and had a blast! Jillanne (the biologist) was terrific. Her love of the whales and sea life was infectious. We saw 3 whales on our tour, which was awesome! Even the boat ride was spectacular. It was like an amusement park ride with gorgeous views. Highly recommend going, Its worth it!

Vedant Mehra

The whole tour was a wonderful experience. Experienced two orcas and one gray humpback., Sea lions and bunch of harbour seals. The guide Ryan was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend taking a tour with them. The boats were in good condition and the whole experience was not at all rushed. They ensured that we get the maximum out of this whole whale tour. Highly recommend taking a tour with them.

Brooke Hunt

Our trip was incredible! Natalie and Val were easy, fun and professional during the sign-in, safety information, and prepping. Val was extremely knowledgeable, outgoing and always had an answer for our questions. Our captain James was fantastic! He was safe, professional, and knew what he was doing. We will definitely go again, and we HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

Nicola P

We bought two vouchers through a silent auction a while back. First of all, it was awesome that they donated the vouchers to charity! Love that this local company is involved with the community. My husband and I cashed in the vouchers and booked a third seat for our son. It was an incredible day! We saw humpbacks, orcas, seals, sea lions, some bald eagles and cormorants. The woman who was in the office was very friendly and helpful. Our tour guide was amazing and informative. Our captain gave us a great ride! The water was mostly calm but when the bumps hit they were a ton of fun in the front seat! We highly recommend this company and will likely be back in the future. So neat that this is all happening out of Nanaimo!

ies meinema

Fantastic trip!

Zoe Kopp

Great experience. They really know where to find the whales and other wildlife. It’s about a 5hr trip but it’s well worth it.

Shelby

What an unforgettable experience! Rebecca was our guide for the afternoon tour and she was fantastic. She was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and clearly very passionate! We were lucky to see two pods of orcas (which we watched for an hour), humpbacks and seals. The boat ride was also pretty awesome. I recommend this whale watching tour for anyone in the area!

Golo Riesenkönig

This was a great experience. We saw orcas, humpback, bald eagle, seal and dolphins. Our Tour guide knew everything about these amazing animals and one of the humpback whales was even under our boat. The boat ride was fun and the staff Took good care of us. I am happy that the company takes care of all the animals and also donates some of the income.

Shelley Harrison

Had a wonderful time out on the boat, looking for whales. The crew was professional,helpful and knowledgeable. I would recommend this company to anyone wanting to watch for whales!

Hilary Buckley

The staff is knowledgeable, professional, and helpful! I love that they are conscious of their impact on the environment. The emphasis they put on wildlife conservation makes me feel like I made the right choice when I researched various whale watching outfitters. They're also the closest tour company to the Nanaimo ferry! I'm so looking forward to my tour with them.

Jack

Definitely will recommended to everyone! Rebecca are the best tour guide ever!

Chris Schoppa

Our family had a great time on the RHIB - led by a very approachable, highly knowledgable guide and captain - we learned so much while watching 2 pods and 2 male killer whales. Love the eco-friendly, whale friendly approach of the company

Michelle S

Our first trip ended with no whale sightings, so true to their guarantee we got to go out again for free and this time we were lucky enough to see 2 different killer whale pods, including Chainsaw! All the staff were friendly and knowledgable. Highly recommend this whale watching company!

Travis R

We had a great time. The boat was fast and fun, the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. We got to spend about an hour watching two pods of orcas all while learning interesting facts about them. The suits we were giving were of a high quality and kept us comfortable during the fast paced portions of the ride.

Jennifer Crosby

Both staff were amazing Rebeka was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. Both staff worked hard to ensure we found a whale and made it easy to see from all angles no matter where we were sitting or standing in the boat. I enjoyed seeing the seals and sea lions and learning about them as well. Also LOVED the pictures that Rebeka got on our trip and that they share them on the website. Such an awesome experience!

Frederik Hamann

They were really conscious on the well being of the whales. A biologist was on board giving lots of nice information. Great speed boat, the ride alone was worth the money. Saw 3 humpbacks and killer whales, beautiful when we went through the Islands seeing sea lions and eagles. Good for families or teenagers as us. 4 hours tour.

Meg Swanson

Absolutely amazing!!! The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, the setting was great and we saw lots of wildlife not just whales. We had tons of time with the orcas and felt safe on the boat and in our cool exposure suits!

Ian Chand

Amazing experience! The boat was very comfortable and Captain Rodrigo was amazing behind the helm! The marine biologist onboard was very knowledgeable and patient! We saw 6-7 humpback whales and they were breaching, fin and tail slapping. We also saw a couple porpoises, harbour seals, california seals and stellar sea lions! It was a great adventure!

Peter D'Silva

Went on the open boat whale watching tour and it did not disappoint! We saw Orcas about 15 minutes in to the tour and got completely soaked in the process! I can't wait to go again when I come back for another vacation!

Troy Smith

This was a great choice. Both to go whale watching and choosing this company. It’s really a good value and an amazing experience. Really great weather and nice folks. Spectacular sights. Thank you!

Kai Hänschke

We booked a tour this Tuesday and it was amazing and definitely worth it. We had a great guide having such a deep knowledge about all the maritim wildlife and we were so lucky seeing both humpback whales and orcas out there. I can highly recommend this tour and would book it at anytime again.

Tammy Mandel

We had a great experience. The suits provided kept us warm and dry. The boat ride was fun and we saw beautiful sights all along the way. We saw seals, bald eagles and other birds. We had to go quite a distance, but they found a pod of Orcas and we stayed with them a long time. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the whales and other animals. Overall a great trip.

yalda mahboubi

Great location ( close to the hotel we will be staying downtown) and very friendly staff ; I was very impressed with their fast and detailed responses.

Steph Scragg

Mum had a blast! This was our 3rd whale watching tour in as many years... our first in a Zodiak as mum is always hesitant about them but actually enjoyed it. These guys market themselves as being BC’s Most Sustainable (by only actively seeking the healthy/growing Transient Orcas) whale watching, but actions speak louder than words... and their actions were loud. We zipped past a plastic-looking thing in the water, and immediately the captain turned the boat around to pick it out of the sea, turned out to be a plastic boat. ☹️ This was also the first time a Van Island based company had gone in to detail about the whale watching regulations that tour operators are held to. Speaking of action to help the oceans, the review mentioning supposed non-vegan-shaming (someone’s always going to be offended) has obviously been taken onboard (pun intended) and now towards the end our guide promoted choosing Ocean Wise caught fish. Quite frankly not only do these guys have a responsibility, but also a right to badger us to protect these beautiful creatures (we followed ~12 Orcas). We come here ‘on water safari’, and we as tourists should be educated on the effects that our lifestyle choices (no, I’m not vegan) have upon the creatures that we’re consuming with our eyes. That being said, as well as promoting Ocean Wise, perhaps an extra 30 seconds about plastic consumption reduction over plain old ineffective recycling, with a couple easy alternatives? E.g. reusable cotton produce bags for supermarket veggies / reusable food-grade silicon freezer bags / beeswax cloth wrap instead of gladwrap? I know there’s more to be done than that but baby steps.

Stix & Drones

We had a great day despite the weather. (Very Smokey). We saw both Humpbacks and Orcas whales. Once the captain found the whales he stayed with them, giving everyone the opportunity to get some great photos The naturalist Rebecca is really knowledgeable and very passionate about her work. I certainly learned a lot about the whales and what we can do to help. I would recommend this company and will hopefully using them again in the very near future. Doug

Denise Derkson

Sept 19, 2020 - My friend and I had a great time on the tour. Thanks for being so helpful, kind and knowledgeable about the coastal wildlife. We both enjoyed it so much.

N G

I was a bit disappointed. The folks were wonderful, the boat ride super comfortable and smooth, the naturalist informative. Except that we saw only a humpback whale from really far, so hardly could make it out - we did see the water sprays and a fin couple of times. I understand we cannot go closer, and I am not suggesting that either. Maybe my expectations were too high (based on pictures on their website) and I was really thinking we will see some orcas as well - which may have given me more ‘action’...all in all, it was well organized, great people...but disappointing for me personally!

Bart H

(Translated) What a great show we have seen, you have to be a bit lucky and we had that. They stay neatly away from the animals with the boats, which is a bit less for the pictures, but we are only there to look at the whales' habitat so it is absolutely good that this is how it goes. (Original) Wat een geweldige show hebben we gezien, je moet hier wel een beetje mazzel mee hebben en dat hadden we. Ze blijven met de bootjes netjes een eind weg bij de dieren wat voor de foto's wat minder is maar wij zijn daar alleen maar om te kijken in het leefgebied van de walvissen dus helemaal goed dat dit zo gaat.

Kathy KJM

We had an awesome day whale watching on Sept 21st. Both Rebeka and Rodrigo were wonderful. We were out for around 5 hours and saw numerous humpbacks and two pods of transient orcas as well as Stellar sea lions and harbour seals. Rebeka provided lots of good information about what we were seeing as well as the local environment. Prior to departure, there was a very comprehensive safety briefing. All in all, this was the best whale watching trip I’ve ever taken anywhere! I highly recommend this company - they are just terrific!

Vanessa Lugin

Amazing tour departing from downtown Nanaimo! We saw humpbacks, orcas, porpoises, sea lions, seals and lots of birds! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and provides lots of information about the animals and the area. The summer hasn't even started yet and I went out with them twice! Can't wait for my next tour!!

Shawn Forcier

Best experience ever. Great crew. Very educational and the boat ride was great fun. Highly recommended

Faryn Salloway

This experience was truly indescribable, and I definitely shed some tears of pure joy. Whale watching with this company is a must do for anyone visiting the area, they are very informative and do a wonderful job. We really hope we can make it a yearly event. We can wait to see the photos our guide took from the trip on their blog.

Cale

Thanks for the wonderful memories. My boys will remember this for a life time

Andrew Zagar

Had an amazing experience! Would highly recommend if looking for something fun to do in Nanaimo! The whales we saw were beautiful

Rodolphe de Maleingreau

We saw 13 orcas and 7 humpback whales in 4 hours...very friendly team

Elenore Breslow

Wonderful experience! From seeing two different pods of orcas to humpback whales to harbour seals and sea lions, Vancouver Island Whale Watch does not disappoint. Val was extremely knowledgeable about the entire area and wildlife, and has hawk-eyed vision to spot whales from any distance. The tour was not rushed and allowed us to enjoy the entire experience. I've been on several whale watching tours before and this tour was by far the best experience. If you're looking for an incredible day whale watching and learning about the local environment, I highly recommend.

Jeffrey Guenther

These guys are amazing. Absolutely loved the tour.

k

Excellent whale watching tour with friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Louis-André Bergeron

Always wanted to to this at least once in my life. The guide was amazing and we learned a lot of amazing stuff. The only sad part is we didn't really get much. Travelled all the way to Horseshoe Bay through insane waves (kinda fun, but people with back problems be advise) for three male orcas and ran out of time to do anything else because it took us forever to come back. Truth is, it would've been better to not see anything and to get another trip with the guarantee at this point haha. I know that you guys don't control where the animals are and go, I do. What puts a doubt in my mind is that the guide said he worked there for 3 years and that it was his first time going as far as Horseshoe Bay area. I will do it again someday, I'm leaving it on the bucket list and hopefully next time will be better ????. With all that said, if you're gonna do this somewhere, do it here as this company clearly cares about the ecosystem and knows how to work in a sustainable way. Truly appreciate that!

Lindy Piwniuk

We had a great whale watching tour! It was great having a guide that knew so much about not only the islands and their history but about whales and other wild life. Her passion for those animals really made the day special!

The Lawson's

We had the BEST time on our whale watch recently.! Our guide "Shy" was super informative and friendly and had an awesome sense of humor. We saw 7 humpbacks and a variety of seals and sea lions as well as an assortment of birds. It was interesting to explore the islands via boat and see some of the things you commonly cannot see via land. Highly recommend!

Yinan

Everyone is knowledgeable, friendly, professional, and passionate about whales and nature. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Will visit again soon!

emmajane posselt

Been a bucket list tick off being able to see whales in the wild, we where lucky to see a family pod of orcas. Cheyenne was our guide she was so informative of everything about the Wales and answered loads of our questions. The boat ride was really fun too and the exposure suits where really essential and comfy to wear. I love that this company is so caring about the species and donates some of their money to conservation projects and is so respectful of the Wales being in their natural habitat. thank you guys !!!

Alice G

Many thanks to Captain Mike and Rodrigo for the wonderful trip whale watching. The ocean was very rough and we had to make a long trip to Vancouver to see the whales, is was worth it. Although the high waves, never been scared with this captain! Rodrigo knows a lot about the environment and the animals living there. Trip took more than 4 hours, best experience ever!

Carolynne Forcier

Amazing tour and fantastic knowledge about the marine life. Highly recommended!

Ali Lotia

Stayed out extra long for us. We were lucky enough to see hump backs up close as they came to investigate or boat. We also saw orcas but unfortunately from far away

Alex White

Don’t understand how they have 5 reviews as they haven’t opened for business yet. And I’m doubtful they will get much business as they don’t answer the phone to answer customer inquiries and booking. Taking my money elsewhere I suggest going with a reputable and established company.

Renee Houle

Within the first 10 minutes we saw Orcas and followed them for a while. After that we followed Humpbacks as well. We were as close as your are allowed to get to them. We still had time left over so we went and saw Seals and Sea Lions. Overall we were on the water for over 3 hours and we saw soooo much. Best trip ever, I would book with this company again in a heartbeat.

dawna copeland

Hands down a once in a lifetime experience! We went Aug 15,2021 @3:30 with Rebecca as our host and Rodrico as the pilot on the open boat. We were extremely fortunate beyond belief. We saw several humpbacks slapping their fins, a couple of breach’s, beautiful dives showing off gorgeous tails (flutes) it was incredible and we were all very pleased. But that was only the beginning. On the way back we came upon more. We encountered a mama and her calf. We had to drift as they came right up to us. After inspection, mama seemed to deem us acceptable. Our guide was able to identify her as the one named Slate. She told us that calves stay with their mothers a year and are nursed. Calves are unable to dive deeply like their mothers and are sought after by orcas. Our incredible experience involved mama (Slate) wanting to dive deep to feed. When they dive it can take 15 min for them to re-surface. She left her baby with our boat while she dove. We were basically babysitting while she dove. The calf spent its time circulating our boat, going under it and surfacing to look at us. It seemed to be playing and showing off it’s moves, even splashing us. Mama surfaced, checked on things and dove again. This went on 3-4 times, with the calf playing around and under our boat each time. It was such an honour and blessing to have had this experience, it brings tears to my eyes. When mama had enough food, they left us going side by side very majestically into the horizon. We were left in awe. There were 12 of us on the boat sharing the experience as guests and our guide, the pilot and copilot. No one else around. But wait , the trip wasn’t over, we carried on to see sea lions, eagles with a fish and fascinating cormorants on the cliffs. It was four hours total with literally 2 hrs of actually watching humpback’s. I’m overwhelmed and in utter awe after having this experience. Once in a lifetime ???????? Dawna

Leah Catton

Such an amazing experience! Along with seeing sea lions, seals and some super cool birds, we got to watch a pod of orcas playing around and occasionally breaching for almost an hour! The staff were knowledgeable and passionate about the animals, and I really appreciate what they are doing to protect the endangered resident orcas. Highly recommend, and I will definitely be back!

Rebecca Pinder

I was really impressed with the amount if knowledge we received and the things we saw. It was a really great addition to our family holiday! Thank you for making sure we saw and learned lots. Will definitely recommend to others and hopefully enjoy another adventure on our next trip to the island!

Colin Ellard

We had an amazing trip with guide Rebecca. Fantastic views of Orcas and Humpbacks and fascinating authoritative commentary from a real expert. Our captain also had an uncanny knack for being in just the right place at the right time. Awesome experience strongly recommended.

Jereme Watt

The company asks that you give them 24 hours before cancelling in order to receive a full refund however they do not extend the same courtesy to their guests. After a ferry ride and overnight hotel stay I received an email with only 3 hours notice before scheduled departure that the trip was cancelled because there were not enough people booked to fill the boat. Fair notice would have been appreciated in order to save time and money on our end.

Ed Kroll

Fantastic crew. Personable and friendly. Very knowledgeable. Had a great day out. Saw 2-3 Humpbacks including an amazing breach. Also saw a number of other animals including sea lions, harbour seals and cormorants. Would recommend.

Gary Crocker

Very professional - we saw hump back whales, sea lions, seals, cormorants and starfish. Spend the extra amount and take the covered boat unless you like wearing an exposure suit.

Max Meinema

(Translated) Awesome! And super nice crew! There is also a drilled toilet for when you need to. (Original) Geweldig! En super aardige crew! Ook is er een toilet aan boort voor als je nodig moet.

Kerstin Schepers

Perfect guide, perfect captain, perfect tour. We had a great time on the boat, saw killer wales and received plenty of interesting information from our very knowledgable tour guide. Focus is only on transient killer wales, which is a great thing, since residents are the endangered species. We can certainly recommend this tour.

Louie

It was just a nice boat cruise for about 3 hours, but then we came upon 2 pods of killer whales. Large males accompanying the families with tall dorsal fins. The tour company came through on their (90%) guarantee to see whales of some sort. After about 20 minutes with the pods, we boogied back to Nanaimo. Expect a 4 to 5 hour tour, unless you're exceedingly lucky. Good show!

Leo

I dont understand why to pay 150 pp to see a whale tail for 2min. It is not worth it. They gave us a voucher but i am not sure if we ever want to try it again.

Aditya Sharma

When visiting this town, this should be on your to do list. Our instructor, Shy was very pleasant & extremely knowledgeable. Our captain, Mattias was really chill. Best part, they made sure that we really enjoyed & they did deliver what they promised. They were extremely patient when we were out there. Couldn't be more happier. Will reccomend them to everyone. Thank you guys for making it memorable experience.

Angela Bacon

I've been with this company about 30 times now, always great trips , lots of orcas, humobacks, memories and very friendly staff..I will continue to keep going out with this company

Cole Daugherty

They were very professional the whole way through. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Even after seeing multiple humpbacks and then killer whales they still took us to other locations to see birds and sea lions plus cruise through some islands on the way back to the harbour. I’m a local and I would do this tour again. It was great!

Pam

Awesome ????had a great time! The family went for my husband's birthday and we had an absolutely wonderful time. Had a fantastic gift for his birthday, a mother whale and her baby came up to our boat and entertained us for at least 10 minutes if not longer. We saw several whales in addition, it was an awesome time highly recommended ????.

Maureen Howells

Chose this whale watching company due to their focus on conservation and sustainability. Val and Becca were wonderful hosts, we watched a pod of orcas, and humpback whale and her baby. On the way they stopped to pick up some garbage floating in the ocean, and even after we saw our first groups of whales Val spotted more and we enjoyed watching another group of humpback whales. Easy to use website, and the ladies were very knowledgeable and easy to talk with and answer our questions. Highly recommend!

Catherine Cross

Had an incredible experience onboard the covered boat with Brad and Val. We saw orcas, seals, sea lions, eagles and humpback breach to top off the trip. Would highly recommend this company and experience for anyone!