Reviews of Orca Spirit Adventures Whale Watching (Travel Agency)

Anahita Ranjbar

Whale watching tour is a great experience which you can not find everywhere! Kind staff and amazing views

Petra Rueben

Had an amazing time! The naturalists and captain were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Any questions asked were answered in detail, it was clear the naturalists knew what they were talking about! We were able to get so close to a pair humpback whales it was absolutely incredible. I would recommend to anyone!

Thomas Cowan

Very knowledgable staff! Took a ride on the zodiacs for three hrs and saw all sorts of local wild life including killer whales! even saw one jump which I'm told can be very rare! Awesome day :)

Mark Wheeler

We had a great time on the zodiac boat trip. It's a 3 hr trip from victoria's inner harbor. We managed to see 3 orcas, a few eagles, seals, otters. The zodiac trip is fairly intense (fast and a bit bumpy), but our 7 year old twin boys loved it (said it was their best trip ever). Mick, the driver and guide, was very interesting, friendly and knowledgable. We were a bit cold with wet hair/faces/feet (you will get wet), but the body suits they use keep the rest of your body dry.

Christina Free

My husband and I booked a last minute tour with Orca Spirit on the same day and they got us in on a Zodiac for the afternoon. Matt was our captain and tour guide and he was amazing! He is super knowledgeable about marine wildlife and the local ecology and clearly has a passion and love for whales that he is enthusiastic to share with clients. We saw several humpback whales, sea lions, seals and Ollie the local sea otter! Although we didn’t get to see any Orcas we were in hot pursuit of the elusive Houdini... better luck next time I guess! Matt truly did his best trying to get us a sighting and I really appreciated his dedication to finding us the best spots for whale viewings. Thank you for a great trip!

Viktória Csánicz

I absolutely loved my experience! Mick is such an entertaining, passionate and knowledgable guide. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend going out on the zodiac with him!

Logan Edwards

Cannot gloat enough about how awesome my experience was with them! First off, both guides were absolutely fantastic. Made an already great experience even better. Secondly, humpback whales!! There were about six of them, and they were doing full breaches out of the water. I am SO glad I did this. Thank you so much guys! I would shout out the two tour guides on my boat, but I don't remember their names. It was on Sept. 28th, 2021 though. They really do deserve full credit. If I could rate 6 stars, I absolutely would.

Peter Hannah

This was the high point of our vacation. The guide (Eddie - I think) was very knowledgeable, and took us to a pod of humpbacks very quickly. He even stayed a little longer than scheduled, and I'm glad he did. We wouldn't have gotten the close photos of two whales breaching (posted) at the same time otherwise.

Justin Wiley

great boat ride! had Evan as a tour guide and he was very knowledgeable and passionate about the animals!

Lara

Amazing trip! I would highly recommend this tour. The crew was amazing and friendly. Furthermore we had a huge boot with less people, free coffee and tea for everyone. Walking on the boot outside and inside was possible. Actually we run from one side to the other to see the whale driving under the boat. In addition we saw the sea lions. thank you for this unbelievable experience!

Erin Sowerby Greene

I would 1000% recommend this company! The staff are thoughtful and professional and very kind. Our morning tour had to be cancelled due to another guest backing out at the last moment but they made an afternoon excursion work for us. Our guide, Mick, was respectful of the whales, knowledgeable about the biology of the wildlife and responsive to questions. We were treated to an incredible day with countless transient orca sightings as well as a guest appearance from T'luk! I will definitely be back :)

neilegg1

We just did a tour with them last week while visiting Victoria on a cruise. The crew was all excellent, they were very knowledgeable and we definitely got to see Orcas. The boat left right next to where our cruise was docked so there wasnt any need to take a shuttle or relocate somewhere else for the tour, this saved us a bunch of time and we still were able to go downtown and eat before getting back on the boat.

Nadim Youakim

What an amazing experience, our captain was so dedicated to us having a great time and took us an hour out where we saw several humpback whales. He also communicated with other captains to track other hot spots. We went out to see other humpback pods, one which took our breath away. We're very lucky.

Syed Anwar Ali

A great touring company in Victoria. The people work here take lot of pride in what they do. Very well organized and focused on the tourist’s demand. Always trying to do extra to make the customers satisfied.

Krista Pearson

Such an amazing experience! I work in a hotel in Victoria so I have been out with other companies in the area, however, I will always send guests to Orca spirit!! Not only was the driver knowledgeable and informative on all of the sea life in the area, but it was one of the smoothest rides I've ever had on a zodiac. (was a calm day on the water). We saw 4 killer whales while hunting! I highly recommend this company if your wanting to go Whale Watching!! :)

Jeremy Carrier

We had an amazing adventure with Captain Alex. Not only did he find the whales very quickly but he got us close enough to take some amazing pictures. We got to follow a group of whales for a while and even got to see some elephant seals. It was awesome and would highly recommend them if you want a fun time!!!

Aaron Price

Alex was our tour guide, and he was awesome! Great sense of humour, and full of knowledge. There were reports of whales that were pretty far away and he made sure to get us there in a reasonable and comfortable manner to guarantee our orca sightings! I suggest the zodiac tour, you get a better view and the experience of being out on the zodiac in the ocean and the channels is worth the price of admission itself. We will definitely be back again.

Arielle Permack

Orca Spirit staff are incredibly passionate and knowledgable. The experience was truly one of a kind. We saw tons of orcas, two humpbacks, and lots of other wildlife including seals, sealions, eagles, and many more. I highly recommend this business for whale watching!

Sarah Bracewell

So much fun. The crew were knowledgeable and friendly. Saw some amazing wildlife an scenery. Their attention to conservation is appreciated. Highly recommended

Danny Hauger

On July 19, 2019, I had the pleasure of embarking on a whale watching tour and had a close-up encounter with Scratch the Humpback whale with Orca Spirit Adventures in Victoria, BC. The whale had been seen circling the area, and we had a few far away shots with our cameras. Then, right before it was time to head back to the docks in Victoria, Scratchy came much closer to say hello! It was a beautiful day with mostly clear skies and calm water. It was the only whale we saw, but the awesomeness of the experience was a once-in-a-decade close up that very few people get to see on a whale watching tour. Thank you to our guides did a wonderful job and Captain Jeremy had us in the right place, peacefully sitting and patiently waiting, to experience this beautiful interaction. Thank you Orca Spirit Adventures in Victoria!

Stephanie Taylor

Had a great experience with Orca Spirit May 2018. Our guide was amazing. She was kind, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. Within 15 minutes we located whales and their babies. I got tons of video and pictures of the whales jumping. The day was beautiful. The sound is very cold and windy so make sure you bring heavy jackets, face masks, and gloves. I was not prepared. Orca Spirit has a bathroom and hot tea/coffee on board. As a bonus, they took us to an island near the north side of the sound. It was foggy and had a lighthouse on it with seals and otters.

Jacqueline Parra (Jacky)

Amazing ride! We did the Zodiac tour ride and it was unreal! Highly recommended! We got to see the following: 1. Humpback Whale 2. Several Orca Whales 3. Gray Whale 4. Sea Lions weighing 3000+lbs 5. Eagles 6. Seals 7. Otters & more!

Samantha Nelmes

Amazing experience on a sunny Monday with Mick. Did the three hour excursion and the highlight was catching a family of ocra hunting down a sea lion. Sad for the Sea lion but that's nature. Mick was full of information and passion you could tell he loved his job.

darshil shah

We took the zodiac, any adult who doesn't have health issues should definitely take the zodiac it's a fun ride in it self. We were able to see seals, sea lions and a humback whale on our tour. The staff is experienced and knowledgeable. Over all the trip was a fun.

Sally Bush

Great fun, we swapped last minute from the covered boat to the zodiac whale watching, and staff were very accommodating and helpful. You leave from the centre of the harbour in victoria which was very handy from our hotel (empress) . You are out on the open ocean, so get very very wet - though they sort you with a suit that keeps the worst of the elements out. We had a windy day so waves were big and kids loved getting bumped around, but we felt very safe at all times. Our driver (captain?) was beyond brilliant, funny, informative, laid back and chilled yet totally professional too. Some awesome sightings of humpback whales, no orcas despite looking but we felt the driver made up for this with the exhilarating ride home. We did some amaxing things in canada and this was all our kids (girls 10, 12, 14) favourite. Highly recommended.

Josh Gardiner

My wife and I booked a whale tour which there was some uncertainty about the day before due to bad weather conditions. Marnie provided excellent customer service by informing us of the weather conditions well in advance and being very understanding and helpful as we unfortunately decided to cancel. They were nothing but helpful and kind, hopefully we’ll be able to use this company for a tour in the future!

David Mairs

My wife and I went out today and we had the most amazing time. Found humpback whales feeding and on the surface showing off within the first 20 min on the water. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and very passionate about what they do. So refreshing to clearly see people who love what they do. Well worth every penny

Dwi Octorini

Unforgettable experience. Managed to get two spots at the Zodiac boat. There were only two companies running the tours. Captain Mick was great and we found orcas on our trip. It was pretty cold out on the sea, make sure to wear enough layers, and toque, avoid wearing caps.

Monica

What a great trip we saw a lot of whales. The trip took longer than planned as it took some time to find the whales. But when we did we got plenty of time to enjoy the view.Ed was our guide and told us also allot about the animals.

Steven Jenkins

First things first... All the whale watching companies talk to each other out on the water. So no one company will have a higher chance of getting you whales than another. If the whales out there that day, you'll see them no matter who you're with. Next, there are regulations on how close boats can get to the whales. So no matter what type of boat you're on, they're going to get as close as possible. Thus, you should pick Orca adventures because 1) I'd much rather be on a boat with a bathroom so I can pee in between whale sightings. 2) The staff clearly care about the work they do. We got lucky and went out on a day where we saw a ton of orcas. And the staff were genuinely giddy about it. Was really nice and reassuring that they all cared about the animals so much.

Brett McNeil

My partner and I went on a whale watching excursion and it was so much fun! Mick was a fantastic guide and our time on the water was a lucky one. Got to see a whole bunch of humpback whales and even got to see a sea otter! And of course a bunch of sea lions. Such an amazing time. Will defiantly go back. The service was great from the time we got there to when we left. You created such a great memory for my partner and I. Thank you so much!

Sanjay I

Absolutely enjoyed this today with my family. Great for kids. Very knowledgeable crew who shared amazing facts about humpback and killer whales . They also take pictures for you and share them after the trip.

Debbie Epperson

Alex was a knowledgeable tour guide. We had a great time and saw many transient orcas. It was an amazing experience. The zodiac was such a fun way to go whale watching!

V G

The ship seemed old to me, I liked having a clean bathroom, but nice, kind and attentive staff.

Carlos Estrada

Great experience! We did see a big whale, 3 dolphins and some sea lions. Our guide Mickey was incredible, passionate about his work, simply amazing. Thanks!

Jessica Maynard

Thank you Orca Spirit for the amazing trip! Our family would highly recommend your next whale watching trip with this company. The naturalists are very informative, professional and have passion for their jobs. We went on a covered vessel tour with our young daughter and everyone was very helpful. Thank you Rachael, Leah, Jordan and the rest of the Orca Sprit crew for showing our daughter whales for the first time!!

Paul Blanchon

Great afternoon on the high seas looking for whales. Saw seals and Bald Eagles at Race Rocks, and eventually found two cruising Humpbacks. Awesome.

Erika D

Amazing experience. Jake, Lauren and Captain Sherry were great. Between Lauren and Jake we were well educated on the wildlife in the area and the humpback whales, which we got to see quite a few. A tour full of great memories

Kelsey Weber

We absolutely loved our ride! Mick was an awesome captain! He made the ride exciting and informative, and even though we never found a whale, he told us all about the sea lions and seals we did find! The most thrilling part of the adventure was the small zodiac boat. It went super fast, skimming over smooth water or riding the big rolling waves. Be sure to use the washroom before you embark! There was dry storage under the seats to keep water bottles, mitts you got tired of, or a small snack if you choose to bring one, etc. Make sure you bring your phone for pictures, and dress warm! Even though you'll get a big, floating orange suit, you'll want a winter coat and other warm layers, boots, mitts, and a hat during winter. Even if the air feels warm, it's chilly once you're riding into the wind. Thanks Mick, for an amazing afternoon! Definitely a highlight of our amazing 2- week trip!!!

Barbara Trollman

Cap'n Eddie took us out to sea on a Zodiac. I always thought of Zodiacs as being the dinghy that one took out to the boat anchored in the harbor, which would then take one to sea. This was my first extended experience on a Zodiac and it was pretty fun. We got to see a whale and followed him around for a while. Cap'n Eddie was knowledgeable and fun. I highly recommend. Thank you!

Abel Albanes

Wow, what an experience. There were so many aspects that I loved about this trip. Firstly, Rachel was an absolute delight and pleasure, she helped us out so much, she was so insightful in what to expect and answered all of our questions before we headed out to do the whale watching. Secondly, Mick the captain/driver of our zodiac boat could not have been better. The man oozes with passion and love for his job and the natural world he helped us explore. If you get him as your tour guide/boat captain you are in for an unforgettable experience. He drove us out far into open water and we spotted orcas, seals, and other animals on smaller islands. The boat ride itself was worth the admission price, the ocean was a bit choppy when we went out and it made for a hell of an experience! Thank you Rachel, thank you Mick and thank you Orca Spirit Adventures for giving my girlfriend, myself and our friends a time we wont forget any time soon!!

Ahsan Cheema

We went out with Sarah. She was fantastic and very informative. We loved the experience. Sarah seemed to know a lot about wildlife and cared about their well being. We saw plenty of wildlife and had an excellent time.

Heather Backman

My friend was in town from London for only one full day. We signed up for a Whale Watching tour on one of the bigger boats because she's 5 mos. pregnant. After an hour we had to turn back due to engine failure. The company offered us 3 options! A full refund, another tour on a smaller faster boat or they'd be happy to immediately take us out again on the same sized boat. We decided to take them up on that along with 1 other couple. We basically had a private tour and Katia and Captain Bill were the best! They are so knowledgeable and really give you a tremendous experience. Bill even let me drive the boat :) Also, we got to see a whole family of Orcas! I highly recommend Orca Spirit!

Richard Frakes

Nice trip around the bay. Didn't see much wildlife including Orcas. Got a free offer to try again anytime there is an open seat. I probably won't ever be back to Victoria though.

Brad Currie

We had an excellent whale watching experience with this wonderful outfit. Mick, our guide, was exceptional in every way. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Our group of 10 including 6 kids had an unforgettable experience. We saw about 12 different humpback whales and plenty of other sea life. Well worth the visit and highly recommended!

Joel Nelson

The zodiac was a blast!! There was some chop but the boat just skipped across the waves like a smooth stone. We saw multiple humpback whales at a distance until one curious whale came up to our boat and hung out for 25 minutes rolling around and poking its nose out to have a look at us. Amazing! It was an experience I will not soon forget. Thanks Orca Spirit!

Lora Lonesberry

Absolutely fabulous!! Mick was an amazing tour guide/captain/host! Not only was he very informative about the wildlife and their habits but made the trip out and back a lot of fun. We had such a great time that the smoke of the wildfires filling the sky made no difference ????

Gail Pickell

Great hosts and wonderful trip. We saw orcas and a humpback whale plus sea lions.

Fernando Oliveira

Went out on a small boat with 12 others. Saw some hump back whales and a few orcas. Great fun and the guide kept us well informed about the area.

Matt F

Awesome experience, Captain Sarah got us the chance to see an Orca, along with many other sea creatures. The guides expertise of the area, and wildlife had her answering all our obscure questions! Thanks for the great adventure!

Robbie Kelley

We went September 2/21 on whale watching tour. Lori and other staff were super amazing. Lori and staff were super knowledgeable about wildlife and ocean plants and animals. Lori is also very personable and listened and very compassionate when I told her we were only this trip because my dad passed 3 weeks previously. we also saw two types of Orcas transient and humpback. I'd give more stars if I was allowed. Thank you to the staff. Robbie and John.

Kylie Ramage

Amazing! Crew were great and full of info. Went on both zodiac and covered boat over two days. Tip: careful of wind burn on the zodiac but was so much fun. Great small groups ensures no one misses out on seeing the amazing scenery and wildlife. Was lucky enough to see orcas on both days and was a dream come true for me!

H F

It was GREAT. We're weren't going too fast but still a pretty fun ride. We were desperate to find whales and we thought we couldn't find any. But then when we were about to go back, we saw killer whales just about a few feet from our boat. It was one of mine and my son's favorite experience on the water ever!!!

Chloe

We loved this experience so much. We were so lucky to be surrounded by a super pod and a humpback, such a surreal experience! The boat is so small you feel so close to them but the staff were so knowledgeable, never got too close and never chased them so they were completely in their natural environment.

Laura Hube

What an incredible experience we had today - with a humpback and her baby coming right up beside the boat, as well as three transient orcas (one that breached twice facing the boat), many porpoises, and sea lions and seals at the picturesque race rocks. Jake, Laurie, and Jeremy were a fun, friendly, and knowledgeable crew! Highly recommend this 3 hour tour, particularly if you have younger children - many tours in the area are 4+ hours which would have felt too long. We saw everything we hoped for and more!

Willy Froese

Had great fun, even when it rained. Saw a pod of Orcas, a young humpback and 2 species of sea lions. Best it gets at this time of year! Just remember to dress in lots of layers, even on warm days. Gets chilly on the water, every day!

Christine O'Leary

Amazing! We saw a mother, her baby, and their "friend." So exciting to see them in the ocean. Our guide was so knowledgeable. We learned so much about humpback whales. This is a must do when you go to Victoria. I was so engrossed in the watch for the whales, I forgot to take pictures. Our guide gave us her email , so we could see the pictures she took. If I ever get back to this area, I will definitely book that tour again. Worth every penny I paid. One caveat...it is really cold when they rev up the motor to head out to sea and when they do the same to get back. Jacket, gloves, hats, and binoculars are a must. They do have blankets, gloves, and hats to loan. Truly a highlight of my trip.

L Parkhill

Wow oh wow!! I don’t even know where to begin! First of all, the two ladies working the front desk (Rachel & Marnie I think) were so kind and so efficient. They got us hyped up for a tour that did not disappoint! Secondly, the naturalists Laurie and Rachael had answers to everything and anything we could ask! They were fun to interact with and made the experience so much more personal! I felt like I had known them for so much longer than 3 hours. I think the captain’s name was Jordan. He made the adventure so fun with the varying speeds and direction he was going. We got splashed just a bit at the back and were able to fully dry at the top of the boat. We did the big boat tour, not the zodiac and the whales themselves did not disappoint. We saw three or four families of Orcas more than once and they were so so beautiful and exciting. We also saw the cutest seal and pup along side some jelly fish! 11/10 would recommend these guys! Not to mention a portion of the ticket price goes to maintaining healthy sea life! Amazing amazing. Thanks guys for such an excellent morning!!

Katelyn Greenwood

We had an incredible time! The guide was awesome and very knowledgeable, we learnt a lot about the waters of Vancouver Island and the amazing creatures it contains! I highly recommend the zodiac tour if you are up for a fun and exhilarating experience!

Nicole Conley

Really great experience and everyone was really knowledgeable and helpful. Such a memorable experience.

Patricia Caro

We had an amazing experience, the Zodiac gave us a lot of fun, the tour guide was determined to give us the best whales watching. Definitely I want repeat

Marcel Fenner

Awesome experience! Could not imagine it to be any better. Very nice and friendly staff. The boat was in a good shape, never had an unsafe feeling. Seen Orcas, humpback whales and sea lions. The skipper went close enough to take nice pictures but never too close to disturb the animals. We even stayed on sea some extra time because there was no other tour after us. One of the best experiences on our trip to Canada! And everything for a fair price.

Jenn Molloy

The waters were so rough, we should not have gone out. Of course, no whales will feed in those rough waters, but the crew kept us out there for the entire 3 hours. No one had fun and several groups asked to return early. We paid $390 for the misery. I don’t understand the good reviews. We couldn’t hear the crew as they had no microphones. The are proud of not using donor, or any technology that will improve chances of whale sightings. So disappointed.

Jordy Heisz

What an amazing experience. We saw a bunch of orca’s this morning but the star of the show was our skipper Sarah. She is an all-star in every way. She dazzled us with her knowledge about the different wildlife. As well, her kind spirit just made the whole morning much more enjoyable. Yes, seeing the whales was great, but honestly Sarah made the trip much more memorable for the way she engaged with us.

Leslie Yiu

The highlight of our trip to Vancouver!! The weather and wind condition were perfect. Saw lots of killer whales and humpback whales! The naturalist, captain Sherry and the crew Jack were extremely helpful and knowledgeable! They went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable with the ride and gave us lots of guidance in terms of successful observing not only whales, but seals and birds! Will definitely recommend to a friend!

Mark Woodley

It was really too early for our whale watching tour expedition but it was March Break and who knows when we'll be able to return to Victoria again? The kids thoroughly enjoyed the seals, sea stars, bald eagles and other sites. The only time I felt uneasy was when our zodiac left the strait and was officially on the ocean, that's when the swells became intense and I wasn't that confident with my survival suit. Our pilot was great and made the experience memorable. It was expensive but highly worthwhile.

C T

Perfect adventure! We had a Zodiac boat and the ride was a lot of fun. Against the cold there were full-body suits, which kept us nice and warm. We saw a lot of orcas and some humpback whales. We were very lucky!! Our skipper knew very well where to find them and could tell us a lot about the animals. Thanks for the wonderful experience!

Heather McMeekin

Words can’t describe how impressed we are with Orca Spirit. We booked a whale watching tour + seaplane extended harbour tour, for our honeymoon trip to Vancouver island. On our tour, we saw otters, seals, sea lions, flying fish, orca whales and a humpback whale and got to eat some raw fresh sea kelp. It was so special! Our boat captain and our tour guide were so knowledgeable and friendly, and very accommodating to everyone on board. Our seaplane tour was cancelled that day due to bad weather, but Orca Spirit was happy to reschedule us to the same time, on the next day. Thank goodness we were able to go, because the views were SPECTACULAR! We even saw orca whales from the sky which was super lucky! Insane value for money, you won’t be disappointed. And from what I hear, if no whales are seen on the boat tour, they will give you a voucher for another day! The only thing I would recommend, is making yourself flexible just in case, as weather and wildlife are unpredictable. Overall we are thrilled with our experience!

Connor Zink

Absolutely incredible experience. Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate. The pod of orca we were observing were showing off with full breaches! Very special.

Tracy Hansen

We went on the 10am whale watching tour on Apr 3 2018 on a beautiful covered vessel. We toured for 4 hours and were lucky enough to see two groups of orcas! The guides were funny and informative, the company gives back to whale research and is concerned about their carbon footprint. Amazing experience and I didn’t feel like I was contributing to the an ecological demise of the whales habitat. Thank you!!!

Nathan Dekker

Have been on whale watching tours before that weren't tended by nearly as knowledgeable guides as Laurie and Jake. They had tons of interesting tidbits about all the local wildlife and kept it interesting throughout. We even saw a pod swim directly under the boat which was just awesome. Highly recommend!

Angela Wong

Had a wonderful tour where the naturalists were very helpful and answered all our questions. We saw several humpful whales and sea lions! It was a great experience.

Y S

Great service from Marnie and Mickey was an awesome guide. Was so much fun!

Pets Pets

Spent too much time looking at one pod of Orca whales, after 1.5 hours of following the same pod the entire boat of people were bored. The crew should have went looking for different species. Very expensive boat ride.

Mike Mac

I do wish that Orca Spirit Adventures would slow their Zodiac speed to the proper 5 knots when going through the inner harbour, it’s NOT A RACE! NEW NOTE... They have listened and the operators have slowed down to the 5 knot limit, thank you guys, I’m sorry I had to post the negative comment, but it was true, and the phone calls I made didn’t make a difference, thanks again for your cooperation, I wish you well.

Thierry Faro

Very bad experience: no more Orcas, too much business. They said to us there is no more residents orcas in the area after we paid to see them. 250 $ to be shaken on a Zodiac and just see the back of a whale (go to Tofino and with Jamie's whale you will see plenty of whales) it is not a good plan. We were very disappointed. Nothing has been proposed, no reimbursement, no discount, no second chance. This company abuses the customers with a name ans pictures showing Orcas and are not able to give a good experience to them. Nobody on my Zodiac was happy with this expensive tour. A least regarding environmental concerns how can they speak about animal protection when they have 5 Zodiacs and big ships which are noisy, disturbing and big engines very polluting for the sea and the ecosystem. Too much business kills business.

Sam Vechiola

Had the best experience with this company! My original whale watching date got cancelled due to a storm and Marnie was extremely helpful during the whole rescheduling process and finding a time that would work. Mick was an amazing guide on the boat and was able to show us Orcas and Humback Whales despite it being the end of the season. 100% recommended and I would 100% come back again!

Rachel H

My husband and I were very frustrated with our whale watching tour! It has always been a huge wish of mine to see orcas, which is why we booked this tour! They guaranteed whale sightings! We were on the water for over three hours and did not see a single whale. We spent the entire time with the captain just trolling around searching. We were the first tour on the water for the day and we were told they don’t send out anyone earlier to scout. It would be nice if they did, because then they would know where the pods were that morning and we wouldn’t have to spend our entire session searching. I heard the later afternoon tours did see whales because they were able to use the past morning tours to know where they were that day. I feel that we got the short end of the stick. The MOST frustrating thing is that they guarantee you to see whales, but that really means is if you don’t see them in your tour, you can get on another tour. We were traveling from Texas and could not hop on another one. We would have liked to have our money reimbursed but it wasn’t an option. Overall, it was a a very disappointing day. I do wish someone would be kind enough to reimburse us as we wasted so much of our time just to leave upset.

Sawyer Scullion

I went on a tour in December. It was an overcast and rainy day so probably not the best day to go out although another company that I had originally booked with told me there has been lots of whale sightings lately. I originally booked a tour on a heated sheltered boat with another company but it didnt get enough bookings so I was told the Zodiak was my only option with Orca Spirit or I could get a refund. Since I had never been whale watching before and it was my only chance to go, i decided to give it a go. I'm from Alberta and was visiting Victoria. Unfortunately we didn't see any whales which was disappointing and they didnt offer a voucher to go another time like the original company I tried to book with that transferred me to them. Even though I don't live in the area, that would still have been a nice option. It was very cold and kind of nerve wracking being out on the ocean on such a small boat but we did have a good guide. My best piece of advice for anyone going during the colder months is to wear full facial cover as the wind is very cold! Even some sort of snowboard goggles or something would have been so helpful trying to see through the rain and wind hitting my face and definitely wear lots of layers. Overall, it was a neat experience but I don't know if I would do it again on a zodiak personally.

Jessica Knudsen

Such an amazing experience! Our captain was Alex and he was super informative and was super friendly. We were so fortunate enough to see a ton of whales and get some great pictures. The weather was beautiful and it was an incredible experience! Highly recommend this company to anyone looking at whale watching in Victoria.

Denis Belov

I enjoyed the experience a lot. The staff is clearly passionate about what they do; they are knowledgeable, patient, and friendly. We did a tour on the semi-covered boat, and we like the boat a lot: it's great for taking pictures on the top deck and then warming up on the bottom deck. We saw whales very close as well and the whales did some cool stuff :D

Henrietta Pais

I've been a few times before with other companies but never got this lucky before. We went late into the season but saw resident orcas, a whale (I forget which type), sea lions and seals. I appreciated their conservative approach that respected the animals needs for distance. I also appreciate the insight and enthusiasm of the guides, Leah, Talia and friend. Highly recommend!

Patricia Buckley

I loved the fact it was a 2 story covered boat. I tried to watch from the upper outside deck, but was too short & people kept slamming me up against the railing....I decided it was best for me to be downstairs & the views were no less exciting than being outside! The staff were very friendly & acknowledgeable! I would make 1 suggestion- maybe encourage the elderly clients to stay downstairs due to the "roughness" of the vessel/trip. I witnessed a few stumbles as they were trying to manuever around the ship.

Laurie Edwards-Jennings

Great times, got to see to different whales. Orcas where amazing

Christine Pearse

Captain wasn't very knowledgeable. The waters were wet rough and he didn't make the ride very enjoyable...didnt slow down in the swells and we were all soaked the entire trip. I know you can't guarantee whale sighting, but the entire trip was a waste of time and money.

Mark Robins

What a fantastic adventure! It was an amazing day for our family.

Simon Hoac

Awesome experience! Would go again. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable

Lisa

Had the best experience today with Orca spirit , Adrian was the best host / guide ..He explained details about the Orcas and made our experience so much better ..I'd definitely go again and request Adrian as our guide..We got so close to the whales without us pursuing them. The whales came to us and we had the most incredible experience ever...

Jeep Girl

Outstanding experience. Was so trilled and impressed after my first tour that I went on another tour with them two days later. I highly recommend taking the zodiac boat to get a more intimate experience with the orcas. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Saw a pod of 5 orcas during their sleep cycle on my first visit, then saw 3 orcas hunting for food on my third visit.

Grigory Bogdanov

We had a whale watching with the Orca spirit and captain Mike this Monday and it was fantastic! The boat itself is a lot of fun, very fast, though Mike handles it responsibly and safe. Second, the trip is designed to show a lot of stuff, not just whales, but sea lions, seals, bold eagles and other rare birds and Mike gives a lot of details about them, so you feel like you're inside of a national geographic. Lastly, we were lucky to find a humpback whale, though it wasn't easy given all this smoke from the US. We were the only boat that were able to do it in this condition AFAIK, so again thanks to Mike. Overall the trip was amazing, we plan to come back next year.