Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Canada Day Contest
    • Summer in B.C.
    • Quadra Island Boat Tour Contest
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year!
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Canada Day Contest
    • Summer in B.C.
    • Quadra Island Boat Tour Contest
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year!
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / PHOTOS: Humpbacks put on a show for visitors to Vancouver Island

A humpback spotted just off Cortes Island breaches. This humpback breached several times, as it played by itself for nearly half an hour. Photo by Terry Farrell

PHOTOS: Humpbacks put on a show for visitors to Vancouver Island

July 26, 2021 //  by Terry Farrell

Share this:

(Editor’s note: Photos were taken from several hundred metres away, using a zoom lens.)

Mary-Noreen and Paul Hyland weren’t sure what to expect when they climbed aboard Garry Henkel’s Aboriginal Journeys vessel for a whale watching tour.

The couple from Calgary knew at worst, it would be a beautiful scenic day on the ocean. At best, it would be a spectacular showing of wildlife in its natural setting.

It turned out to be the latter.

READ MORE: Whale Trail helps a Prairie girl spot whales from shore

Henkel does not guarantee whale sightings on his tours, but if there are any to be seen, he’s among the best at finding them.

With over 40 years’ experience working and travelling on the waters of the Salish Sea, he is as good as it gets.

The tours themselves are a spectacle. Henkel’s informative story-telling of his lifetime on the water adds to the experience.

Another humpback ‘going down.’ Photo by Terry Farrell

The Hylands joined relatives from Courtenay, and another family from Comox, with relatives from Kelowna and Timmins, Ont. for an excursion none of them will forget any time soon.

Henkel loaded the party of nine onto his boat in Campbell River for an afternoon tour on June 18, and nature did the rest.

After a quick stop at Mitlenatch Island to see a massive herd of sea lions, it was on to the back end of Quadra Island, towards Read and Cortes islands.

A large sea lion is surrounded by a herd on Mitlenatch Island. Photo by Terry Farrell

It wasn’t long before the humpbacks made an appearance.

First, a group of three. Then, another couple. From there, a solo humpback offered multiple breaches while playing in an area by itself.

Blows were spotted in nearly every direction.

Henkel estimated there were 12 different humpbacks spotted on the four-hour tour.

It left the Hylands in awe.

One final big splash before his show ends. Photo by Terry Farrell

“The whole experience, from start to finish was more than we could have hoped for,” said Mary-Noreen.

“Our guide Garry was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and animated. I was impressed by the collaborative way he and the other whale guides were constantly sharing information about sightings.

“We saw an abundance of sea lions, and had so many more humpback sightings than expected… but the real treat was seeing the humpbacks breaching.

“A trip to remember for years to come!”

Henkel smiled and humbly shrugged his shoulders at the end of the day.

“Today was a good day,” he said, as the tour ended.

A humpback whale splashes around as a sailboat floats by. Photo by Terry Farrell

READ MORE: Royal BC Museum exhibit dives into the world of orcas

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: British Columbia Destinations, Campbell River, Canada, Comox Valley, Things to do, Travel, Whale watching

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Explore like a local in Boundary Country this summer

When planning the perfect getaway to Boundary Country, there are many factors to consider. But…

Explore like a local in Boundary Country this summerRead More

Osprey nest rescued from high water in Kootenay Lake

An osprey’s offspring were successfully saved from high water recently when the BC Conservation Officer…

Osprey nest rescued from high water in Kootenay LakeRead More

New walking tour app launched in Fernie

Visitors to Fernie can now enjoy curated, self-guided walking tours of town, thanks to a…

New walking tour app launched in FernieRead More

Exponential tourism growth in Haida Gwaii as summer kicks off

The month of June 2022 saw an increase of 1,494 per cent in visits or…

Exponential tourism growth in Haida Gwaii as summer kicks offRead More

Vancouver Island restaurant hailed for having one of Canada’s best burgers

Burger fans visiting the Vancouver Island community of Qualicum Beach have a must-visit stop to…

Vancouver Island restaurant hailed for having one of Canada’s best burgersRead More

‘Summer of recovery’: Pandemic-stricken tourism industry sees signs of optimism

Canada Day has kicked off the unofficial start of summer, and the tourism sector is…

‘Summer of recovery’: Pandemic-stricken tourism industry sees signs of optimismRead More

B.C. beach named one of the best in the world

Vancouver Island’s Mystic Beach has been named one of the best in the world by…

B.C. beach named one of the best in the worldRead More

Washington State’s most popular park turns 100

The most visited state park in Washington celebrates a century of recreation and conservation this…

Washington State’s most popular park turns 100Read More

8 ways to celebrate summer in Red Deer

If you’re looking for something to fill an afternoon, evening or a weekend, you’ll find…

8 ways to celebrate summer in Red DeerRead More

Previous Post: « ‘I love not man the less, but nature more!’ Green travel tips for the eco-conscious traveller
Next Post: Explore the Rail Trails in Boundary Country »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Explore like a local in Boundary Country this summer

July 5, 2022

Osprey nest rescued from high water in Kootenay Lake

July 5, 2022

New walking tour app launched in Fernie

July 5, 2022

Exponential tourism growth in Haida Gwaii as summer kicks off

July 5, 2022

Recent Posts

Explore like a local in Boundary Country this summer

July 5, 2022

Osprey nest rescued from high water in Kootenay Lake

July 5, 2022

New walking tour app launched in Fernie

July 5, 2022

Exponential tourism growth in Haida Gwaii as summer kicks off

July 5, 2022

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2022 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved