I'm visiting Victoria, BC. Can anyone recommend a whale watching company?

Question

I'm visiting Victoria, BC. Can anyone recommend a whale watching company?

Answer 1

There are many many whale watching tours offered from downtown Victoria.   They are easy to book the same day you want to go from all over downtown.  There are kiosks and storefronts everywhere.  You can choose either the zodiac style (a blast but you may get wet depending on the weather) or a more serene ride in a covered boat (with an onboard washroom).  Either way you'll end up in the same area with all the other boats.  All companies adhere to the same safety policies etc. etc. so you will have a safe fun trip with any local company you choose.  There is no need to book ahead.

Answer 2

Sea Quest Adventures.  It is a little drive, close to the BC Ferries and airport.  But they go to better sheltered water, where the whales go!

Answer 3

Prince of Whales, operating out of Victoria is a very well known company and does a good job.  They are environmentally conscious and do not interfer with the natural movement of the whales.

Answer 4

no, but i can recomend a whale hunting company. they might let you watch if you ask nicely.

Answer 5

There is a lot to choose from.  Prince of Whales is probably the worst of the companies.  They are pricey with slow boats and not a very good tour (my boyfriend works in an inner harbour hotel and all the hotel workers refer to them as the McDonald's of Whale Watching).

My boyfriend usually recommends to his guests "Eagle Wing".  They have the FASTEST boats on the Island, plus they do a guided tour of the area on the way to and from the whales, and will also take you to see Eagles, Sea Lions and other ocean wild life.  I've been on few companies and they were the best by far.  The leave from the inner harbour and provide you with everything from suits, to toques and mitts if it is cold.   They also guarantee whales or your money back.

All the companies are environmentally friendly in Victoria and are closely watched by the Coast Guards.

Answer 6

Google Whale Watching+Victoria, BC

Prince of Whales is the best known company operating out of Victoria's Innter Harbour.

Answer 7

I took a large group (30+) of ESL students with Ocean Explorations. The staff were very nice and so was our guide. We saw whales, porpoises, sea lions and we were taken on a tour around Race Rocks. It was a lot of fun and they handled our large group well. I don't know anything about the other tour companies, but when we were out looking at the pods there was a dozen or so other boats there too. I have mixed feelings about whether this is harmful to the whales, but the Ocean Explorations boat did not hound the whales and actually moved on after waiting for them to surface a few times. The other boats were still there.