Whales Unlimited

West Coast Aquatic Safaris has been having quite a good streak for seeing whales lately. Just about every day for the last couple of weeks we have been able to find a number of Grey Whales. Today was no different. We had a couple of Grey's out towards Long Beach in the morning and as the day moved on and the weather began to change WASCO and the group headed back inside to more sheltered, calm waters to find a couple different Grey Whales. Along the way the group made a run by Plover Reefs to see about 300 Seals lounging out on the rocks in the rain.

For a change tomorrow we have decided to head out to Hot Springs Cove to give people a chance to Soak in the springs and of coarse take every opportunity to see what we can along the way. For those of you that may be visiting Tofino our our website for the first time please feel free to look back at our Blog over the last year and see what types of things people have been seeing at what times of the year.

If you have already been out with us this year we would really like to see your photos. Please send us your best, funniest or most bazaar moment captured on film while on one of our trips and you just might win the photo of the week contest. All winners receive one of our West Coast Aquatic Safaris Travel mugs as a trophy. You never know just what will be the winning photo until you see it on our website.

Sun Whales and Bears in the forcast

The weather last couple of days has been fantastic. It has been sunny and mild with a slight breeze and feels like summer. West Coast Aquatic Safaris and our guests were very fortunate yesterday to have a young Grey whale in and around Grice Bay just minutes from the Tofino Harbour. Along with the beautiful weather and the calm waters, we have also seen several Black Bears in the last two days. Yesterday we found a female with a couple of cubs and this morning we started with two different small cubs up a tree near the shoreline.

This time of year can be really nice as the days get warmer and longer. There is still a great advantage to taking a tour aboard WASCO. Due to the style of our boat you may dress comfortably in your own close without having to wear the cumbersome floatation suits to enjoy the warmth of the sun without overheating. Early morning or evening trips will still have the flexibility to move freely from the heated cabin to any of the three outdoor viewing decks to allow for the best wildlife viewing possible. While the weather can still be somewhat unpredictable at his time of the year, take us up on the offer to use the complimentary Helly Hansen rain coats and fleece gloves during your trip to provide the utmost comfort for your experience. Please visit our Facebook page and check us out on Twitter for updates on when we will be starting our evening sunset cruises as well.

Wow, what a day. It started off nice, warm and with just a mild overhang of cloud, but by this afternoon the wind warnings were in full effect and the rain had just began to pour. Not to mention, the ocean jumped to an amazing 10ft swell. That would get your stomach turning. But, as the saying goes, "Every cloud has a silver lining," and it definitely does. There were sightings of Greys traveling past some of the fish farms near Bawden Bay this morning, as well as this seasons first Black Bear cub. Just in time, as we have started to offer our regularly scheduled Bear Watching tours. So be sure to visit our website and sign up early.

Weather won't matter when you areon WASCO!

Well, looks like its going to be another wet one out there, and, if your on the mainland, I couldn't think of a better way to spend it than with Keith at the Vancouver Outdoor Adventure and Travel show. Its the last day, so head on over and pay Keith a visit. While your at it, ask him how you could win a trip on our new catamaran.
If your not on the mainland, and looking for some local adventure, don't sweat it! We at West Coast Aquatic Safaris have you covered. With our daily trips and a boat that caters to everyone of every age, we are sure that, even with our unpredictable west coast weather, your going to have fun. Today has been a terrific day for Grey whales as we saw 4 or 5 of them out towards Cow Bay as well as many Steller Sea Lions at Plover Reef. Visit our website for tour descriptions, rates and opportunity to save 10% booking online.

It was a damp day in Tofino today however it was still a fantastic day for Whale watching. We had a couple of trips go out today and our guest were very fortunate to find 4 very entertaining Grey Whales as well as many Sea Lions. WASCO's heated cabin was a real bonus today and offered the guests the chance to be back and fourth between the three viewing decks and the warm cabin. We are starting to see more Bear activity in the area and will now be starting to offer scheduled Bear watching tours as well. We currently have a trip scheduled to depart tomorrow at 3:30pm as the tide will be low and expect to be very successful.

Keith departed today for the Vancouver Outdoor Adventure show and will be there all weekend. We have an unlimited number of 2-4-1 passes that we are looking to give away and all you have to do is email us and we will send them to you. There are a limited number of free passes to the show as well and if you call in the morning we can tell you where to meet Keith at the show to pick one up. While at the show Keith will be offering a chance to win free trips aboard our new 36 passenger catamaran as well as other West Coast Aquatic Safaris merchandise so be sure to stop in and say hello.

Be sure to look at our Facebook page for tour departure times and other promotions.

The Seals are just hangin out or hangin on

It is a beautiful and sunny day in Tofino with strong winds. It was a great day to be on the water, looking for adventure. We experienced swell up to about 3 meters today with some wind chop on top of that. Our group of veteran Whale Watchers didn't seem to mind at all as everyone was smiling from ear to ear at the time of return. Even though the choppy waters can make spotting the Whales more of a challenge it can also enhance the photos taken.

This photo is from Sam Cooper who was with us aboard WASCO back on April 9th. Conditions were similar to today and he has done an excellent job at capturing a group of seals enjoying the sun on a blustery spring day.

I would like to encourage more of our visitors to send in photos for our photo of the week contest. The winners will receive one of our West Coast Aquatic Safaris Travel Mugs as a trophy and have their photo uploaded to our website for all to see. If you have a photo or two that you have been holding onto please forward them to us as it is also great to see how the trip looked through your lens. View our past winners to see what shots have claimed the prize in the past and perhaps you will be there soon.

We have been very fortunate in the last week to have so much excitement out on the water. With Sea Lions basking in the sun, transient Humpbacks passing through, Greys feeding just off of long beach and not to mention the small pack of Wolves that have been playing on the beaches surrounding Meares Island. How could we not have a good trip?!
The weather has definitely kept us on our toes and continues to do so, but a little rain wont stop our WASCO. With her comfortably warm cabin and her 3 viewing decks, Wasco makes every trip a worth while experience. We cant wait to see what this week will bring.

Dont forget, this weekend is the Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show in Vancouver, so check out our Facebook page, become a fan and check out how you can get your hands on 2-for-1 packages as well as complimentary tickets. While your there, be sure to check us out for some of the best activities the west coast has to offer.

Long Beach and Grey Whales

Today was about the fourth day in a row that we have been fortunate enough to have Grey Whales feeding out at Long Beach. We often are able to view Whales while they are migrating however to have the opportunity to witness them feeding is very exciting. Our weather did change a little today and we have not been blessed with the warmth of the sun as we have been earlier in the week but the sea conditions have held up and the tours have been terrific today.

Once again there have been three wolves spending time together on one of the beaches on Meares Island just up Fortune Channel and not too far out of the Tofino Harbour. This and the couple of Black Bears make for an extra special Whale Watching experience. It has been great to see all the families taking advantage of the fact that there is no age limitation for being aboard WASCO. We are very happy to offer a comfortable ride and excellent rates for all ages.

We are no gearing up for our final Trade Show of the fall and Keith will be heading to the Vancouver Outdoor Adventure show which begins next weekend. We have many complimentary tickets as well as two for one passes to give away so be sure to visit the West Coast Aquatic Safaris Facebook page for details.
While at the show, Keith will have an unbeatable rate on the two best activities Tofino has to offer. Be sure to stop in and ask about the Ultimate West Coast Adventure Package as well as your chance to win a free trip on one of our boats this season.

Today was an exceptional day to be on the water with West Coast Aquatic Safaris. We began our day with 3 Grey Wolves and a couple of Black Bears and a pair of nesting Bald Eagles on the insides waters. On the whale front, we were once again very fortunate. There have been several Grey Whales feeding just off Long Beach for a couple of days now and others which have been migrating along the coast. There was one whale in particular that was quite active and putting on a wonderful show with many tail flukes.

The water has been very calm off the shores of Tofino lately which has made the trip aboard WASCO an experience like no other. The weather continues to be mild and with lots out there to see we are expecting a fantastic weekend. Even on the warm and sunny days it is always a great idea to take advantage of the Helly Hansen Rain coats and the fleece gloves provided at no additional cost to maximize your comfort and overall experience.

With our heated cabin, on board bathroom, satellite radio, 3 viewing decks and extremely knowledgeable Captains all it takes is one outing with us to see that we are the best choice for your aquatic adventure.

Our weather has been spectacular over the last couple of days. There has also been no lack of incredible wildlife to be seen from WASCO's 3 viewing decks. In the last two days we have been very fortunate to see both Orcas and Grey whales feeding out towards Long Beach. A little more locally there have been several Humpbacks not too far from the Tofino Harbour. We are entering the time of year now when there are typically more and more Humpbacks entering the area and it is always very exciting. We have also seen a few Black Bears in the area in the last week and are really looking forward to starting to offer a daily bear watching tour. Keep your eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for departure time during the period of you visit.

As our season begins to heat up and there is more and more activity in town and on the ocean it becomes more and more important to make your arrangements in advance. While West Coast Aquatic Safaris does offer several departures per day however with WASCO being the ideal vessel for families and children of all ages it can fill up quite quickly. For your convenience our office is available to take reservations by phone after hours or you can always book online and save 10% doing so.

The weather has been spectacular in Tofino today. We began the morning with a little snow on the ground but the sun was shining and the air was getting warm. There happened to be Grey whales everywhere today. Some of the most interesting were a pair that were located near Tonquin Beach which is the closest beach to town. The two Grey whales spent there time rubbing against the sand bar and were in no rush to go anywhere. We were also fortunate to have another lone Grey whale pass right through the Tofino harbour and could almost be seen from the West Coast Aquatic Safaris office and another lone Humpback just off of Plover Reef which is usually well known for the high concentration of Seal Lions that Gather there. It is great to have such a perfect day in spring with whales that are as cooperative as this.

Having a full boat today there was real benefit to the additional viewing decks that WASCO has to offer. Having room for six passengers at a time to ride up top, almost ten feet above sea level makes for an ideal spot to get the best photos possible. For those that want to feel they are as close as possible to the whales, WASCO's full walk around bow deck is spacious and when the whales are close can feel like you are right on top of them. Of course even on the perfect day in Tofino it is still nice to have the option to pop back inside and warm up with the dry diesel heater that keeps the windows free of moisture and warms you to the bones.

With weather this great and having the best boat in town it is important to make sure you make your reservations in advance. While there is often room for last minute bookings, making your reservations online at least 24 hours in advance will ensure there is room for the entire family. Visit our website for all the details, departure times and the chance to save 10% for booking online.

It was nice and sunny today with a little too much wind for any off shore travel but we were fortunate to have some very cooperative Grey Whales in sheltered waters. There were two Greys today that were very enjoyable to watch. They were active with lots of tail flukes. The Steller Sea Loins out on Plover Reef also put on quite a show for our guests as many were enjoying a nice meal.

Keith departed today for Victoria and the Vancouver Island Outdoor Adventure Show. The show opens tomorrow at noon and we will be giving away free passes all weekend for fans of West Coast Aquatic Safaris on Facebook. While at the Show Keith will be giving away some WCAS merchandise and chances to win free Whale or Bear Watching trips for two on our new 36 Passenger power catamaran so make sure you take the time to stop by. This weekend you will also have the chance to get in on The Ultimate West Coast Adventure Package with an extra special rate on the two best activities in Tofino. Surfing with Surf Sisters and Whale watching with West Coast Aquatic Safaris with a few extras thrown in for one incredible low rate. Keith has all of the details and you can only get it at the show so don't miss out.

The Vancouver Island Outdoor Adventure Show begins on Friday and Keith will there to represent West Coast Aquatic Safaris. The show runs until Sunday night and Keith Will be giving away chances to win WCAS merchandise and free trips for two for Whale or Bear Watching. We will also have free tickets to give away for the show as well as some buy one, get one free passes. In order to receive your free ticket visit our Facebook page and become a fan of West Coast Aquatic Safaris. After that, we will let everyone know when to call the office and how to pick up your tickets.

Things have been a little quiet in town since the Easter weekend however there is still lots to see. There have been many Grey whales in the area and often times we are finding them in calm waters close to the Tofino Harbour. We know that many of our guests have taken all kinds of great photos in the last week or so and we would love to see them. Don't forget that winners of the photo of the week contest will receive one of our travel mugs as a prize and your photo will be on our website for the world to see.

The perfect family outing for Easter weekend. Whale watching With West Coast Aquatic Safaris is a great way to spend a part of the day. It is an exciting informative experience with non stop action from start to finish. Whether it is 200 Stellar Sea Lions on Berryman Point, Orca's finding a meal, a playful Sea Otter doing the backstroke or a Breaching Humpback, WASCO is the best boat in the harbour to take it all in. Our captains are very knowledgeable and highly skilled on the ocean. The boat's cabin is heated and equipped with a bathroom and satellite radio for your comfort. With a full walk around bow deck and flying bridge that can accommodate 6 passengers at a time there is no better way to get photos and memories to last a lifetime. Visit our website to see our rates for each of your family members. View our departure times on Facebook or call the shop for details. Reservations can be made after hours at your convenience.

Despite the challenging conditions today, Jeff our Captain was still able to find several Grey whales with the help of the WASCO's Flying Bridge. Not only does this deck give our guests a superior view to others but it also allows for the Captain to operate from a vantage point 10 feet above sea level. This provides for a much greater chance at finding the whales on the days like today where the swell is several meters. It was quite a nice show for our guests who enjoyed the option of the heated cabin, walk around bow deck or the bridge.

Tomorrow we are headed for the hot springs for our first trip of the season. Easter weekend is upon us and along with Tofino, West Coast Aquatic Safaris is getting fairly busy. We want to do everything we can to ensure that you and your family have an excellent weekend and that starts with making your reservation in advance. We will be running several trips per day for Whale watching so give us a call or have a look at our Facebook page for departure times and availability.