Clayoquot Sound is undeniably one of Canada‘s most precious jewels. The abundance of life here is miraculous. And luckily, for us, Tofino sits right in the middle of it. The Pacific Rim Highway makes it convenient and possible for us to access this beautiful wonder of nature. We are very privileged to be able to visit and reside in this beautiful setting with so many amazing creatures. It is important to recognize this privilege and the preserve the delicate Clayoquot Sound for future generations. There are a few things you can do while visiting Tofino, to make sure your foot print is minimal while you have one of the most amazing experiences of your life.
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Archive for July, 2010
Sharing and Preserving Clayoquot Sound
Saturday, July 31st, 2010
No Matter What The Weather Is….
Friday, July 30th, 2010
Whether cruising aboard NANUQ (Photo on Left), riding on the flying bridge on WASCO (right) or standing out on the bow deck of either boat, West Coast Aquatic Safaris Will provide a comfortable experience for all. We offer the best in Commercial rain wear with the Helly Hansen jackets and if you are looking for a greater level of warmth then step inside to the heated cabin. Each of our First Class Vessels is equipped with satellite radio, Hydrophone as well as a restroom. Part of the thrill of being on the West Coast is the unpredictability of our local weather. Knowing that the temperature and conditions can change quickly it is important to have the freedom to move freely in or out of doors to meet your comfort level.
Orca Weekend
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
This season without fail, we have seen Orcas in the harbour or inside waters for at least a couple of days in a row. Easter weekend they were behind Meares Island, May long weekend there was a group of Transient females in the same general area teaching a young one to eat Stellar Sea Lions and over Canada Day weekend they were up Millar Channel hunting Porpoise. With this long weekend now upon us the team at West Coast Aquatic Safaris is very hopeful that we will find ourselves as lucky as we have been.
Long Weekend Is Around The Corner
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
We are now approaching the mid point of our summer and it has been a fantastic one for wildlife. Town has been busy and we expect that it will
be much more so over the next couple of days. Whatever your plans are over the long weekend West Coast Aquatic Safaris would like to remind everyone to make safety a priority. When making arrangements for Whale, Bear Watching or Hot Springs Tours it is very important to ensure that the vessels are completely Transport Canada Safety Certified such as WASCO and NANUQ. This has been a priority for Keith and the entire West Coast Aquatic Safaris Team since the day we began and encourage everyone to do the same.
BEAR WITH US!
Monday, July 26th, 2010
The cool summer mornings are coinciding with the low tide this week, creating absolutely perfect Bear Watching conditions. Our 7:00 Bear Watch this morning was fantastic. Our guests saw four black bears. It first started with a female black bear foraging for breakfast on the beach. Then after a little bit, she was joined by one of her cubs. Our guests watched as they ate and, low and be hold, two more cubs joined them! Hop on board our 36 passenger catamaran, NANUQ, for a Bear Watch this week. NANUQ has a cozy heated cabin with comfortable seating, a restroom, and three viewing decks including the bow which we pull up close to the beach for viewing the black bears. Our Bear Watching tours that we have early in the morning are very special. The inside waters of Clayoquot Sound are quiet as the sun comes over the mountains. And even better; we have a family promotion going on this month. For every 2 adults that board NANUQ, one child boards for FREE!
Falling in Love with Tofino
Sunday, July 25th, 2010
The Pacific Rim Peninsula is awe inspiring to new comers and locals alike. There is endless exploring to be done and constant new experiences to be had. Here are a couple of experiences that are a MUST if you’d like fully take in the culture and life in Tofino and the surrounding Clayoquot Sound.
1. CHESTERMAN BEACH AT SUNSET. Grab a bottle of wine, a pair of rubber boots, and your partner in crime (whether it’s your significant other or your pooch) and head to Chesterman Beach around 8:30. There are 3 accesses with parking to Chesterman Beach along Lynn Road. Stroll out to Frank Island if the tide is low or have a seat on some drift wood and watch the waves dance in the setting sun. The colors in the sky cannot be justified with words.
Magical Places
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
With any destination vacation there is always a list of things that you absolutely must do. In some places it is amusement parks, museums, art galleries or perhaps even a sporting arena. In Tofino we have many magical places that are a “must see” or “must do”. For some folks it will be a walk down Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park or perhaps a drive out to Ucluelet to visit the local aquarium. Some will want to get out on the water for their chance to reel in a trophy Salmon but perhaps one of the most relaxing and mystical things to do is spend your day on an adventure to Hot Springs cove.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
We never know when it will happen or for how long but one thing we do know is that it is one of the most beautiful sights on the West Coast. West Coast Aquatic Safaris have been very fortunate this year and had many opportunities to see these incredible Orcas. We periodically see the groups of Northern Resident Orcas however more commonly we have been seeing pods of transients. Most recently seen from the viewing deck of NANUQ they were in Millar Channel hunting Porpoise and Sea Lions.
Embrace the Fog & Amazing Things Can Be Found
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
While Tofino and the surrounding areas may be experiencing a fair amount of morning fog it is not having any affect on the beauty that can be found in the area. This photo of a breaching Humpback was taken just yesterday by Michael Reems from Florida. Michael is the most recent winner of the West Coast Aquatic Safaris “Photo Of The Week” contest. Sometimes these mornings may not be described as the best conditions for a Dawn Patrol surf outing however, with the incredible technology on board both WASCO and NANUQ there is really very little that can keep us from these impressive mammals. Often moving away from town is all it takes to get out away from this layer of coastal fog and sometimes it just ads to an already mystical experience.
Weekly Wild Life Report From our Naturalist Diana Lukinuk
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Baby Orca with Mother by Kevin Sansalone
This week began with high winds, but a pod of transient killer whales roaming the calm inlet waters provided an ideal break from the wild outer waves. We followed the orca as they broke into the windy open ocean, watching as they gained a burst of energy, breaching and tail slapping repeatedly, giving our guests an amazing and rare show. To our delight, the killer whales continued to meander around our waters for two more days, and we tracked them along their journey right up to Hot Springs Cove, where we said
goodbye (for now) to the pod of four animals as they head farther Northwest. In the waters around Flores Island, grey whales continue to enjoy the explosion of marine life produced by the recent sunshine, and we’ve enjoyed watching them feast in the plentiful muddy depths. We witnessed one particularly inquisitive whale spyhopping (vertically raising its head above the water) directly in front of Nanuq to gain a better view of the impressive vessel and its passengers… lots of fun to see eye to eye!