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F A Q ' s How can I make a reservation? Reservations are accepted with advance full payment by credit card. You may use email, fax, or telephone our office between 0600hr and 1800hr Pacific time.
Do you guarantee whale sightings? We do not guarantee wild animal sightings, but our 99% success record in finding whales on whale watching trips is a testament to our 25 years of nature cruise experience. We have learned the yearly rhythms and daily movements of many species of wildlife. Whales may be an impressive memory for visitors, but they are only part of the magic of Barkley Sound. The beauty of the Broken Group Islands is stunning and on almost every trip we see Sea Lions, Bald Eagles, Seals and numerous Sea Birds. When we encounter wildlife our policy is to minimize the risk of disturbance by respectfully observing these majestic animals and allowing them to carry on with their natural and essential activities: feeding, resting, traveling, and reproduction. Remember, it is a privilege to visit their home. How close to the whales do you get? To minimize disturbance we will not actively try to get closer than the government regulated 100 metres. If it appears the animals are not happy with that we will stay further away. The whales, however, are not aware of the 100 metre limit so they may drift or turn and swim closer to us. On rare occasions a whale may come over to the boat and do a little “people watching”.
What kind of whale behavior can we expect to see? Depending on the species of whale, weather and sea conditions, and whale activity (feeding, travelling, resting) we could see anything from a blow off in the distance to fluking, spy hopping or breaching. Most often we see the blow, then part of the whale's back, then the tail if it does a deeper dive.
Fluking - when the whale does a dive and shows its tail flukes.
Spy hop - the whale slowly lifts its head straight out of the water.
Breach - the whale launches itself clear out of the water.
What kinds of wildlife Gray Whales are abundant during the spring northern migration, then during the summer months we often see non-migrating or "resident" whales. We almost always see Sea Lions, interesting Seabirds and Bald Eagles. On the summer cruises we may also come across Humpback Whales as well as the rare (for this area) Sea Otter. Killer Whales (Orca) are sometimes seen, and land animals such as bears and deer may be visible along the shores. Where is Ucluelet? Ucluelet (pronounced: U-CLOO-LET) is on the west coast of Vancouver Island, which is on the west coast of Canada. If you are driving, you take the ferry to Vancouver Island to either Nanaimo or Victoria. From Nanaimo it is about a two and a half hour drive through Port Alberni to the West Coast. It is about five hours driving from Victoria. Ucluelet (population 1800) has all necessary services and a variety of accommodation from luxurious to basic. The name, "Ucluelet", comes from a Native word meaning "people with a safe landing place". Recently, phase one of the Wild Pacific Trail was completed near Amphitrite Point lighthouse. It is about a one hour easy hike through the rain forest as well as offering spectacular ocean and rugged coastline views. Also in Ucluelet are a couple beautiful small beach and picnic areas, a lovely walkway bordering the boat harbour, and numerous gift shops to browse through. Do you still go out if it is raining? Trips will be cancelled only if wind and waves are such that it would be unsafe or very uncomfortable to go. We will not cancel trips due to rain or fog (whales do not hide from the rain and our covered boat offers super viewing opportunities in all weather). Since weather conditions are changeable, certain elements of the trip may be changed or omitted to avoid, or take advantage of, changing sea conditions. Refunds are given if the trip is canclled due to ocean conditions. What methods of payment do you accept? Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Travellers Cheques and cash. What is your cancellation policy? You may cancel up to 48 hours prior to your departure time for a full refund. Where is your ticket office? Just beyond the entrance to the village of Ucluelet Back To Tours C o n t a c t.. u s : 1-877-444-1134 or 001-250-726-7336 outside North America Mail: Subtidal Adventures Box 78 Ucluelet, BC Canada VOR 3A0 E-mail: info@subtidaladventures.com HOME. l. BOATS. l. TOURS.. l. FAQ'S. l. MAPS. l. Calendar. l. Who's Who?
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