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YEAR ROUND CHARTERS - SURVIVAL SUITS SUPPLIED AS NEEDED

Marine EcoTours & Soft Adventures

H o m e P a g e Click Here


Victoria, Sidney, Sooke, Vancouver Island British Columbia
Marine Ecotours personalized for your group of up to 5 people

Marine EcoTours & Soft Adventures | Click Here for Printer Friendly version
The ocean straits off Vancouver Island are internationally renowned for our resident pods of Orca killer whales. The surrounding areas are also abundant in many species of marine wildlife and pelagic-seabirds. Both recreational, and naturalist guided tours are available for private charters. Gray, Humpback and Minke Whales are also often spotted here.

Private Zodiac charters for up to 5 passengers Fin of male Orca which passed under the Zodiac - Click Here for avi movie
Fin of male Orca which went on to pass under the Zodiac
wmv movie with audio 1.43 MB | Quicktime Movie 2.1 MB

Pelagic-Seabirding EcoTours
Birding - discover nature all around you

Survival suits supplied for all weather excursions
Protective Cruiser Survival suits supplied for all weather excursions


Exploring Lakes with sandy beaches.

Custom Boating Trips
Salt Spring Island arts and crafts, Lighthouse tours, Gulf Islands exploration and sightseeing, swimming in warm ocean currents, island camping. We can arrange an exclusive custom boating excursion for whatever you wish to do.

We operate our own 16' deep V-shaped rigid fibreglass hull, ocean going Zodiac (Yachtline Deluxe 480) for both our B&B clients, and other private groups up to 5 persons plus skipper - boat is rated for 9. While the weather is more welcoming from May through October here in Victoria, we do operate year-round and supply full body survival suits where appropriate.

Orca Killer whales just off Victoria
actual photographs from our Zodiac Marine EcoTour Outings August 2004
pod of Orcas

Orca whales

Charters are booked exclusively for your group - no one else is invited along - up to 5 passengers in total. Cost is $85.00 per hour (if more than 30 minutes from Victoria then one-way travel time to launch point is also billed) based on 2 persons. For each additional (max. 3 extra) person please add a flat fee of $35.00 regardless of hours. Some tours not suitable for children under 10.

Marine eco tours can include whale and bird watching, wildlife observation along shores, lagoons and in harbours, or just general island hopping in the Gulf Islands. If you wish to go boating and/or swimming in any one of a number of nearby lakes such as Shawnigan lake, or in one of the many "secret" warm ocean currents our boat is also equipped with a swim ladder.

Some popular sightseeing destinations $85.00 / hr  (3 hour minimum)
based on 2 persons, add $35.00 flat fee per extra person, max. 5 passengers (boat is rated for 9 but for comfort we limit this to 5 + captain)

* Race Rocks Marine Protected Area Ecological Reserve
* Ganges - Salt Spring Island (Saturday craft market)
* Bedwell Harbour - South Pender Island
* Miners Bay - Mayne Island (Active Pass)
* Saturna Island, Thetis Island ... any of the Gulf Islands
* Montague Harbour - Galiano Island
* Chemainus - City of Murals
* Brentwood Bay and Butchart Gardens
* Victoria inner harbour including Oak Bay
* Shawnigan Lake boating and swimming (suitable for all ages)
* Finlayson Arm warm ocean current swimming
* Historic Lighthouse Tours

Departure points can be from our dock on the Esquimalt Lagoon or from anywhere on Vancouver Island since we can easily trailer the boat.

built for ocean boating 16' deep V-shaped rigid fibreglass hull, ocean going Zodiac (Yachtline Deluxe 480)
The Gulf Islands provide superb opportunities for birding, with sea birds nesting throughout the southern islands. Species include cormorants, gulls, tufted puffins, guillemots and the great blue heron. Loons are most populous in April and May when they are flying north on the Pacific Flyway to their northern nesting grounds. The king of Gulf Island birds is the bald eagle. Eagles are common on the islands, and you'll see their huge stick nests atop many trees along the shorelines.
 
Much of the shoreline of the southern islands is rocky and rugged, often with cliffs, which the sea erodes. Vegetation on the islands is primarily Douglas fir, with groves of Madrone (arbutus) and some Garry oak. There is also some western red cedar. Salal is the dominant plant in the underbrush, along with salmonberry and huckleberry. Like the San Juans to the south, the Gulf Islands are composed primarily of sandstone and shale. Only the southern part of Salt Spring Island is volcanic in nature.
 
We observe these guidelines when watching marine wildlife (.pdf)
 
Orca Killer Whale Gulf Islands Orca breaching Mount Baker in background
An Orca Killer whale breaching against the back drop of Mount Baker
 
Dahls Porpoise playing of the bow of our boat
Dahl's Porpoise often play in the wake of the bow of the boat
 
 
California Sea Lion at Race Rocks

The Northern and the California Sea Lions are two types of Sea Lions that are quite prevalent in the southern Vancouver Island area. Stellar adult males measure an average 2.8m (maximum 3.2m) in length, and weigh an average 566kg (maximum 1,120kg), while females are smaller at 2.3m (maximum 2.9m) in length, and 263kg (maximum 350kg) in weight. Pups are born measuring about 1m in length and weighing 16-23kg. Females reach sexual maturity at 3-8 years of age, males at 3-7 years of age. Most territorial bulls are between 9-13 years of age. A Steller sea lion has been observed diving to a depth of over 400m. Females can live up to 30 years of age, males up to about 20.


Adult male California sea lions measure up to 2.4m in length and weigh an average of 275kg (maximum 390kg), while adult females measure an average of 1.8m (maximum 2m) in length and weigh an average of 80-91kg (maximum 110kg). Galapagos sea lions are generally smaller in size than California sea lions. Pups of the species measure about 70-80cm and weigh 6-9kg at birth, male pups being born heavier than female pups. Both males and females of the species reach sexual maturity at about 4-5 years of age, but males may not achieve territorial status until approximately 8-9 years of age. A California sea lion was observed diving to a depth of 376m, and the longest dive yet recorded was for 8 minutes. It is thought that members of both subspecies can live for 15-24 years.

Northern Sea Lions
Northern Sea Lion
(formerly known as the Steller's Sea Lions)

California Sea Lion (left)

 

Sydney Spit beaches
Sydney Spit beaches

A bald eagle fishing for salmon off the coast of Victoria BC
A bald eagle fishing for salmon

Kelp Greenling by Race Rocks
Kelp Greenling are one of the most abundant bottom or demersal fish in the shallow benthic community at Race Rocks. Males and females are sexually dimorphic, the females being a distinct orange color, while the males are bluish in colour.

Blood stars
Blood stars are seen frequently by divers in the 0-15 meter depth at Race Rocks. They are planktonic feeders.

 

Pelagic Sea-birding
Common Merganser
Common MurreOf the approximately 10,000 birds in the world, about 300 are regarded as sea-birds. These are defined as those species whose normal habitat and food source is the sea, whether they may be coastal, offshore or pelagic.

True pelagic birds are those that spend most of their time at sea, beyond the continental shelf, returning to land only to breed.

Sea-birds are one of the bird groups that cause the greatest difficulties with identification. Many of the group fly similarly, are similarly coloured in dull hues like grey and brown and are of a similar size. As well, observing conditions can be challenging. Boats provide an unstable platform in conditions that are often overcast, wet, windy and cold and with distant birds flying close to the waves and appearing and disappearing regularly in the crests and troughs.
Tufted Puffin
 
 
 

Zodiac Yachtline Deluxe 480

Yachtline Deluxe 480
Technical Specifications

Overall Length:

4.80 m / 15'9"

Width:

2.22 m / 7'3"

Weight:352 kg / 776 lbs
Passengers Max:9
Max. Payload:1,065 kg / 2,347 lbs
Max. Speed:42 mph
Engine:70 HP Suzuki
Fuel Tank:120 litres / 31.1 Gal
Buoyancy Tubes:1' 8"
Air Tight Compartments:5

.wmv movie of Zodiac .99MB

Zodiacs in open ocean are not recommended for: most seniors, pregnant women, children under 6, people with back or neck problems, or anyone suffering with incontinence or osteoporosis.

 

$85.00 / hr  (3 hour minimum)
based on 2 persons, add $35.00 flat fee per extra person, max. 5 passengers

|Vancouver Island Tide Tables|

 

You get customized nature hiking and walking ecotours in the Qualicum Beach area. Discover the story behind the ancient rainforests, mountain meadows, marine life, wildlife and bird watching areas with a biologist trained by Interpretation Canada
Coastal Revelations Vancouver Island BC Eco Tours

 

sailing vacation charters Victoria, BC
Southern Dawn Sailing Holiday Adventures
Phone: (250) 727-6198
Toll Free: 1-877-479-4695
www.SouthernDawn.ca