Discovering a Lost Anchor on the West Coast Of Vancouver Island

anchor nootka sound

25 years ago, Bill Coltart, the owner of Big Animal Encounters, was diving the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island when he came upon a massive anchor buried in the sand. Only one fluke stuck about 4ft out of the sand, clearly set, the rest buried in the silty bottom. He logged the location, then […]

Hearing Humpback Whales Underwater

hydrophone with tanks in the background

Humpback whales are a species of baleen whale that live in all the world’s oceans. They are known for being a very vocal whale. Males produce a complex song which they repeat for hours at a time during their mating season in their breeding grounds. Photo by Andy Scheffler. Male can be heard singing starting in […]

2025 Herring Spawn Tour!

The yearly Pacific herring spawn around Hornby Island is one of the most important natural events in the Pacific Northwest. Join us to witness this natural phenomenon first hand from the comfort of our heated covered vessels.