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Cowichan Bay Whale & Wildlife Adventures

Ocean EcoVentures is the most centrally-located whale watching company on Vancouver Island. This ensures the Highest Sightings of Biggs Killer Whales a.k.a. Transient Orcas on Vancouver Island every year. 

Whale watching from Vancouver Island is one of the best places in the world to encounter Orcas. We view Biggs Killer Whales a.k.a Transient Orcas on almost a daily basis from March to the end October from our Cowichan Bay location on Vancouver Island. Many days throughout our whale watching season we have Orcas come right into Cowichan Bay! We also encounter Humpback Whales on many of our Vancouver Island whale and wildlife adventures from April to November.

Ocean EcoVentures is family owned and operated and this is our 21st year offering Whale Watching and Wildlife Adventures departing daily from March to November from the historic seaside village of Cowichan Bay. Our experienced team is excited to share their passion and intimate knowledge of the whales and wildlife of the Salish Sea. Whales are our passion! We feel fortunate and grateful to be able to share Vancouver Island’s marine ecosystem and all that inhabits it. We are dedicated to responsible and ethical wildlife viewing.

Year-Round Guaranteed Sightings

Ocean EcoVentures Offers Guarantees Whale Sightings Year-Round. If you do not see a whale on one of our whale watching tours we invite you to come again for free.  Our sightings record for 2023 was 96%. We extend a free stand-by tour to the few passengers who do not see whales on their tour. Our whale guarantee is a complimentary, non-transferable and on a stand-by basis. Our Whale Guarantee is not species specific.

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Our Knowledge & Experience

At Ocean EcoVentures in Cowichan Bay, BC, our Captains and Naturalists are committed for the long haul. Unlike many other companies with part-time summer staff, our team is dedicated year-round. This dedication shines through during our trips, offering expert interpretation of the wildlife and landscapes we encounter. When our passengers see whales, they learn exactly who those whales are, including their names, siblings, mothers, and unique personalities.

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Commitment to Conservation

Our mantra at Ocean EcoVentures is “People protect what they love and love what they understand,” and we’re dedicated to making that a reality in Cowichan Bay, BC. We donate $2 from every passenger’s fare directly to whale and wildlife conservation efforts. Additionally, we support local researchers in their vital conservation and research initiatives. Our vessels are designed with the quietest sound footprint in the industry, ensuring minimal disturbance to the whales and marine mammals that inhabit the waters around Cowichan Bay. Join us in preserving the beauty and biodiversity of our marine environment.

Conservation Details

Our Location – Cowichan

Ocean EcoVentures is the most centrally-located whale watching company on Vancouver Island. This ensures the Highest Sightings of Killer Whales on Vancouver Island every year. Located in the heart of the Southern Resident Killer Whales and Biggs Killer Whales travel areas, Cowichan Bay offers a relaxed experience away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

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Testimonials

We read about this company on trip advisor and made our reservations.The tour certainly lived up to the worthy praise that preceded it. We saw a pod of something like 30 whales!! Plus a smaller pod of 3 before that. Also porpoises, seals & eagles. It was beautiful and the guide was absolutley excellent. He was organized, informative & friendly. The boat was also great: an inflatable just like what the coast guard uses. It skips right over the water & enables you to feel far fewer rock & rolls than an ordinary boat does, which is really good for someone like me, who does get seasick! Also really appreciated that there were just 8 of us instead of a whole mob of people as we saw on other whale watch boats. This really is worth a trip no matter where you are on the island and it is suitable for children.

Clarke Family, Coburg, Ontario

We would like to take the opportunity to say a big thank you for the trip on the 25th August, it was just fabulous. We ploughed through all the tourist information available in Victoria BC and especially the whale trips and we did not see any advertisement for your company. You need to get your company ‘out there’, what you offer, no one else does, i.e., the small capacity and willingness to provide your customers with truly amazing memories. If any of our photos turn out any good, we will email them to you, if you like. We do not get home until late September, so it shall be a while. Thank you again so much and we wish you much success in your business and we shall be recommending your trip to anyone we encounter who may be interested in whale watching trips.

Kind regards, Kris and Maree

We had such a great time on this trip. The scenery here is fantastic and our captain was very knowledgeable about local history and wildlife. It was nice to have our own set of binoculars through the boat ride. A nice touch.

Julie Harris, Seattle, Washington

A whale breaching 100 yards from the boat – what more can we say?

Conni and Chris Jensen, Colorado Springs, Colorado

I don’t know how to swim, so I was nervous to even go on the boat. But the friendly and professional attitude of the Captain and the comfort of the boat put me at ease. I can’t wait to go again and see even more beautiful BC coastline.

Kathy Parks, Picton, Ontario

Our boating trip was well beyond what we expected – fun, educational, and exciting. We’ll definitely be back

John and Catherine Sanderson, Calgary, Alberta

We just wanted to thank you again for the excellent service your outfit provided us. Your excursion was the highlight of our trip. We are already planning our next trip to see our “new friends of the sea” Keep in touch and let us know when you start offering “frequent whale watching rewards program” haha! Thanks again!

Jen and Joe, Colorado

You went out of your way to make the day a real experience, and you succeeded 150%! I think Evan is trying to find a way to get ourselves and the rest of our team back to the West Coast so that we can do it again! I honestly don’t think I could think of one negative thing to say, because both Evan and I walked away almost speechless (which for the two of us, is tough!). Thank you so much for spending the day with us, and accommodating our schedules-we both appreciated how you went out of your way to make the day great. We had an amazing time, and would do it again in a heartbeat! If there is anything that we can do for you, please let us know! All the best!

Valerie @ YUM Canada

This was our first trip to B.C., and we’re thrilled to have discovered this great company. We saw orca whales, humpback whales, beautiful scenery, bald eagles, and sandy beaches. This boat ride was a highlight of our trip to this beautiful island.

Sam and Carrie Johnston, Ottawa, Ontario
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