Pacific White-Sided dolphins are regularly seen around British Columbia off the coast and within inland waterways. These dolphins travel in groups, some numbering with hundreds of individuals. Some pods can be very small, with less than 10 individuals. It can be very exciting to see Pacific White-Sided dolphins as they could be travelling fast and porpoising. They can be very acrobatic and leap into the air as high as 4-meters. They can also be found bow-riding in front of boats and ships. Let us know if you see them and other species of Cetaceans!
As a reminder that if you are boating and out on the water, please be aware of the presence of whales and dolphins. Signs of their presence may include blows of the Cetaceans and other boats stopped or moving slowly in an area. Boats and other water craft (e.g. kayaks) must remain at least 1-km away Southern Resident Orca and at least 200-m away from other Orca (Transients and Northern Residents). See the full government regulation in the following paragraph.
The Federal Government (DFO) issued the following statement about watching Orca in the wild: “Keep 1,000 metres away from Southern Resident killer whales in southern B.C. coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet. Keep 200 metres away from all other killer whales in British Columbia (B.C.) and the Pacific Ocean”. A minimum distance of 200-m must be maintained when viewing any Cetaceans that are resting or with a calf. When viewing whales, dolphins, and porpoises under other circumstances not described above, a minimum distance of 100-m must be kept. A great resource for up to date Canadian or US regulations: Be Whale Wise Guidelines.
WOWs works throughout the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2026-008
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Mon Jul 20 2026
11:13 • 6 Biggs Orca heading north just past the mouth of Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Wed Jul 22 2026
12:45 • est. 4 Biggs Orca ◦T037As◦
zig zagging, heading north near Race Rocks, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Spread out. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs Orca – T037As – zig zagging, heading north near Race Rocks
Wed, 22 Jul 2026 – 3 items
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs Orca – T037As – zig zagging, heading north near Race Rocks
Wed, 22 Jul 2026 – 3 items
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
12:45 • 3 Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦
travelling leaving Okeover Inlet. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Thu Jul 23 2026
13:50 • est. 7+ Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading south at Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
T101s with six other small finned orcas.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Fri Jul 24 2026
11:34 • Biggs Orca ◦T030s◦ heading north off Shelter Point south of Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
At 12:15pm, they were southbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sat Jul 25 2026
15:45 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T038C,T038E◦
taking long dives, heading south off William Head towards Race Rocks, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Close to shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sat Jul 25 2026
14:00 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s,A61 Surge◦ by Center Islet north-west of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
A61 by himself and not sure where the others are.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
We were very fortunate to see some orcas in our area on tour today
Fri, 24 Jul 2026 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
We were very fortunate to see some orcas in our area on tour today
Fri, 24 Jul 2026 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Jul 20 2026
09:59 • Humpback Whales heading south between Harwood / Ahgykson Island and Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
15:37 • 5 Humpback Whales within 1-km of the Pinnacles, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue Jul 21 2026
10:34 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south-east, just south of Manson Passage, Georgia Strait.
Small whale.
11:31 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south near Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Mostly black tail with propellor marks on the left side.
Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
22:28 • Humpback Whales near the south end of Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Not visualized(dark), but could hear a group likely night hunting and vocalizing not far off shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
JS, Quadra Island, BC
Wed Jul 22 2026
08:15 • 1 Humpback Whales near Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ From Ferry
Megan McKee, Powell River, BC
12:30 • est. 3 Humpback Whales
lunge feeding, near Race Rocks, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Short dives, trumpeting when the orcas came through. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Fri Jul 24 2026
08:33 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales north-east of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
14:00 • 5 Humpback Whales
spread out, within 1-km of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
20:39 • 2 Humpback Whales heading west from Blubber Bay towards Coho (Kiddie) Point, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Sun Jul 26 2026
13:00 • Humpback Whales
breaching, near the Powell River Westview Harbour, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
14:30 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX1309 Teacup◦
pec slapping, near Raza Island, Calm Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
18:19 • Humpback Whales
breaching, east of Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
SW, Powell River, BC
Tue Jul 28 2026
14:48 • 4 Humpback Whales near Frances Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Wed Jul 29 2026
13:25 • 2 Humpback Whales
foraging, heading south-east, just southeast of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Fri Jul 31 2026
15:25 • 1 Humpback Whales 2 miles east of Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sat Aug 01 2026
14:00 • Humpback Whales
milling, Ramsay Arm.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sun Aug 02 2026
15:05 • 1 Humpback Whales near Frances Bay.
Elusive whale.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
A few photos from recent tours
Sun, 26 Jul 2026 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
A few photos from recent tours
Sun, 26 Jul 2026 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
A few photos from today’s tour
Thu, 23 Jul 2026 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
A few photos from today’s tour
Thu, 23 Jul 2026 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
MINKE WHALES
Tue Jul 28 2026
13:30 • 1 Minke Whales
hunting, heading east off of Sheringham Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Small dorsal fin; taking 10+ minute dives and surfacing briefly at some distance. ▫ Observed from Shore
MC, Sooke, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri Jul 31 2026
13:00 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins
foraging, near Channe Island, Cordero Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sun Aug 02 2026
13:55 • est. 60 PWS Dolphins heading south-west off Sonora Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
A few photos from recent tours
Fri, 31 Jul 2026 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
A few photos from recent tours
Fri, 31 Jul 2026 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Mon Jul 27 2026
09:45 • est. 2+ Harbour Porpoise southeast of Whirl Bay, Strait of Juan de Fuca. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Thu Jul 30 2026
09:30 • est. 3+ Harbour Porpoise
foraging, southeast of Thrasher Cove near Port Renfrew, Strait of Juan de Fuca. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Harbour Porpoise
Harbour Porpoise foraging, southeast of Thrasher Cove near Port Renfrew, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Thu, 30 Jul 2026 – 2 items
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Harbour Porpoise
Harbour Porpoise foraging, southeast of Thrasher Cove near Port Renfrew, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Thu, 30 Jul 2026 – 2 items
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer navigates 25,000+ Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings. Please use the the funnel in our Map for access to our huge range of filters. Those wishing Research information in a spreadsheet format, please Click Here
*Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
Archive Explorer dives into the Coastal Cetacean world. View Cetacean sighting locations, photos and videos:
- All species including Orca, Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
- Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
- Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
- Witness a close-up Orca encounter video in Port Alberni harbour
- Follow the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
- Track "KC", the ever popular Humpback's movements
- Locate any of 12,000+ named locations on the BC and WA State coast
- Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Archive Explorer Help Page explains many advanced functions
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
To access 25,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a research spreadsheet, please Click Here.
