Travel Article: Whale Watching Adventures in the Maritimes

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An Iconic Whale Tail¹	�

The bays and waterways surrounding the Maritime provinces comprise nutrient-rich feeding grounds for an impressive variety of marine life. These conditions lure over a dozen species of migrating marine mammals to the world-renowned Bay of Fundy and the waters off Cape Breton. Human fascination with whales is best satisfied by an array of whale viewing opportunities provided by certified operators and tour guides. Prime whale watching destinations in the Maritimes include the Fundy shores of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and the coastal communities lying along the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Wildlife
Marine mammals that migrate to the Maritimes from late spring to late autumn can be divided into either baleen or toothed cetaceans. The baleen whales that are commonly seen in the Bay of Fundy include finback, humpback, minke, sei and the rare North Atlantic right whale, of which fewer than 350 remain. Commonly sighted toothed cetaceans in the bay include the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, the bottle-nosed dolphin and the harbour porpoise. Along the Cabot Trail coastline, watchers can expect to see humpback, minke, finback and the long-finned pilot whale.

Vessels
The four main types of vessels used in whale watching tours in the Maritimes are Zodiacs, sailing vessels, converted fishing boats and catamarans. Fishing boats, yachts and catamarans typically carry more passengers and offer shelter from the elements. Some of these vessels offer amenities such as washroom facilities, multiple observation areas and refreshments.

Zodiacs offer a high-adrenaline alternative and allow for one-of-a-kind, intimate experiences with nature and wildlife. These inflatable boats are some of the safest in the world, are commonly used in search and rescue missions and marine research, and offer supreme agility and acceleration on the water.

Weather
Weather conditions off-shore can be quite cool and windy, even on the hottest of summer days. It is recommended that tour participants wear long pants, shoes and dress in layers in preparation for suddenly chilly conditions. It's not uncommon to have to pull on a pair of mittens and a wool hat once out on the water.

ADVENTURES OFF THE FUNDY SHORE

Known for having the highest tides in the world, the Bay of Fundy fills and empties twice daily, with a force equivalent to 8,000 locomotives. This immense energy churns up a diverse medley of nutrients from the ocean floor, making the area a prime migratory feeding ground for whales and, subsequently, a premier whale watching spot from early summer to late autumn.

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�	Getting Up Close and Personal²

New Brunswick's Fundy Tours
From mainland New Brunswick, St. Andrews offers tours for thrill seekers and the cautious. Fundy Tide Runners Whale Watching and Nature Tours offers two-hour, naturalist-guided tours aboard a high-speed, 7.6-m (25-ft) Zodiac boat. Catamaran-style adventures are provided by Quoddy Link Marine. Their spacious vessel offers two full observation decks and on-board marine biologists provide educational interpretation. Or enjoy the wind in the sails aboard the 72-ft (22-m) "Jolly Breeze of St. Andrews" with Tall Ship Whale Adventures.

Grand Manan Island has long been regarded as a top destination for whale viewing opportunities. To access the island, visitors must take the Coastal Transport Grand Manan Ferry from Black's Harbour, New Brunswick. The one-way trip takes an hour-and-a-half. Whales-N-Sails Adventures offers an eco-friendly alternative by providing four- to five-hour tours aboard the18-m (60-ft), wind-powered Elsie Menota sailing yacht. All trips are professionally narrated by a local marine biologist and depart from the North Head wharf, near the ferry terminal. In operation since 1969, Sea Watch Tours brings adventurers to the whales aboard a converted fishing vessel. The four- to five-hour cruise guarantees sightings or fees are refunded.

A visit to the Gaskin Museum of Marine Life, a volunteer-led interpretive centre overseen by the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station, is the perfect complement to an island whale watching voyage. The centre features an array of salvaged marine specimen displays, informative marine mammal exhibits and a marine-themed gift shop.

Campobello Island is accessible by land via Lubec, Maine or by means of ferry from Letete, New Brunswick to Deer Island aboard the Deer Island Princess II and John E. Rigby ferries. From Deer Island, the seasonal East Coast Ferries car ferry transports passengers to Campobello on the half-hour from 8:30am to 6:30pm daily, late June to mid-September. Two main tour operators on Campobello�Captain Riddle's Whale Watch Cruises and Island Cruises�escort guests into the bay on converted fishing boats that offer unique views of the famous Head Harbour Island and Lighthouse, rugged coastal landscapes and marine life.

Nova Scotia's Fundy Tours
In the Digby Neck and Islands Scenic Drive area of Nova Scotia on the Bay of Fundy, an abundance of cruise opportunities are available. The villages of Tiverton, on Long Island, and Westport, on Brier Island, are accessible by two short ferry hops from the main Digby Neck peninsula. Pirate's Cove Whale Watching and Seabird Cruises in Tiverton offers three- to four-hour tours aboard one of two 12.8-m (14-ft) passenger vessels. Offering high-energy Zodiac adventures is Ocean Explorations, which provides half-day tour options into whale territory. In Westport, two operators offer interpreted two- to five-hour tours of the bay. Mariner Cruises touts a 15-m (50-ft) boat equipped with washroom facilities, a heated cabin and a sheltered viewing area. Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises runs two passenger vessels, one of which is jet-propelled, allowing for quicker travel time to feeding grounds.


Scanning the Horizon for Whales from Cape Breton Highlands National Park³	�

CABOT TRAIL AREA ADVENTURES

Tour operators along the spectacular Cabot Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park offer adventures into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Cabot Strait from Cheticamp, Pleasant Bay, Bay St. Lawrence and Ingonish.

In the Acadian village of Cheticamp, Whale Cruisers provides three daily sailings operating from mid-May to mid-October. In addition to offering up-close encounters with seabirds, minke, fin and pilot whales, the three-hour cruises afford amazing views of the sea caves and rugged coastlines of the park.

Pleasant Bay, home to the Whale Interpretive Centre, features an array of opportunities for whale enthusiasts and adventurers alike. Captain Mark's Whale and Seal Cruise offers two whale watching options aboard a cabin cruiser or Zodiac vessel. The cruiser also operates as a research boat and features a hydrophone for listening to whales as well as an underwater video camera. Cabot Trail Whale Watching provides Zodiac-style excursions and guarantees whale sightings. Tours depart four times daily in July, and three times daily during August, September and October. Whale adventures with a musical twist are provided by Fiddlin' Whale Tours, where guests can take in the natural surroundings to a soundtrack of live Celtic music. The 25-passenger boat offers two-hour cruises and private charter opportunities as well.

Located along Cape Breton's most isolated coastline in Bay St. Lawrence are Captain Cox's Whale Watch and Oshan Whale Watch. Both operators offer tours aboard converted fishing boats into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Cabot Strait, where views of the towering vertical cliffs along the shoreline are sure to impress as much as the aquatic encounters.

The tidal waters of Ingonish, the gateway to the highlands, offer ideal marine life viewing opportunities. Here, Keltic Express Zodiac Adventures promises an unparalleled excitement-filled excursion amongst the magnificent mammals of the sea.

If you enjoyed this feature, take a look at these great WorldWeb.com articles:
� Sea Kayaking and Whale Watching on the BC Coast
� Atlantic Canada Ecotourism

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

Humpback Whale Tail; NS, Canada
Whale Watching Boat Tour; Atlantic Canada, Canada
Cape Breton Highlands National Park; NS, Canada

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Whale Watching Adventures in the Maritimes