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At White Rock Sea Tours we are very passionate about whales and making sure that they are treated properly. We understand that our experience comes second behind the safety of those beautiful animals. This is why we are serious about conservation and being Whale Wise.

What does being Whale Wise look like?

1. Stay out of their path

   • Never take your vessel (including motorized/non motorized boats and kayaks) in the oncoming path of whales. You should never be within 400 Meters of an oncoming whale.

2. Keep your distance

   • Stay at least 200 Meters away from any whale (while not in their path) while observing it.

3. Slow down and reduce noise

   • When you are close to a group of whales be sure to slow down to 7 knots and reduce engine noise as to limit disturbance to the animals.

4. Be at their side

   • When approaching or departing from viewing the whales always do it from the side while traveling parallel to the whales. This will limit abrupt course changes. Never approach/depart from the front or behind.

5. Look but don’t touch

   • Never disturb, swim with, move, feed or touch marine wildlife. Not only is it dangerous for you, but it can be damaging to the whales. If you are concerned about a stranded, entangled or injured whale in BC please contact Cetus Society (a member of the BC Marine Mammal Response Network) toll free 24/7 at 1.800.465.4336.

This is a quick version of the Whale Wise Guidelines. For the full resource head to our conservation page here and read up on all of the laws and regulations. On that page you can also download the Whale Wise poster and brochure. These resources give a great visual explanation of these guidelines.

Remember, we need to minimize our impact on marine wildlife so that we can enjoy them for years to come. These guidelines are designed to help you enjoy your wildlife encounter, while reducing the risk of disturbing marine wildlife.

Partner with us in our efforts to keep whale watching an awesome experience for everyone. If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to get connected then hit that chat with us button! We operate daily departures for whale watching from the White Rock Pier. Reservations are recommended, if you are interested you can book online anytime.

Be sure to follow us in the social world on Facebook or Instagram to keep connected and current on any special events or offers coming up.

See you out on the water!