Minke Whales

Sleek, midwater feeding baleen whales.

Minke whales are one of the least studied marine mammals in this area, and we love them! Minkes are relatively solitary and spend their time in the Salish Sea on the search for food. They feed on schools of small baitfish. Watching a minke whale lunge feed through a bait ball is exhilarating, especially when there are multiple animals feeding in the vicinity.

A large flock of seagulls flying over the water, with some landing or taking off.
A whale swimming near the surface of the ocean, with part of its head and its body partially submerged.
A minke whale jumping out of the water in the sea with a forested shoreline in the background.
A large whale surfacing in the ocean with a seagull flying nearby and several smaller birds on the water's surface.
A whale breaching out of the water in the ocean.
A whale surfacing from water surrounded by seagulls flying above.
A whale surfacing in the ocean, showing part of its back and dorsal fin.
A whale surfacing in the ocean with its dorsal fin visible
A whale swimming in calm ocean waters.
Two orcas swimming in calm ocean waters with snow-capped mountains in the background.

Trip Highlights | 2021 Gallery

Orca whales swimming in the ocean, showing their black and white markings.

Trip Highlights | 2020 Gallery

A close-up of an orca whale breaching the water, with water splashing around it.

Trip Highlights | 2019 Gallery

Side view of an orca whale breaching out of the water, with its dorsal fin visible against a blue ocean background.

Trip Highlights | 2018 Gallery

A whale breaching the water with its body above the surface, surrounded by seagulls flying over the water and a distant shoreline with hills and trees under a clear blue sky.

Trip Highlights | 2017 Gallery

A whale is breaching out of the water in a large body of water, with a forested shoreline in the background.

Trip Highlights | 2016 Gallery

A white tour boat with multiple decks and people on board, sailing on calm water, with orcas swimming nearby in the foreground and distant landmasses in the background.

Building the Island Explorer 5 Gallery

Orca whale swimming in the ocean

Killer Whale Gallery

A whale's tail emerging from the water with a mountainous coastline and trees in the background, and a sailboat visible on the water.

Humpbacks Gallery

A whale's tail emerging from the ocean water.

Gray Whales Gallery

A seal lying on a rock near the water's edge with a surfboard-shaped rock beside it, against the backdrop of the ocean and rocky shoreline.

Pacific Northwest Wildlife Gallery

Snow-capped mountain in the distance with a body of water in the foreground, boats on the water, and a pastel-colored sky at sunset or sunrise.

World-Class Scenery Gallery