MarineLand Canada - 15th August 2003

We arrived at 10:30 and I went over to Neocia's tank and I met Kristine (the creator of SOTO). Neocia was just lazing about in the show pool. We talked until the guards let us in. We rushed up the steps and got seats at the slide out. Kristine went down to see Neocia and I waited for more people to come in and I asked 2 ladies to save our seats then I joined her. Neo wasn't really in her interacting mood though. She then went back into her tank and me and Kristine went back to our seats. Then she came back out and I brought down my stuffed orca this time. She sought of looked at it but nothing else. Then when the show was about to start we sat down. It was very good I thought. When It was over we went back down to the glass but Neocia wasn't interested. Then we went to the FC under water viewing, but Kiska and Nootka weren't doing much. We then got in line to touch the Beluga's! I went first! We got a Beluga called Charmin! She was so sweet but quite fat! Then we went over to Kiska and Nootka and watched them for a bit. Then we went over to Hudson and Kandu who were in a separate pool because the girls are pregnant. Then we went to the Orca petting session! We touched Kiska!! She is the first Orca I've evr tocuhed!!! Then we went to the FC under water viewing. We interacted with Kiska and the Beluga's for a bit. While we where watching Kiska and Nootka, Nootka suddenly started to act weird. She looked like as if she was about to give birth! She was swim around the pool very fast and going around and around! Me and Kristine really thought she was going into labour! Then we went to the tank with Kandu and Hudson. Hudson was just doing laps and Kandu was laying immobile but then Kandu was going crazy! He was spy hopping and splashing about like mad! And when he opened his mouth, and blood seemed to come out! The trainer called for someone to check on Kandu. She thought that Kandu may have bit his tongue! Then we did another Orca petting session but with Hudson! He is so sweet! Then we went to the under water viewing (again) and watched and interacted with them for a bit then went to the show and got the same seats. It was a little bit different. Then we went down to the glass and Neocia was interacting with us! I got great piccies! Then We went to another orca petting session and touched Nootka! Then I had to leave :(. But it was a great day that I will never forget!

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562541084EtBkum

Orca Watching - Canada - 9th August 2003

Place: Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada
Date: 9th August 2003
Boat name: Super Cat
Boat type: Two decks
How many people it carries: -
Company name: -
Trip length : 3 hours
Successful or Unsucessful: Successful
Who was on trip: Me, Mum, Dave, Mark, Anne, Sally, Jaime, Aunt Marjory
Wildlife seen: Orcas, Northern Elephant Seals, Seal Lions (Northern or Steller's), Harbour Seals

We didn’t see anything apart from Orcas and Seals (I really wanted to see Gray Whales though ). Well… We boarded the boat (Super cat) and I was on front deck! 10 minutes after we were moving the boat went so fast I nearly fell over! Then we reached the area’s where the Orcas had been sighted! We stopped a little further away and watched them surfacing! We saw J and K pod! Slowly they started approaching us! Then an Orca came within 2 meters of us!!!!! But my bloody camera ran out of battery >:(. When they were moving away I saw one spy hop! After they had moved quite far away we went after them but got ahead so they would come to us. Then in the distance I saw one breach :-D!!!!!!!! Then one was lob tailing! They were hunting! Then they came really close to us and were breaching, lob tailing, spy hopping and surfacing right in front of us! When they moved away we went to the Seals (and Sea lions)! We saw Harbour Seals, Steller’s Sea lion or Northern Sea lion and Northern Elephant Seals!!!!! Then we zoomed up to try and catch up with the Orcas! We got ahead and saw the odd on spy hop, lob tail and breach. Then the big one =D… Some of the pod came 1 meter away from the boat XD!!!!!!!!! They were surfacing, spy hopping and going under the boat! It was magical!! We followed them until we had to go into the Harbour . I will never forget it!

A lot more happened but I mean c’mon how am I supposed to remember a 3-hour trip?! =P

Pics here: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562801093teVMTn