What are the opening hours?

Monday 7:30am - 6:30pm Tuesday 7:30am - 6:30pm Wednesday 7:30am - 6:30pm Thursday 7:30am - 6:30pm Friday 7:30am - 6:30pm Saturday 7:30am - 6:30pm Sunday 9:30am - 5:30pm

Big Animal Encounters

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Campbell River, BC
Big Animal Encounters

Whales, Bears and Diving. Exploring British Columbia's rugged coastline for 30 years! With locations in Campbell River, Comox and Courtenay!
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Jump on board one of our covered, heated boats, or hold on tight for a wild ride aboard one of our high speed zodiacs. Our experienced crew will take you on an adventure in search of the big animals of British Columbia!

09/04/2024

Pacific Ata’tude and a pec slapping humpback! The humpback whales have been so incredible this year.

08/23/2024

Good vibes only!! We have the best team at Big Animal Encounters 💙

08/16/2024

T minus 4 days until our Grizzly Bear Expeditions start! 🎉

Travel deep into Bute Inlet where the grizzly bears converge to feast on spawning salmon in the Orford River. Run in partnership with the Homalco First Nations on their traditional territory.

📆: Aug 20th - Oct 15th
📍: Campbell River, BC

08/12/2024

Such a fun staff party the other night - missing a few crew members but you’d never know thanks to photoshop… 😂

Our Big Animals team works hard to share the beauty of British Columbia with guests from around the world. We appreciate you!!

08/11/2024

There’s been something in the water lately…

Jumpy humpies everywhere! Check out this double breach taken near Mitlenatch Island a few days ago.

07/20/2024

The caspian terns are back… with chicks!

Thank you to Soul Stealer,Photos by Tony Austin for the photos 🤗

07/12/2024

Absolutely stunning photos from our good friend Soul Stealer,Photos by Tony Austin on an Eagle Show Tour last week!

There are 2 more dates you can join for the Eagle Show… book our 7 Hour Big Animal Encounter Tour on these dates:

🦅 July 20 [6 spots left]
🦅 July 21 [FULL]

https://biganimalencounters.com/book-now/details/123147/7-hour-big-animal-encounter/

07/07/2024

Fishing is hot, seas are flat ! 2 hatchery Coho retention right now in and

06/26/2024

Starting on Saturday! 🎉 Skip the ferries... get to Hornby Island in only 45 minutes from our marine centre in downtown Comox.

Enjoy a comfortable ride on our covered vessels that carry 12 passengers each and have washrooms onboard.

After your water taxi, hop on the famous Hornby Bus for hop on-hop off transportation around this beautiful island. Visit stunning beaches like Tribune Bay, discover arts and culture, and unwind in the serenity of this Gulf Island paradise.

Scheduled runs every Friday, Saturday, Sunday from
June 28th, 2024 - September 1st, 2024 PLUS some extra days for the long weekends!

Visit the link in our bio to book your seats and to learn more!👇

06/25/2024

Big ol’ Bigg’s T-party up north a few days ago! The T101’s, T090’s, and T087 met up just as our 4hr tour arrived and had a lovely celebration in the tidal rapids near Stuart Island and into the entrance of Bute Inlet. Plus a visit to the Eagle Show - my goodness… what a tour. 🖤🤍🦅

📸:

06/24/2024

Such an epic encounter with this active humpback whale. From a few days ago near Quadra Island 🐋💙

The whales are returning in full force! Join us from Campbell River or Comox for the adventure of a lifetime.

06/18/2024

The countdown is on until our Grizzly Bear Expeditions start… only 9 weeks until we get to visit these beauties in Bute Inlet!

06/07/2024

Happy Friday!! The weather is looking gorgeous for this weekend - join us for a 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Tour in Campbell River 🐋

Our spring promo is still happening- book 3 spots and get the 4th free! Use the code “4SPRING2024” at checkout.

Link in bio to book!

📸: Chloe Rafaillac

06/06/2024

Good vibes on our 4 hour tour yesterday! Awesome weather, orca sightings, and a wonderful group of guests from around the world 🌎

05/31/2024

Well… yesterday was an epic day 😳

Such a beautiful encounter with these Bigg’s killer whales. T071B1, T071B2, T086A3, and her new calf T086A3A born sometime this year!

There was so much synchronicity… through their tail slapping, their prey sharing, and how they moved side by side in a perfect motion.

Days like this are special! 💞

📸: Staff member Chloe Rafaillac

Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings Destination Campbell River

05/31/2024

The Campbell River Association of Tour Operators is running an exciting event TOMORROW, June 1st! To celebrate Ocean’s Week and the kickoff of the tourism season in Campbell River, we will be offering free wildlife tours every hour from 10am - 3pm.

Come to our marine centre in the Discovery Harbour Marine at 9:30am to sign up for a time slot during the day. Tours will be 30-45 minutes and will show you the wonders on the water of Campbell River. First come, first serve!

Visit this link for more info: https://explorecampbellriver.com/tourism-season-opening/

Campbell River Association of Tour Operators Destination Campbell River

05/29/2024

Our 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Tours have been a blast! It’s so nice to have humpback whales back in the area 🐋

Join us! Daily departures at 12:30pm from our Campbell River locations!

📸: 🙏

05/22/2024

We’re stoked to announce our After Work Dives in Campbell River through the summer!

Join us for a single tank charter in Discovery Passage on evenings with the best currents 👌👌 we’ll be visiting sites like The Rock, Row and be Damned, Steep Island, and more!

First date: May 31st @ 6pm
Dive site: The Rock
Price: $60 per diver

Singles and groups are welcome!

Book your spot using this link: https://biganimalencounters.com/book-now/details/362651/after-work-dives-campbell-river/

05/17/2024

Our Campbell River marine centres are officially open! Come visit us for art and gifts from local artists and artisans.

And you know what this means… whale watching tours start TOMORROW! Daily 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Tours: https://biganimalencounters.com/book-now/details/123148/4-hour-whale-wildlife-tour-campbell-river/

Use the code “4SPRING2024” to get your fourth spot FREE! Valid from May 18th-June 21st 🤗

05/07/2024

There’s been humpback sightings around Campbell River! 🎉

Our season launches in 11 days… join us for 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Tours in Campbell River! Don’t forget about our promo - book 3 spots and get the 4th FREE! Use the code 4SPRING2024 at checkout. Valid on dates from May 18th - June 21st.

05/03/2024

Announcing our new Hornby Island Water Taxi! 🥳

Skip the ferries... get to Hornby Island in only 45 minutes from our marine centre in downtown Comox. Enjoy a comfortable ride on our covered vessels that carry 12 passengers each and have washrooms onboard.

After your water taxi, hop on the famous Hornby Bus for hop on-hop off transportation around this beautiful island. Visit stunning beaches like Tribune Bay, discover arts and culture, and unwind in the serenity of this Gulf Island paradise.

Scheduled runs every Friday, Saturday, Sunday from June 28th, 2024 - September 1st, 2024!

Click here to book your seats and learn more: https://biganimalencounters.com/hornby-island-water-taxi/

Hornby Island Experience Comox Valley Tourism Vancouver Island

04/25/2024

It’s that time of year! Bears are emerging from their dens and can be seen on beaches and estuaries as they feed on sedge grasses and intertidal marine life.

📸: in May 2023

04/18/2024

Come with us on an adventure in the Salish Sea 🌎

No two tours with us are the same. We go wherever the wildlife is, and we’re willing to go the extra mile to find you the biggest and most exciting Canadian wildlife!

2024 Tour Dates:

📍Campbell River, BC:
🐋 May 18th - October 13th
🐻 August 20th - October 15th

📍Comox, BC:
🐋 June 22nd - September 15th

📸: Soul Stealer,Photos by Tony Austin

04/09/2024

📢 We’re hiring! 📢

We’re excited to announce that we’ve got a few positions available for our 2024 season. Join our fun and energetic team as we share our beautiful backyard with visitors from around the globe!

Positions available:
🐋 Guests Experience Coordinators
🐋 Marine Operations

Think you’d be a good fit? Send us an email with your CV at [email protected]

04/08/2024

Join us in Campbell River for the spring whale watching tour of a lifetime! Our 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Tour departs daily in search of the biggest and most exciting marine mammals on Vancouver Island.

Book 3 or more seats, get one free! Use the code “4SPRING2024” on dates from May 18th - June 21st.

We can’t wait to welcome you aboard!

https://biganimalencounters.com/book-now/details/123148/4-hour-whale-wildlife-tour-campbell-river/

📸: Soul Stealer,Photos by Tony Austin

Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings Experience Comox Valley Destination Campbell River

04/05/2024

Eagle Show 2024👇

Want to see hundreds of bald eagles fishing in the tidal rapids? Book our 7 Hour Big Animal Encounter Tour on any of these dates:

🦅 June 3
🦅 June 7
🦅 June 19
🦅 June 22 & 23
🦅 July 6 & 7
🦅 July 20 & 21

Click the link in our bio to learn more and to book!

📸:

04/02/2024

Our winter diving season is about to come to an end… with only one more weekend of dive charters left! It’s been an epic winter that went by way too fast.

We’ll soon start to make the shift to our whale watching season. It’s almost time to get marine centres ready and zodiacs put in the water. Whale watching tours start May 18th!

📸: .john.clark 🙏

04/01/2024

Spring time on Vancouver Island… one of the best times of the year to see orcas! We had an awesome weekend of dive charters, and were lucky to have orca sightings both days 🖤🤍

Our whale watching season starts up on May 18th in Campbell River and June 22nd in Comox… who’s ready to get out there?

📸: Captain on a 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Tour

03/27/2024

Moments from our Herring Spawn Tours last week. We’re still in awe at the sheer amount of wildlife that we got to experience. Check out the last photo - this kingfisher greeted us at the dock almost every day either sat on a mast or on the fence!

📸: Soul Stealer,Photos by Tony Austin 🙏

03/22/2024

This Steller sea lion has some stories to tell… check out those scars.

Photos taken by Soul Stealer,Photos by Tony Austin on our Herring Spawn Tour last week.

Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings Experience Comox Valley

Address

129-1340 Island Highway
Campbell River, BC
V9W8C9

Opening Hours

Monday	7:30am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	7:30am - 6:30pm
Wednesday	7:30am - 6:30pm
Thursday	7:30am - 6:30pm
Friday	7:30am - 6:30pm
Saturday	7:30am - 6:30pm
Sunday	9:30am - 5:30pm

Website

https://biganimalencounters.com/

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Videos

That feeling when you hear humpbacks vocalizing for the first time… 🤯 Taken in Comox on our 4hr tour a few days ago! The humpbacks are incredible there! #biganimalencounters #humpbackwhale #humpback #cetacean #cetacea #comox #comoxvalley #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia

Private 7 hour tour yesterday… it was their dream to see dolphins in the wild! And boy did we deliver… this incredible pod of dolphins jumped and porpoised and charged around the entrance of Frederick’s Arm for over 30 minutes. Dream come true! #biganimalencounters #pacificwhitesideddolphin #dolphinwatching #whalewatching #vancouverisland #discoveryislands #campbellriver #britishcolumbia

Sometimes showing our guests the hake fish at the Eagle Show doesn’t go as planned… 😂 Captain Jason scooped up this hake fish that was on the surface and promptly received a bite just as the eagles started flying. These hake fish get pushed to the surface in upwellings on big flood tides, their swim bladders expand, and they float on the surface which attracts a massive migration of bald eagles. Hundreds of bald eagles feast on the hake in the tidal rapids every May-July near Campbell River, BC. Thank you to our guest Luc for the video 🤗 #biganimalencounters #eagleshow #baldeagle #birdingvi #hakefish #campbellriver #vancouverisland #discoveryislands #britishcolumbia #pnwlife

Sound up!! Whales galore around Campbell River and Comox right now. The humpbacks are having a feeding frenzy in great numbers. 🎥: Captain Jason #biganimalencounters #humpbackwhale #cetacean #whalewatching #humpback #campbellriver #comox #vancouverisland #discoveryislands #gulfislands #britishcolumbia

Surfing Pacific white-sided dolphins 🏄💙 #biganimalencounters #pacificwhitesideddolphin #dolphin #cetacean #vancouverisland #discoveryislands #campbellriver #comox #britishcolumbia #pnwlife

Sound on 📣 Northern Resident killer whales near Campbell River yesterday! #biganimalencounters #killerwhale #orca #orcinusorca #northernresidentorcas #nrkw #whalewatching #cetacea #vancouverisland #campbellriver #britishcolumbia

Little visit from a river otter at the Comox dock yesterday 🦦 #riverotter #comox #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia

Throwback to this sweet moment in Discovery Passage 💞 Here are Bigg’s killer whales TO46B1 “Tread” and her first calf TO46B1A “Tsakani”. The two of them were spotted from @painters.lodge in late summer 2022, quickly riding the flood tide south through Discovery Passage. 7 year old Tsakani did an amazing spyhop just as they were passing Painter’s Lodge, where about a dozen of us sat and watched. Since then Tread has had a new calf! Fingers crossed we see this sweet family this summer 💕 Clearly skipper @shan_groen was a little excited… 😬

Have you visited our new location the Comox Marina yet? We'll be running 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Tours daily on our covered vessel Pacific Ata’tude from June 22 - September 15! Join us to witness humpback whales, sea lions, orcas, dolphins, seals, colourful sea birds, and stunning scenery. All on a comfortable covered vessel with a bathroom onboard and a large back deck for wildlife viewing. We can't wait to welcome you aboard in beautiful Comox, BC 🇨🇦 Experience Comox Valley Comox Valley Guide Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings

Pacific Seeker looking mighty fine in Nodales Channel, BC 🇨🇦 This beauty of a vessel runs our 7 Hour Big Animal Encounter tours and Grizzly Bear Expeditions. #biganimalencounters #whalewatching #pacificseeker #campbellriver #britishcolumbia #vancouverisland #pnwlife

How on earth was this already a year ago?! 🤯 One of those unforgettable dive charters with @seabeneath_ 🐳 two humpback whales singing so loud underwater that the divers could feel the vibrations in their bodies. We hung out at the surface after the dive and listened to them with a hydrophone. 📍Campbell River, BC 🇨🇦 #biganimalencounters #humpbackwhale #humpback #whalewatching #cetacean #cetacea #divecharter #divebc #beneathbc #campbellriver #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia

Pacific white-sided dolphin fly by 🐬 🎥: Captain Paul #biganimalencounters #pacificwhitesideddolphin #dolphin #whalewatching #campbellriver #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #pnwlife

Pacific white-sided dolphins on our surface interval between dives this weekend! Doesn’t get any better than that 😍 🎥: @russell.john.clark #biganimalencounters #pacificwhitesideddolphin #dolphin #whalewatching #campbellriver #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #pnwlife #discoverypassage

Pectoral fin slapping humpback whale near Campbell River, BC 🐋🇨🇦 Counting down the days until our whale watching season starts on May 17th… #biganimalencounters #humpbackwhale #humpback #whalewatching #cetacean #cetacea #campbellriver #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia

Some playful Pacific white-sided dolphins in the Discovery Islands Archipelago 🐬 Book your 2024 Campbell River whale watching tour now! Link in bio 🔗 #biganimalencounters #pacificwhitesideddolphin #dolphinwatching #whalewatching #dolphin #cetacean #campbellriver #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia

A beautiful young grizzly chasing salmon in the spring-fed Algard Creek. 🎥: @sammynicolecurry #biganimalencounters #grizzlybear #grizzly #bearviewingbc #gobearviewing #grizzlybearlife #campbellriver #orfordbay #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia