Bluewater Adventures

03/19/2025

The Haida have called the islands of Haida Gwaii home since time immemorial, their rich culture and history deeply intertwined with the land and sea. Recent landmark agreements have confirmed Haida Title over Haida Gwaii, affirming their enduring connection and sovereignty of this land. In April 2024, the government of British Columbia initiated a precedent-setting transfer of provincial land and jurisdiction to the Haida Nation, a culmination of years of collaborative negotiations. This was followed in February 2025 by the Canadian government's Chiix̲uujin / Chaaw K̲aawgaa "Big Tide (Low Water)" Haida Title Lands Agreement, formally recognizing Haida Title to all federal lands down to the low tide mark. The agreements will be implemented over the next five years.

These agreements represent a significant step towards reconciliation, exemplifying a commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and fostering a renewed nation-to-nation relationship. This first-of-its-kind achievement, born from the spirit of Gud ad T’alang HlG̲ang.gulx̲a Tll Yahda / Tll yá’adee G̲ii gud ahl t’álang hlG̲ángulaang - “People Working Together to Make it Right,” demonstrates the power of negotiated settlements.

Bluewater Adventures extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Haida Nation and we eagerly anticipate our return to Haida Gwaii this spring. Interested in joining a Haida Gwaii sailing? We have limited availability this coming summer - check our website for current rates & dates!

Photo: Rogier Gruys,

03/06/2025

We are less than two months out from our 2025 season starting! One of our first itineraries, that only takes place in the spring, is the Khutzeymateen - Canada's first grizzly bear sanctuary. With very limited access, this wildlife gem offers coveted and unparalleled bear viewing during the early season

Video:

02/28/2025

"In the heart of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, one Nation is reclaiming the power they held for millennia. As the impacts of colonial exploitation and mismanagement take an increasing toll on their territory, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation finds strength in its stories and culture, emerging as a stewardship leader in a new age of reconciliation in Canada." Watch this powerful and visually stunning Nature of Things 30 minute documentary here:

In the heart of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, one Nation is reclaiming the power they held for millennia. As the impacts of colonial exploitation...

02/21/2025

Spring is one month away! 🌷

Spring is a great time to travel the coast - a fresh, new energy arrives, shaking off the slower pace of the winter months. Many amazing natural wonders take place in the spring: the herring spawn, ancient murrelet chicks bravely dashing toward their ocean home, bears - old and new - coming out of hibernation to sedge filled estuaries. Dotted with the red, purples, and yellows of the wildflowers in bloom, the BC coastline in the spring is a literal and metaphorical breath of fresh air.

Interested in seeing the coast this spring? Join us in the Khutzeymateen grizzly bear sanctuary or in Haida Gwaii. Check out our website for current dates & rates

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02/07/2025

Haida Gwaii has ranked high on many international "Must Travel" lists for the year of 2025. As a cultural and biological wonder, Haida Gwaii has always been a very special destination to us, and with a spotlight being shone on it this year, we wonder if more visitors will flock to its supernatural coastline. As long time visitors of this area, and in light of a potential influx of popularity this coming season, we encourage everyone visiting to take the Haida Pledge which outlines how one can visit responsibly while honouring the Haida Ways of Being. If travelling with us to Haida Gwaii this season, or if you're just curious, you can view the Haida Pledge here: https://haidagwaiipledge.ca/

Interested in travelling to Haida Gwaii? We set sail in May and are there until mid-August. Check out our current schedule & pricing on our website

01/17/2025

Happy New Year!

We hope everyone has had a restful and healthy start to 2025. We have returned to the office feeling energized to focus our sights in earnest on our 2025 season! Starting in mid-May in Haida Gwaii, our trips will extend all the way to mid-October ending in Great Bear Rainforest. Spring in Haida Gwaii brings fewer visitors and incredibly birding for our birder enthusiasts. Check out our website to browse through our current Haida Gwaii offerings

12/21/2024

Another winter solstice ❄️🌖

As we embrace the long days of winter, we hope this finds you surrounded by good company, cozy food, and great stories. Take signal from our darker days to slow down and reconnect with those around you.

From all of us here at Bluewater Adventures, we wish you all a wonderful holiday season, and a happy and healthy New Year. We'll see you in 2025!

12/12/2024

The 2024 salmon return has been one of the best in long time. In addition to the incredible whale activity the coast was gifted with this summer, the salmon return marked a banner year for the BC coast.

Researchers and scientists have yet to determine exactly why the 2024 salmon run and orca sightings were so strong, but one renowned and established whale biologist of the coast, Alex Morton, said to the National Observer that "there is some indication that increased orca sightings and strong salmon returns is proof that closing 42 fish farms of B.Cs West Coast is paying off... but scientific proof will come as the years go by and the salmon count increases."

The resiliency of the natural world is always astounding, and we hope that our continued efforts to preserve and protect help continue to make the path toward healing all the easier for it.

12/04/2024

It's starting to get chilly out there! ❄️

Wintertime at the Bluewater office is all about preparing for our upcoming season. While living through the chilly days of the winter, our sights are set for the, hopefully, sunnier days of summer

📷: Samuel Weitzman, Southeast Alaska 2024

11/20/2024

Happy 50th Bluewater Adventures! 🎉

This past weekend we had the absolute pleasure of hosting Bluewater Adventures' 50th anniversary party. We were joined by crew spanning every decade of Bluewater's history for an evening of sharing stories, swapping memories, and celebrating this incredible milestone, made possible by every person in attendance.

To another 50!

10/30/2024

A moment of reflection for the 2024 season

We operated 38 trips, and participated in one Marine Debris Removal Initiative, from May to October this year. Our days were filled with good company, particularly incredible wildlife experiences - from bubble netting humpbacks to Mola Mola to packs of sea wolves to calving glaciers, some good, and also some very bad, weather conditions, always threaded together by great conversation. Only 197 days until we get to do it all over again.

A few photos from the season to keep the good feelings going:

Photo 1: .expeditions in the Khutzeymateen
Photo 2: in Southeast Alaska
Photo 3: in the Great Bear Rainforest

10/15/2024

Another bookend to another season ⛵

As of today, Bluewater's 2024 season has wrapped up! Operating 38 trips from the middle of May to today, we want to thank each and every crew member for their tireless effort, work ethic, and passion. For every guest that trusted us to provide them with a trip of a lifetime, thank you for allowing us to guide you along in the extremely special places we are lucky to visit. And as always, we are grateful to be on this beautiful coast that provides such incredible opportunity to witness firsthand the power and connection of nature.

📷 Photo 1 (Great Bear Rainforest, 2024): @.expeditions
📷 Photo 2 - 4 (Great Bear Rainforest, 2024):

10/09/2024

It's all fun & games in the Great Bear Rainforest

Our final two trips of the 2024 season have pushed off to travel the Great Bear Rainforest one last time this year. Despite a particularly rainy season, our guests and crew alike have been delighted by wonderful, and in the case of this photo, entertaining wildlife encounters on every trip.

📷: .expeditions

10/03/2024

Charging into the end of the season 🐻

With the turn of the calendar page, October sees our final Great Bear Rainforest trips heading out, capping off another summer operating season here at Bluewater. Our Great Bear Rainforest trips so far this year has been lucky to witness abundant and amazing wildlife from bears to whales to wolves and all in between. With the weather showing us why it's called the "rain" forest, we're grateful to all guests and crew for braving the elements!

With just two more trips set to depart, we can't wait to see what else is out there for us

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09/11/2024

It's that time of year again 🐟

All three of the Bluewater vessels are up on the central coast of BC running our Great Bear Rainforest itinerary! Our first few trips have wrapped up and it appears that nature is putting on a great display. From grizzly bears to salmon to wolves to spirit bears, our guests and crew have been lucky to witness some jaw dropping wildlife encounters.

With a month left operating in the Great Bear Rainforest, we can't wait to see what else Mother Nature has in store for us

Photo:

09/06/2024

📢 Good news alert!

We are excited to share that working alongside Maple Leaf Adventures and local First Nations', we have completed another Marine Debris Removal Initiative (MDRI), collecting a whopping total of 32.5 tonnes of fishing gear, nets, rope, polystyrene floats, plastic bottles, and more. This year's effort took place within the middle of our operating season and thanks to the incredible maritime knowledge, skills, and wilderness expertise of the 48 crew members onboard the three participating vessels, we were able to surpass our collection goal of 30 tonnes.

Leadership from the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, and Gitga’at Nations collaborated
with the expedition to remove debris from important cultural sites in coastal
regions surrounding Bella Bella, Klemtu and Hartley Bay, as part of the project.
Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department (HIRMD) in Bella Bella,
home of the Heiltsuk Nation, sent out 19 Heiltsuk youth and youth leaders. Also,
three boats and eight Hartley Bay community members worked alongside Cascadia
and Island roamer crews at the Moore Island group.

From Randy, Captain & Director at Bluewater Adventures: "After 50 years
operating nature tours on this coast, Bluewater Adventures understands how deeply
inter-connected the health of the ocean is to wildlife survival, visitor experience
and First Nations’ futures. This expedition cleaning up marine debris is an example
of how business needs to be responsible for their actions and our common future. If
we don’t get involved giving back, we really can’t justify the impacts our small
group expeditions actually do have."

04/05/2024

Experience transformative travel at its finest as Bluewater Adventures takes you into BC's remarkable wilderness. Behold nature's majesty while witnessing grizzlies thriving in Canada’s first and only dedicated sanctuary – truly life-changing encounters await!

Destination British Columbia shares its top 10 places to spot bears, including the Khutzeymateen (with us🐻)!!

Ever wanted to see a bear in the wild? BC offers many opportunities. Check out our list of the top places to see bears in BC.