Bluewater Adventures

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.

10/21/2023

It's a Wrap!!
The last Bluewater ship has returned to the Bluewater fleet’s winter resting grounds, following a tremendous season exploring the BC coast and Southeast Alaska.

We are grateful for the many memories created on our Bluewater adventures this year. Thank you to our exceptional crew for leading extraordinary expeditions and sharing your passion for the coast. And thank you to all of you who traveled with us this year – you made each experience one of a kind.

📷 Sharon Kay, Sabine Moll, Jérémy Mathieu, Liron Gertsman, B Hanbridge

08/27/2023

The final itinerary of the season!

All three Bluewater vessels have arrived to Bella Bella to begin our 2023 Great Bear Rainforest trips! Covering about 6.4 million hectares along the central and northern British Columbia coastline, the Great Bear Rainforest protects the area's extremely diverse plant, animal and marine life. We travel at a slow pace through the Great Bear Rainforest to allow guests to truly soak up all this area has to offer.

08/18/2023

With over half of our 2023 operating season behind us, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank current and past Bluewater guests for taking part in our adventures. Our guests are inquisitive, flexible, and adventurous which allow us to provide some pretty incredible wildlife and nature experiences. Thank you for entrusting us to lead you on your travel expedition and we hope that you walk away from your trip with new insights into the natural world!

📷Becky Butler and Sharon Kay

08/16/2023

Sneak peek!! Coastal Waves is magically transforming a photo taken by one of our guests into a hand-painted work of art. We cannot wait for the end of her project, which will be shared with all of our guests traveling with us this year. A perfect testament to slow travel, exploring the beautiful British Columbia coast.

Here is another progression photo of my 30x40 painting. Things happen slowly when painting with a tiny detail brush.

08/04/2023

On our Northern Vancouver Island itinerary, it isn't uncommon for us to see both transient and northern resident orca whales. Glancing a dorsal fin can help our onboard naturalist identify what orca we're seeing, or if there are multiple, what pod, as all dorsal fins are unique.

The Island Odyssey is set to depart on our first Northern Vancouver Island trip of the 2023 season tomorrow! To all those onboard, have a fantastic time!

08/01/2023

The Prime Minister needs to be reminded to fulfill his government's promise and transition all open-net pen salmon farms out of B.C. waters by 2025. Send him a letter! https://nwmd.io/s/facebook/Zx8_BDHEHP7uSm2jLLA=/r https://act.newmode.net/action/living-oceans/keep-your-promise-salmon-farms-out-no...

07/20/2023

Let's hear it for the crew!🎉

The Bluewater crew is the heart and soul of our operation. They provide the guidance, facilitation, safety, and insight on our trips that make every Bluewater trip a new experience. Their continuous and enduring support of our guests create a space where learning and growth can flourish.

Thank you to each and every Bluewater crew who has been onboard and is coming onboard for the 2023 season!

07/06/2023

Hello Alaska! 👋

The Island Roamer departs for our first Southeast Alaska trip of the 2023 season today! Our longest itinerary, Southeast Alaska delivers both jaw dropping scenery and incredible wildlife viewing oppourtunities. With only four total Southeast Alaska trips on the roster for this season, space is limited to experience this incredible corner of the world!

06/28/2023

Jumping for joy! (times two)

It may surprise you to know that this photo was in fact taken in the Great Bear Rainforest! Though the black, grizzly, and spirit bears of this area tend to get the spotlight, the marine life in the Great Bear Rainforest can also be extremely spectacular as not to be outdone by their terrestrial counterparts.

We have limited space on a couple Great Bear Rainforest 2023 sailings! Please check our website or all the office to inquire on availability

Photo: Savage Photography

06/21/2023

A month of Haida Gwaii in 2023

The Island Solitude has been in Haida Gwaii for just about the past month now in 2023, wrapping up her fourth trip there in a few short days. Haida Gwaii is not only a place where nature is on full display in all her glory, but also a destination that holds an incredibly rich, deep, and unique cultural history. In visiting the Haida Heritage Centre ahead of boarding the boat and stopping by Watchmen sites in Gwaii Haanas, we hope guests can soak in the history and learn more about the Haida people.

Anyone joining us in Haida Gwaii this year?

06/14/2023

The Odyssey is off to join the fleet! 👋

Today the Island Odyssey departed North Vancouver to kick of the first of her 2023 trips. The Odyssey is set to tour around Haida Gwaii, North Vancouver Island, and the Great Bear Rainforest this season. With her departure today, that makes all three of Bluewater Adventures' vessels out for the season with their return set for October!

Bon voyage Island Odyssey!

Photo: Jérémy Mathieu - Photographie et Film

06/06/2023

The 2023 season has begun!

The Island Solitude & Island Roamer have completed their first trip of the season and are currently out with their second group of guests! The Island Solitude is cruising around the serene waters and islands of Haida Gwaii while the Island Roamer is viewing fascinating grizzly bear behaviour in the Khutzeymateen.

With two fantastic trips down, we can't wait to see how the rest of the season unfolds! We hope to see some of you onboard soon!

Photo 1: Martin Kluemper
Photo 2: Eddy Savage Photography

05/30/2023

The ever elusive spirit bear

The spirit, or Kermode, bear is a subspecies of black bear that is found in certain areas of the Great Bear Rainforest. Contrary to some belief, spirit bears are not albino bears (or polar bears), they just are expressing double recessive genes from the black bear gene pool. Travelling out from the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia to try and spot a spirit bear significantly reduces your chances of seeing one.

We still have a few spaces available on our Great Bear Rainforest itineraries! Please look at our website for rates and dates, or call the office to inquire

Photo: Martin Kluemper

05/23/2023

Just a little snack 🐟

During our Great Bear Rainforest trips there are ample opportunities for bear viewing, both boat based in our zodiacs along estuaries, and within the rainforest itself. We typically see bears hunting for salmon - whether the salmon is alive or not, well, that's up to the bear.

We have some space available on a few of our Great Bear sailings for 2023! Please check out website for rates & dates or call the Bluewater office to inquire.

Photo: Kate Price

05/17/2023

Dinner & a show

The Island Solitude enjoying that golden hour last year in the Great Bear Rainforest. Not only does the Great Bear Rainforest itinerary offer many chances at glimpsing some incredible wildlife, it also offers those opportunities backdrop against towering peaks, within massive fjords, and along the banks of rushing estuaries.

We have a space available in the Great Bear Rainforest for 2023 sailings! Please view our website for dates and rates, or call the office to inquire

Photo: Martin Kluemper

05/10/2023

Welcoming our 2023 Bluewater Crew! 👋

This past weekend Bluewater held our annual crew training onboard Island Roamer, Island Odyssey, and Island Solitude. Bringing together over 20 of our seasonal crew members, crew training offered time to reconnect, share knowledge, and prepare for the season ahead which starts in 9 short days!

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it out this past weekend. We all look forward to welcoming our guests onboard shortly!⛵

04/25/2023

Peaceful Evenings 🌅

Haida Gwaii offers many moments of reflection, silence, and gratitude. Whether it be a solo kayak, taking in the history of a Heritage site, or simply soaking up the greenery of the intense coastal rainforest, there are many little moments like this to be had.

We have a few spaces left on our 2023 Haida Gwaii sailings. Please check our website or call the Bluewater Adventures office to inquire

Photo: Sharon Kay

04/18/2023

Calling all whale enthusiasts! 🐋

Interested in learning more about the BC Coast from one of Bluewater's best cetacean scientists? The wonderful Rob Lott will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, April 27 at 11am PST to discuss orca, current conservation efforts, and why he returns annually to lead our legendary North Vancouver Island trip onboard the Island Odyssey.

To register for the webinar, please reach out to [email protected] by April 24th to receive the Zoom link!

04/13/2023

Can we identify where we are here? 🧐

This is a lesser shot side of S'Gang Gwaay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of many potential Haida Watchmen sites we visit on our Haida Gwaii itinerary. Looking out to the water we are seeing the backs of the totem poles with an old house structure in the foreground.

But we don't want to spoil the experience! If you're interested in learning more about Haida culture and exploring this pristine and magical corner of British Columbia, we have a few more spaces available on our 2023 Haida Gwaii sailings. Please call the Bluewater office to inquire on openings

04/07/2023

Another spring sailing program in the books! ⛵🌊

Every March & April, Bluewater Adventures facilitates sailing programs onboard Island Odyssey & Roamer for high school aged participants, predominantly from Alberta. These 5 days trips take place in the Gulf Islands National Park and focus on exposing our participants to the rich coastal environment of the Southern Gulf Islands with themes of conservation, marine biology, and ecology. These trips also set the stage for participants to learn about responsibility, teamwork, and initiative through actively taking part in live aboard boat life.

To our over 160 participants, 20+ chaperones, and 12 crew: thank you for another season of learning and new experiences! We'll see you in 2024

03/23/2023

If the Island Roamer had a taste, it would be that of a West Coast Pale Ale!

Currently, the Island Roamer & Odyssey are out hosting our Spring Sailing Program - predominately high school student groups from Alberta - around the Southern Gulf Islands. This program gives teens and young adults a chance to experience & see our amazing coast, many for the first time! These experiences can have lasting effects and memories, as noted here by our friends at Nine in a Line Brewing Co, whose owner happened to be one of those Alberta students back in the day.

So thrilled that we were able to unite both of these wonderful Island Roamer's together. Thanks Nine in a Line Brewing Co!

Many of our beers tell a story, and one of ours made it home!

The Island Roamer made it onboard its namesake this week.

https://www.bluewateradventures.ca/onboard-the-vessels/island-roamer.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The Island Roamer is a 68-foot sailboat that in days gone by gave many land locked Vulcan kids an experience of the west coast. The Island Roamer carried the Marine Biology trips that were offered annually through the local high school. For many of us it offered an opportunity to sail at sea and to explore rugged coastal landscapes. Island Roamer the beer is a west coast pale ale that at first taste brought a wave of memories and stories of the west coast experience of our youth. We hope this brew will take you back to meaningful journeys of your past and inspire adventures yet to come.

A solid pale ale, or west coast pale, is a staple on most craft beer menus. It offers a little more bitterness and flavour than a traditional lager, blonde ale or cream ale, while still being more approachable than some of the more flavour-packed options available. They should not be boring. After trying some excellent pale ales this summer and discovering cryo-pop hops, we needed to get some and try them in beer. The first beer that we made cryo pops was the start of something good. We cranked up the number of hops in the beer, to our delight. This is a great, flavourful beer, that is a great showcase for the wonderful flavour and aroma that hops offer.

02/10/2023

Who is ready for this summer view? 🌊

Kickstarting our 2023 season is our 9 day Haida Gwaii itinerary, and we can't think of a better trip to get us back into the 'on the water' mode. Haida Gwaii has just about everything you could look for in a trip: breathtaking scenery, a rich and empowering cultural history, wildlife abound in both the marine mammal & sea bird realms, and a rainforest so green and vast it feels like a brand new world. Haida Gwaii has been taking our breath away for decades, and we can't wait to be back there again soon.

Interested in visiting Haida Gwaii? We have some spaces available on a few of our sailings in 2023! Please visit our website for further information on rates and dates. We hope to see you there!



Photo: Martin Kluemper

02/01/2023

Gotta get your greens! 🌱

Sedge, a high protein grass-like plant, is a super important part of a grizzly bear's diet in the spring when they're looking to pack on the pounds after hibernation. Sedge is quite abundant in our coastal estuaries in the spring which gives grizzly bears easy access to the protein their bodies need. On our Khutzeymateen trips, in these estuaries is most likely where we may view bears munching away.

Interested in viewing grizzly bears? There are a few spaces still available on our Khutzeymateen trips in late May/early June. Visit our website for more information on rates and dates

Photo: Eddy Savage Photography

01/18/2023

Happy New Year Bluewater community!

We are officially into the latter half of January which means our sights are turned toward our 2023 season start which is just a mere four months away! Our season is ushered in by none other than our Khutzeymateen itinerary - a trip full of fjords, towering snow-capped mountains, and the verdant, grizzly bear filled estuaries that provide the much needed spring nutrition through sedge for our post-hibernation bears. The Khutzeymateen Park & Conservancy only allows a certain amount of visitors a season, and we are very fortunate to be able to visit this extremely unique and wild place along our coast.

We have a few spots still available on this incredible trip! Please check out our website or contact our office for further details on rates and dates.

Photos: by the very talented Eddy Savage Photography

12/23/2022

From all of us here at Bluewater, we wish you and your family a happy holiday season surrounded by loved ones, and a healthy New Year!

We'll see you all in 2023!

12/14/2022

Last but not least: Great Bear Rainforest! 🐻

Our final itinerary of 2022 was the Great Bear Rainforest. Running trips on all three of our vessels from late August to mid October, the Great Bear Rainforest continued to capture the hearts, awe, and love of so many guests and crew who visited her misty fjords & estuaries this season. We did not visit the Great Bear Rainforest in 2020, and only ran a handful of trips there in 2021, so to be back for a steady tenure in this incredibly special pocket of the world felt phenomenal. From grizzly bears to spirit bears to humpbacks to even elephant seals, this area never fails to inspire and delight.

As one guest said on a trip on Island Odyssey this year: "What an amazing trip! We have learned so much, been in awe of the empty, wild space. So very grateful to the knowledgeable & extremely competent crew who took care of us and introduced us so well to the world of bears, whales, birds, and plants that are unique to this beautiful part of the world - we were blown away"

We have a few spaces left on our Great Bear Rainforest trips in 2023! If you're interested in joining, please check out our website for up to date rates & dates!

Photos: Liron Gerstman

12/07/2022

A true hidden gem 🐋

Our Northern Vancouver Island itinerary was welcomed back with "wide fins" this summer. Cruising through Johnstone Strait and the Broughton Archipelago, this trip may seem close to the real world, but don't be fooled. Soaring peaks, foggy mornings, trumpeting whales, orcas tail slapping - the cacophony of noises against such a wild backdrop is as magical as it gets. We were fortunate enough to run 4 trips in this region, and every trip end made us long to get back out to catch glimpses of the splendour that is the underwater world around us.

As one guest said in 2022 on our North Vancouver Island trip: "A wonderful trip. Thank you to everyone who has made it so special from [the office] to [our crew] on the boat. We came to try to see orcas but didn't see any. It didn't matter as all the other wildlife made up for it. The scenery has been stunning as have the morning & evening skies. We were visiting from the UK and it certainly has been worth it"

Our North Vancouver Island trips for 2023 are open for booking. Please check out our website for up to date schedule & pricing!

Photos: Jérémy Mathieu - Photographie et Film

11/29/2022

The land of the midnight sun 🌅

The Island Roamer, along with 15 different crew & 50 guests, completed four 11-day & one 14-day Southeast Alaska trips this season. Following a similar vein to many of our other trip itineraries this year, this was our first time back in this incredible wilderness since August 2019. With its glacier studded fjords, rafts of sea otters, and the oppourtunity for spectacular bear & whale viewing, we didn't quite realize how much we missed Southeast Alaska until we were back. Offering sights and sounds truly unique to this trip schedule, Southeast Alaska is a deeply special and profound experience that is one of a kind.

Better put from one guest this July: "Thank you to the entire Bluewater Adventures organization and staff for the most incredible and profoundly moving adventure. I am awestruck by the numerous encounters of nature - a trip never to be forgotten"

Thank you to all crew and guests who joined us on this adventure in 2022. Looking to experience Southeast Alaska for yourself? We have limited space available on our 2023 Southeast Alaska itineraries; please check our website for our current rates and dates!

Photo 1 & 2: Cindy Miller Hopkins
Photo 3 & 4: Bruce Whittington