Wild Waterways Adventures

01/03/2025

Our First Trip is Sunday! We have 6 seats left! This is a 4hr tour with a break at Fords Cove on Hornby Island. We start at Comox Valley Marina and make our way into the Pacific herring habitat to immerse into this sacred time of year and visit all the wildlife that follow this epic migration.

If your lucky you will catch the spawning event or Biggs Orca hunting sea lions.

DO IT FOR THE ADVENTURE!

https://wildwaterways.com/the-adventures/biggs-orca-salish-sea-herring-spawn/

Experience Comox Valley Destination Campbell River

Photo by Paige Owen

01/03/2025

I think my dog spent too much time with the Sea Lions today, quite the resemblance😂🤣 We did a scout around! What a beauty day on the water with Shantina Rae Photography Can’t wait to see the pics!

27/02/2025

Common questions we get for the Biggs & Herring Tour is “Have the herring spawned yet?, Will I see the spawn?, when will they spawn?”.

Yes, the herring spawn on the coast has begun, on the west coast, Howe Sound, and most recently Pender Harbour amd Nanaimo. None has been observed off Comox yet. However the herring are staging there already.

*The spawn was early in Howe Sound, therefore some think it may be early in March this year. It varies year to year so we can only speculate. Recent reports say the male herring are firm and female have blood in their eggs still, therefore they might hold their eggs for a while longer in our area.

Here are some key environmental factors influence Pacific herring spawning behavior:

1. Water Temperature – Temperature plays a significant role, with most spawning occurring when water temperatures are between 4–10°C (39–50°F).

2. Lunar Cycle and Tides – Many herring populations spawn around high tides and full or new moons!

3. Social and Chemical Cues – Spawning is a mass event often triggered when a critical density of fish is reached.

There is a new moon on Feb 27th, that is today! This creates big tides and moves a lot of water, and the first spawning events on the coast were all
on the full moon, again big tides. There is potential for the herring off Comox & Hornby/Denman Island to spawn around this new moon. The next full moon is mid March.

What the collective herring decide is still shrouded in some mystery, because we cannot pinpoint exact dates.

The hypothesis is that spawning events on big tides with the new and full moons is because the stronger tidal currents help disperse eggs and s***m, increasing fertilization success.

Well we hope this helps! If you see the herring spawn this year it’s a blessing, we see it every year, however we can’t be certain on the date.

To book the Biggs Orca & Salish Sea Herring Tour see the link below.

https://wildwaterways.com/the-adventures/biggs-orca-salish-sea-herring-spawn/

Photos by Paige Owen 2024 Season off Comox and Hornby Island.

Experience Comox Valley Destination Campbell River

25/02/2025

These reviews mean the world to a Small Business! Still getting 10 star reviews! Haha! The Best! Thank you all for your support

21/02/2025

Early spring adventures are quite the vibe! Dress warm and enjoy this refreshing season! It’s coming so fast!

17/02/2025

Happy Family Day!!! Whether you are with family or friends, enjoy this long weekend! And thank you to all our family, friends and guests that support us!

16/02/2025

Celebrate World Way Day by sending some love & gratitude to these Majestic beings of the water element! Whales certainly bring intense joy and excitement to all that encounter them and they continue to need our awareness and support for the waters they call home!

☝️What can you do to help whales in their environment, easy tips to make changes at home!

1. Change your laundry soap! Stop using toxic soap, purchase or make your own biodegradible laundry soap to protect the rivers and oceans.

2. Remove toxins from your home, toxic cleaners, or reduce the use extensively.

3. Fashion! This is a big one, buy local, sustaible clothing and support businesses that reuse, recycle and have a concious awareness for the environment (Walmart Clothing is cheap!) but it poisions the worlds waters with the foreign purchases they make in places like Bangladesh!

Check out some of my favourite reuse it designers and local, sustainable businesses

4. Support businesses like ours that are sustainable and help to create a balance and reduce plastic pollution among many other eco practices.

And so many more! These are basic consumer choices that go a very long way!

15/02/2025

Celebrate a seasonal, natural phenomenon this March with the wild Pacific herring that have already migrated to the inshore waters! These fish support entire pelagic and inshore marine ecosystems.

It’s a time to share the joy of early spring with our watery neighbours, when new life is born into this world and current life is sustained and nurtured.

We support Conservancy Hornby Island each season in their efforts to protect Pacific herring and feel proud to have a tiny part in helping this sacred cornerstone of life.

To learn more and book a tour go to the link below.

*All tours are weather dependant this time of year, the spawning event varies slightly year to year so we never know exactly which day it will begin, and whales move in and out like any tour, so each day is unique!

You can expect to see a lot of wildlife each trip.

https://wildwaterways.com/the-adventures/biggs-orca-salish-sea-herring-spawn/

Photos by Blair Denman

Experience Comox Valley

14/02/2025

So stoked! The season is here!

Dear CHI members, past members and supporters - it's almost that time of year again. This year's Fest is a week later than usual, and we've been a bit slow in this cold, but behind the scenes, things are shaping up.

This week, all current members of CHI will receive a mailout with advance access to tickets to our much loved Boat Tours - check your inboxes from tomorrow. Public ticket sales instructions and links will be shared here and on our website from February 7th (update: midnight Feb 9th - after which public sales begin on our website from morning of Monday Feb 10th).

But please remember to RENEW your membership for 2025 if you have not already done so, to ensure you are eligible for early bird tickets: https://www.conservancyhornbyisland.org/membership

14/02/2025

Whale you be mine🐳💙

13/02/2025

So soon!! We think they may spawn earlier in our area, two weeks potentially or sooner! Tour bookings are live! Check out our Youtube clips from last year!

Each spring, the Salish Sea transforms into a vibrant ecosystem as millions of Pacific herring migrate to spawn, creating a feeding frenzy that attracts pred...

12/02/2025

Herring spawned in Howe Sound!! It’s Happening! Herring and Biggs Orca Tours Start up in two weeks! see link to book!

https://wildwaterways.com/the-adventures/biggs-orca-salish-sea-herring-spawn/

11/02/2025

Join Métis Adventure Guide Jen on a transformative journey into the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, where ancient wisdom and natural healing converge. This immersive experience explores the profound cultural and medicinal significance of the Western red cedar, known as the Tree of Life for its nourishing and restorative properties.

Set in Wei Wai K*m Territory , this journey takes you into a vibrant old-growth forest, where towering cathedral trees stand as living testaments to the land’s rich history. Through an interpretive rainforest walk, you’ll gain insights into Coast Salish teachings, traditional plant medicines, forest bathing and the deep connection between nature and well-being.

This six-hour adventure begins with a scenic boat ride, often navigating through dynamic tidal rapids, offering opportunities to witness marine wildlife along the way. Upon reaching the forest, we will embark on a guided exploration that invites mindfulness, reflection, and play, fostering a sense of renewal in nature’s embrace.

Following the hike, we will gather to enjoy a nourishing homemade lunch, allowing time to connect and reflect before returning to Campbell River.

This journey is designed to inspire wellness, learning, and reconnection to the forest and Indigenous wisdom—an opportunity to walk in harmony with the land, honor its teachings, and emerge refreshed in spirit.

Photos by Shantina Rae Photography

11/02/2025

Educational Herring and Biggs Orca Tours off Comox are live on our website! https://wildwaterways.com/the-adventures/biggs-orca-salish-sea-herring-spawn/

The seasons are shifting with a wave of life hitting the coast as we speak! Pacific Herring are staging off the North Gulf Islands of Hornby and Denman and the whales, sea lions & marine birds are here for it!

Join us for a seasonal, local adventure to celebrate this gift of life with affordable rates and a sustainable company that supports the Conservancy Hornby Island with our conservation fee.

*Whales and Herring Spawn are not guaranteed, nevertheless it is always a good time for the potential of big groups of Biggs Orca and Steller sea lions, and if your lucky you may catch the actual spawning event!

*Tours are weather dependant and you will get a full refund if they cancel due to weather, or we will rebook you to a nicer day.

~DO IT FOR THE ADVENTURE

Footage by Tyler Cave Vancouver Island Travel and Tourism Tourism Vancouver Island Experience Comox Valley

https://youtu.be/RfqD9gZzWFc?feature=shared

Each spring, the Salish Sea transforms into a vibrant ecosystem as millions of Pacific herring migrate to spawn, creating a feeding frenzy that attracts pred...

07/02/2025

Join and WWA for professional and ethical photography tours with .teron and June 20th-20th.

*There are only 2 spots left!

This photo workshop will build on your skill set and welcomes hobbyists to professionals looking to build on their knowledge of photography and have a blast with a fun crew in one of the most extraordinary micro-habitats for Bald eagle photography in the world!

For more info visit:

https://www.artica-studios.com/2025-eagle-show-photography-tour--

Or DM

06/02/2025

Something unique an special coming soon wih Stan Novotny Productions & Photography and

31/01/2025

Vibe Check on Glassy Great Bear Adventures with

WWA Bear Tours run each May & June. This is an excellent time to witness early season bears foraging in beautiful fjords, estuaries and intertidal zones.

DO IT FOR THE ADVENTURE!

26/01/2025

Herring Tours! Bookings Live! Every March, we witness this breathtaking Pacific herring migration that revitalizes the Salish Sea, attracting apex predators like Biggs Orcas and Steller sea lions.

Our 4-hour tour from Comox, BC, offers an intimate look at this extraordinary natural phenomenon.

As a carbon-neutral ecotourism company, we are committed to preserving this precious resource; a portion of our proceeds supports Conservancy Hornby Island herring conservation initiatives. Join us in celebrating and protecting the Salish Sea’s vibrant ecosystem.

Book your adventure today! 

https://wildwaterways.com/the-adventures/biggs-orca-salish-sea-herring-spawn/

Experience Comox Valley
Destination Campbell River




Photos by Tyler Cave