Captain’s (B)log

Ever wondered what it’s really like to be a Whale Watching Captain in Newfoundland? It’s early mornings, coastal scouting, and creating unforgettable moments on the water. Our crew at Sea of Whales Adventures works hard to give every guest the best possible whale watching experience. Here’s a look behind the scenes into the life of our Captain, and what makes this job so rewarding:

“Being a Whale Watching Captain is my dream job.  I’ve loved being on the water for as long as I can remember.  When I learned that I could do this for a living, it was like a light bulb went off.  It’s such a pleasure to get to help people check bucket list items off each and every day.  

Being a Captain isn’t just hopping on the boat and being out for 2 or 3 hours.  There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes.  Most days, I am up with the sun.  My dog, Minke, and I go to the headlands around Trinity Bight and look out to see what is happening.  Having a look at what the conditions are, where the whales are, and whether or not an iceberg has moved in over night helps to shape where our trips will be going from.  If I don’t like what I see, sometimes I will decide to the move the boat to one of our other locations to ensure a better experience for the guests who will visit us that day.  Minke and I will often stop at the salmon river for a couple of casts on the way home.  

After this, it’s back to Trinity to get the boat ready for the day.  There’s a lot of moisture in the air here at night, so the boat needs to have the seats dried and the tank filled with gas.  I’ll warm up the engines and have it ready to go for the trip.  Then it’s back to the house to meet the guests and help get everyone get suited up for our tour.  While we are on the water, I am constantly watching making sure that I am showing the guests the best of what is out there at the time, confirming that everyone is comfortable, and explaining what we are seeing and where to look.  

In between trips, I have just an hour to get everyone in and say goodbye.  Our crew takes care of getting the survival suits off everyone and hung to dry in our drying room.  While this is happening and guests filter through the gift shop, I grab a quick lunch and a coffee, and have another look on one of the lookouts to confirm what is happening out there before checking the boat and topping up the gas.  Then, it is time to meet the next group.   In high season we will do between three and six trips on any given day between two crews!  It’s busy and I love every minute of it!

At the end of the day, boats get secured at the dock, or hauled up out of the water, and ready to move to a different location for the next morning.  I check the suits in the drying room and get everything reset for another day of watching whales.  Life is good!”

From sunrise scouting to sunset dock checks, being a whale watching captain in Newfoundland is a full-time passion. Every day brings new ocean discoveries, breathtaking wildlife, and the chance to share our love of the sea with visitors from around the world. Ready to experience it for yourself? Book a tour with Sea of Whales Adventures and see firsthand what makes our corner of Newfoundland so magical!