Best whale watching tour on the Bonavista peninsula

Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Look no further than Sea of Whales. Here’s why we stand out as one of the best whale watching tours in Newfoundland.

Prime location

Situated on the scenic Bonavista Peninsula, Sea of Whales offers access to some of the best whale watching grounds in the world. Our tours depart from picturesque coastal towns, providing you with stunning views of rugged cliffs, caves, sea stacks, pristine waters, and, of course, abundant marine life. 

We are family owned and operated

Sea of Whales Adventures is owned and operated by Kris and Shawna Prince. It’s not unusual for the Prince children (12 and 10 years old) to join a trip, and provide their unique perspective on a boat tour. Cousin Corey Prince is also a boat captain and guides tours with Kris and Shawna. The business operates along with a cast of supporting staff that aren’t actually family, but sure feel like it. We hope that a trip with us makes you feel like family too!

Zodiac whale watching

Zodiacs are the industry standard for safety and stability.  In fact, the name is now used to describe any type of rigid hull inflatable boat. We operate two custom built Zodiac brand rigid hull inflatable boats. Every aspect of these boats was designed with your comfort and safety in mind.  Zodiacs consist of a fiberglass hull and an inflatable collar.  The hull will float on its own but the collar provides stability and shock absorption making it a safer and smoother ride.  Our boats are unique in the placement of the seating, the bench seat in the front of the boat runs bow to stern so that each person has an unimpeded view of the water. This also allows children to sit either on their own or with a parent.  

We are mobile

Most whale watch companies are in a fixed location.  We move our boats to wherever the best conditions and opportunities for whale watching are.  Operating on the Bonavista peninsula gives us lots of choices. With two different bays and several great harbours we can always choose the best conditions for whale watching.  Bonavista and Trinity bays are affected by winds differently – a wind that creates choppy conditions on one side of the peninsula is probably off the land, leaving much calmer conditions on the other side.  Often when it is foggy on one side of the peninsula, it is completely clear on the other. 

Captain Kris goes out each morning, spotting from shore with giant binoculars, so we know what is happening off of Trinity before our day begins.  We are also fortunate to have a whole network of “eyes on the water” who let us know what they are seeing so that we can make the most informed decision about where the best whale watching will be for the day.  Our home base is in Trinity but if conditions are not optimal or whales move on, our customers will receive a message before their trip explaining the change in our place of departure.  This is well worth a little extra work. Our goal is to provide our customers with the best whale watching experience possible.

We do whale research

Sea of Whales Adventures contributes to international whale research.  Even before Sea of Whales opened its doors in 2009, the Princes had been logging photo identification records of the whales in their region. Along with their friend Reg Kempen, they have been logging data since 2002, and records extend even further back than that. Sea of Whales contributes to the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog and the North Atlantic Orca Catalogue, and maintains a 25 year set of sperm whale and fin whale data.  This information is also shared with the online whale ID platform HappyWhale.  Sea of Whales collaborates with research organizations, within Canada, the United States, Ireland, the Azores, Turks and Caicos, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda.

_{^{This photo was taken just last week! We’ve also seen this humpback whale in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023!}} 

Keeping records of these sightings allows for tracking of these animals across the whole Atlantic Ocean basin, and gives us a glimpse into their remarkable lives. It is not unusual to see a whale on a trip with Sea of Whales Adventures that has been seen in the area for many years, and that has quite a long sighting history over its lifetime. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post about some of the whales that we see regularly in our area!

Commitment to conservation

At Sea of Whales, we’re dedicated to the protection and conservation of marine ecosystems. Our tours are conducted in accordance with responsible whale watching guidelines to minimize our impact on the environment and marine wildlife. By choosing Sea of Whales, you’re supporting sustainable tourism practices that benefit both the local community and the natural world.

Unforgettable Memories

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or embarking on your first whale watching adventure, Sea of Whales promises an experience you’ll never forget. From the thrill of spotting your first whale to the serenity of cruising past towering icebergs, our tours are filled with moments that will leave you in awe of the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

Check out this awesome article from Trips to Discover – 16 Best Whale Watching Tours Around the World. We made the list!

But don’t just take our word for it – join us on a whale watching tour with Sea of Whales and see for yourself why we’re one of the best whale watching tours in Newfoundland. Book your adventure today and get ready for an experience you’ll never forget!