Today we cruised through Chatham Strait, again in search of whales. We were delighted to see a few humpback whales waving hello with their large spotted flukes. In the afternoon, we went on various hikes to explore Lake Eva and its flowing salmon streams. Deep hues of golden browns were seen from the tannins leaching into the water from the surrounding vegetation. Wildlife was brimming both above and below the sea’s surface today. During dinner, we encountered a pod of killer whales and so we kept pace at about six knots in order to get some spectacularly close views! Double spy hops were highlights as two younger whales ballooned their upper bodies above the water perpendicularly. The moon came out as the mountainous seascape painted swashes of indigo and lavender.
9/3/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Peril Strait
National Geographic Quest arose amidst light clouds within the protected waters of Ushk Bay. This area is known for a salmon stream and yields plenty of opportunity for kayaking and exploring the vast meadows of its inner waterways. On this day’s occasion, guests were able to hike and paddle their way along the coast of Ushk Bay and witness firsthand the life cycle of Pacific salmon making their way upstream. As we transited through Peril Strait, we were lucky to see humpback whales. These immense mammals were “lunge feeding” very near our ship. Being able to witness this event was unique for guests and staff. Lunge feeding is process through which individual whales push their gaping mouths through the surface and collect any fish or planktonic invertebrates in the process. Witnessing this behavior was truly a remarkable experience for all. We will cherish this moment for a lifetime.
