West Coast Aquatic Safaris — Attraction in Tofino

Captain Jacks and deck hand Gordon took us in an amazing whale tour today! They were so knowledgeable about the area and the animals they were taking us to see. They were very respectful towards the marine life and kept a safe distance so as not to cause the animals any stress. Once Jacks found the whales (whom she knew by name by looking at their markings), she turned the boat off and the whales continued to feed giving us an amazing show of water spouts and tail flips. Some of them even decided to swim about 100’ from the boat - almost like they knew the boat and were coming to say hello. We were so lucky to have such calm waters to allow for optimal viewing and were able to see otters and sea lions as well. I 100% would do this again and it was worth every penny.

For anybody who is worried about accessibility issues, don’t be! They can accommodate all abilities and disabilities, all ages, and all shapes and all sizes. You do have to wear a life vest throughout the tour which are easily adjusted. I am a plus sized girl, was wearing several layers of clothing (long sleeve, hoodie, vest and a coat), and was able to wear the life vest no problem without an extender, but there are extenders available should you require one. The dock is a short walk from the shop, and there is ample parking in the immediate vicinity of the shop. Should you require accommodations for mobility issues, they have arrangements with the harbour allowing you to park close to the dock.

Do not let your fears of body size, mobility, or disability deter you from experiencing what the beautiful northern coast of Vancouver Island...

Can't say enough great things about these guys. My wife and I brought my mother-in-law, a senior, on a whale watching tour and it was just outstanding. So good that we immediately booked a bear watching tour with these guys too.

First of all, the whale tour: we saw grey whales... but so much more. In fact, the highlight may have been sailing right up to a huge sea lion colony (within a distance that was safe for the animals)... coming across an exceedingly rare sighting of a blue shark, and sailing into a cove packed with seals. The crew was excellent, very well informed, kind and funny. Most importantly, perhaps, the boat was perfect for all different ages in a family -- from my mother-in-law, to the little kids who were also with the tour. The combo of comfort and knowledgeable guides is pretty rare with nature tours on the west coast, in my experience... when we were done with the whale tour, we immediately booked a bear tour too.

We went out two days later on that bear tour and, yes, saw bears... Black bears just doing their thing hunting for crabs in a quiet cove on the back side of Meares island. That alone would have been awesome, but these guys -- Captain Jacks, Marcie and Adam, found more stuff for us: a raft of 100+ wild sea otters, lounging in a bay (something I never thought I would ever see), a cove full of moon jelly fish, eagles... And the amazing environment along a full circumnavigation of Meares Island, which would have been worth it in and of itself. Thanks, guys, for an experience that my wife and I will remember...

Unforgettable Hot Springs Tour with West Coast Aquatic Safaris & Captain Scott

We joined the Hot Springs Cove tour with West Coast Aquatic Safaris as a group of 10, including kids and youth (ages 10–15), along with two friendly Austrian travelers. What an incredible experience!

Captain Scott made this trip truly special. He was engaging, funny, and knowledgeable—our kids were absolutely amazed by him! His ability to connect with youth while also sharing in-depth knowledge of marine life and local history made the journey unforgettable. He quickly became the heart of the group, especially for the younger ones.

We thought we were just signing up for a boat ride to the hot springs, but what we got was so much more. Captain Scott’s sharp eyes spotted otters, grey whales, sea lions, and even orcas. We were incredibly lucky with the weather and the wildlife sightings!

Throughout the tour, Captain Scott shared fascinating details about the local ecosystem—like a live Marine Biology 101 session—and gave us insight into the eco-tourism history of Tofino and the local First Nations culture. It was educational, exciting, and deeply enriching.

Hot Springs Cove was beautiful, but it was the journey—with the wildlife encounters, stories, and care from Captain Scott—that made this adventure truly memorable.

Thank you, West Coast Aquatic Safaris, and thank you Captain Scott, for making our Vancouver Island trip complete. Highly recommended for families and anyone who wants more than just...