Brier Island Whale Watching

When we were planning our summer trip to the Digby area, I couldn’t wait to go whale watching! I heard that Brier Island was the best place in Nova Scotia to see whales and I wasn’t disappointed! Once you read this I know you’ll be planning your trip to Digby too!

Best Whale Watching In Nova Scotia

While there are multiple places in Nova Scotia to see whales, like Cape Breton and Lunenburg, the Bay of Fundy is the best place to go whale watching.

The Bay of Fundy, located between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is an area many species of whales prefer to give birth when they arrive from their southern migration in the late Spring. The Bay provides protection and abundant food, and up to 12 species of whales can be found here in the summer months.

The best part for whale watching is the Bay is narrow, meaning that the whales are easier to find than out in the open ocean.

What Time Of Year Is Best For Whale Watching?

The whale watching tours usually run from mid June to mid October, however the best months are July and August due to the increased whale activity.

Most tour companies offer tours at different times of day, so what time of day is best to see whales? Any time! The water may be calmer in the early morning or later in the day, if you’re prone to motion sickness, that may be important to you. Whales can be active any time of day, and most companies offer a voucher in the case that you don’t see any whales!

What Kind Of Whales Are In the Bay of Fundy?

The most common whales that can be seen in the Bay of Fundy are the Minke Whale, Humpback Whale, Finback Whale and the North American Right Whale. Rarely you may see a Beluga Whale, Sperm Whale or Orca.

You can also find Harbour Porpoises, and White Sided Dolphins with some regularity.

Brier Island Whale And Seabird Cruises Review

There are so many tour operators to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming! When I asked for advice, most people recommended Brier Island Whale And Seabird Tours, and we weren’t disappointed!

The company has been around for 34 years, and in fact they are the original whale watching tour on Brier Island. I love that they are focused on studying whales and the conservation of their habitat.

The Tour

When you are booking you have the option of choosing between the Mega Nova, which is a fishing boat or the Cetacean Adventure/Orca 1, which is a Zodiac.

We chose the Mega Nova, and had a great experience. It cost $50 per adult, plus tax. Children ages 4-14 are $28, and 3 and under are free.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions this year the boats were only about half full, which meant you didn’t have to be too close to other groups and everyone could get a good spot to see. The trip was narrated by a lady who has spent her whole life on the water, and she had a wealth of knowledge about all the whales and seabirds. One of the reasons I chose the Mega Nova was that it has a bathroom on board, although I did not use it, it was nice to have the option!

We checked in for our trip at the main office, and then headed to the dock to get on the boat. I will note that you do have to go up/down a ramp to get onto the boat which may be challenging for those with mobility issues, or small children!

First on our trip we saw seals around Seal Cove on Brier Island, and then we headed further into the Bay of Fundy to find whales! We did catch up with a group of whales and spent quite a while floating while they came up and dove down. We got to see lots of whale tails, but sadly no whales were breaching on our trip!

We also got to see some puffins and other seabirds on our trip. All in all our trip was about 4 ½ hours.

The Zodiac tours are usually shorter, about 2 – 2 ½ hours long, and they provide you with a full length floatation suit to wear. These tours cost $80 a person, or $50 for a child ages 6-14. The Zodiac tours are not suited for children 5 and under.

Are Whale Watching Tours Worth It?

I would say yes! Although I admit, I did get a little seasick, we had a great time and I would love to go again. The tour is worth it because they can take the boat to where the whales are hanging out. You may be able to spot the whales from the land, but it’s not as predictable!

Make sure to bring warm clothes, since it can be quite a lot cooler on the water than on land, and Brier Island has a reputation of being foggy!

I also think it’s worth the trip to Brier Island, we loved exploring a bit before our tour. Check out all the things to do on Long and Brier Island, and also in nearby Digby and Bear River.

Have you done a whale watching tour?