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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Americas

Americas

Canada

An Arctic floe edge for narwhal, beluga and bowhead whales, and summer whale watching in the Bay of Fundy.

Atlantic waves on the rocky coast of Nova Scotia, Canada
Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia · Photo: Tetiana Semenova on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 30 Sep 2026. Sources: Marine Mammal Regulations SOR/93-56, Government of Canada, Justice Laws; Canada to ban keeping whales, dolphins in captivity, CBC News, 2019; Tallurutiup Imanga, Oceans North, 2018.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. Australia's Smartraveller advises exercising normal safety precautions in Canada, with its advice current as of 28 September 2026. It mentions petty crime, wildlife in forested areas, and severe weather such as wildfires and heavy winter snow. Sources: Smartraveller travel advice, Canada Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

WhalesWildlife watching

Why Canada

At the floe edge near Pond Inlet in Nunavut, narwhal, beluga and bowhead whales may be seen, along with seals and polar bears, all watched rather than met in the water. The floe edge season is usually May to July. In Nova Scotia, boat trips from Digby Neck and Brier Island into the Bay of Fundy look for humpback, fin and minke whales from about June to October, and far offshore Sable Island is home to grey seals and wild horses. In Canada it is not allowed to swim with or feed whales, dolphins or seals, so here everything is watched from the boat or the shore.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

W. SaharaCanadaUnited States of AmericaRussiaBahamasNorwayGreenlandMexicoFranceMaliMauritaniaAlgeriaGermanySwitzerlandLuxembourgBelgiumNetherlandsPortugalSpainIrelandItalyUnited KingdomIcelandMoroccoPond Inlet and the Nunavut floe edge, CanadaDigby Neck and Brier Island, CanadaSable Island, Canada

When to go

May-Oct. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

Canada has clear law and we only watch, never swim. Feeding, swimming with or disturbing whales, dolphins and seals is not allowed, and since 2019 new whales and dolphins may not be kept in captivity. Pond Inlet is a remote Arctic expedition place, so for now we share the story and do not offer a trip. Inuit still hunt narwhal for food, and we respect this, but we only watch and never buy tusk or other products.

Checked 30 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in Canada

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Pond Inlet and the Nunavut floe edge

On pause, story only

Arctic floe edge where narwhal, beluga and bowhead whales may be seen from the ice edge. A remote, cold place for experienced travellers, shared here as a story for now.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Narwhal, Beluga, Bowhead whales

When: May-Jul. The floe edge season is usually May to July. Summer viewing can continue, depending on conditions.

Digby Neck and Brier Island

Exploring

Bay of Fundy boat trips to watch humpback, fin and minke whales, with porpoises, seals and seabirds.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Humpback whales, Fin whales, Minke whales, North Atlantic right whales (rare, 100 m or more), Harbour porpoises, Seals, Puffins and other seabirds

When: Jun-Oct. Whale trips run from about June to October, often best July to September. Every day on the water is different, so a few days give more chances.

Sable Island

Exploring

A remote protected island far offshore, with grey seals on the beaches and wild horses on the dunes.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Grey seals (from the beach, with distance), Wild horses (on land), Seabirds

When: Jun-Oct. Visits are possible January to February and June to October, only with Parks Canada permission and when weather lets small planes or boats land.

Animals

Animals recorded in Canada

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Wild beluga lifting its head from the brown water near Churchill, ManitobaBeluga whaleDelphinapterus leucasSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableFin whale surfacing, showing its white right lower jawFin whaleBalaenoptera physalusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlue whale blowing a tall spout off San DiegoBlue whaleBalaenoptera musculusSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasEndangeredCalifornia sea lions diving together over a rocky reefCalifornia sea lionZalophus californianusSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernOrcas surfacing close together in calm Arctic Norwegian watersOrca (killer whale)Orcinus orcaSeen in 55 countries in the AtlasData DeficientHumpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMinke whale surfacing and exhaling, seen from aboveCommon minke whale (North Atlantic)Balaenoptera acutorostrataSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernNorth Atlantic right whale head with pale callosities at the surfaceNorth Atlantic right whaleEubalaena glacialisSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredSpotted harbor seal lifting its head out of calm waterHarbor sealPhoca vitulinaSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo long-finned pilot whales surfacing side by sideLong-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala melasSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBasking shark swimming underwater in green water off Argyll, ScotlandBasking sharkCetorhinus maximusSeen in 23 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGrey seal resting on a seaweed rock in Northumberland, UKGrey sealHalichoerus grypusSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHarbour porpoise rolling at the surface off Berry Head, DevonHarbour porpoisePhocoena phocoenaSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBowhead whale head with twin blowholes breaking the surfaceBowhead whaleBalaena mysticetusSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernNarwhal surfacing with its spiral tusk showing, Nunavut, CanadaNarwhalMonodon monocerosSeen in 5 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAtlantic walrus with long tusks resting on sea ice, SvalbardAtlantic walrusOdobenus rosmarus rosmarusSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedGray whale spouting at the surface, mottled back and barnacles visibleGray whaleEschrichtius robustusSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSea otter floating on its back among kelp off Vancouver IslandSea otterEnhydra lutrisSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasEndangeredSteller sea lion in Pier 39, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA, iNaturalist research-grade observationSteller sea lionEumetopias jubatusSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedPacific white-sided dolphins at the surfacePacific white-sided dolphinLagenorhynchus obliquidensSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGiant Pacific octopus on the seabed at 65 m depth off Point Pinos, California, filmed by a research submersibleGiant Pacific octopusEnteroctopus dofleiniSeen in 5 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWolf eel looking out from a rocky den, its textured face and eye visibleWolf eelAnarrhichthys ocellatusSeen in 2 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommon bottlenose dolphin swimming over a seagrass bedCommon bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLoggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' warLoggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePelagic thresher shark with long whip tail at Kimud Shoal, MalapascuaPelagic thresherAlopias pelagicusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasEndangeredPod of common dolphins surfacing in calm blue seaCommon dolphinDelphinus delphisSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBump-head sunfish swimming in blue water off Nusa PenidaOcean sunfish (mola)Mola molaSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasVulnerableMale magnificent frigatebird perched on a mangrove branchMagnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensSeen in 52 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScarred Risso's dolphin spyhopping out of the waterRisso's dolphinGrampus griseusSeen in 56 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernYoung northern elephant seal resting on rocks at Piedras Blancas, CaliforniaNorthern elephant sealMirounga angustirostrisSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSei whale's tall dorsal fin breaking a calm sea surfaceSei whaleBalaenoptera borealisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasEndangeredStriped dolphin leaping, dark flank stripe clearly visibleStriped dolphinStenella coeruleoalbaSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWhite shark swimming under sunlit surface with small fish nearbyWhite sharkCarcharodon carchariasSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerableDwarf minke whaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata (dwarf form)Seen in 30 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHeavily spotted adult Atlantic spotted dolphin with young, AzoresAtlantic spotted dolphinStenella frontalisSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCuvier's beaked whale surfacing, pale scarred head and small dorsal finCuvier's beaked whaleZiphius cavirostrisSeen in 42 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernKemp's ridley turtle nesting female crawling on the beachKemp's ridley turtleLepidochelys kempiiSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredDwarf sperm whale leaping clear of the open seaDwarf sperm whaleKogia simaSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPortuguese man o' war floating with purple crest off Pico, AzoresPortuguese man o' warPhysalia physalisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedLion's mane jellyfish with long hair-like tentacles, Highland, ScotlandLion's mane jellyfishCyanea capillataSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedMoon jellyfish in a harbour in Zeeland, NetherlandsMoon jellyfishAurelia aurita and other Aurelia speciesSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedCommon octopus crawling over a rocky seabed in FranceCommon octopusOctopus vulgarisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernA male northern bottlenose whale lifting its head above the surface in the Gully, Nova Scotia, during a research expeditionNorthern bottlenose whaleHyperoodon ampullatusSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedShortfin mako shark at Condor Bank in the North Atlantic, AzoresShortfin makoIsurus oxyrinchusSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBlue shark swimming in open blue water off the Azores with a diver in the backgroundBlue sharkPrionace glaucaSeen in 50 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedTwo pygmy sperm whales at the sea surface off the Azores, low backs and small hooked dorsal fins showingPygmy sperm whaleKogia brevicepsSeen in 23 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSpiny dogfish resting on the seabed at the Josephine Marie shipwreck, Stellwagen Bank National Marine SanctuarySpiny dogfishSqualus acanthiasSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAtlantic white-sided dolphin leaping clear of the sea, showing its pale flank stripeAtlantic white-sided dolphinLagenorhynchus acutusSeen in 12 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWhite-beaked dolphin surfacing, head and beak at the water lineWhite-beaked dolphinLagenorhynchus albirostrisSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAtlantic puffin spreading its wings on a cliff in IcelandAtlantic puffinFratercula arcticaSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasVulnerableMauve stinger jellyfish in Girona, ES-CT, ES, iNaturalist research-grade observationMauve stinger jellyfishPelagia noctilucaSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedAdult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, PrincipeBrown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAtlantic bluefin tuna leaping out of choppy water, recorded in Hovedstaden, DenmarkAtlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnusSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernDall's porpoise seen from above in dark blue water, with its white flank patch showingDall's porpoisePhocoenoides dalliSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernA single silvery herring angled through deep blue water off Skjervoy, northern NorwayAtlantic herringClupea harengusSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommon dolphins feeding on a dense shoal of sardines off the east coast of South Africa during the sardine runSouthern African sardine (sardine run)Sardinops sagaxSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCrowd of brown pelicans packed together on a coastal roost, one adult with a pale head and coloured bill facing the cameraBrown pelicanPelecanus occidentalisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAmerican flamingo wading in shallow water with its head lowered toward the surface, Yucatán, MexicoAmerican flamingoPhoenicopterus ruberSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernNorthern fur seal with its mouth open, head and shoulders in profile against a brown backgroundNorthern fur sealCallorhinus ursinusSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasVulnerableRinged seal lying on snow and ice, dark with pale ring markings on its backRinged sealPusa hispidaSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernYoung hooded seal with a spotted coat lying on drifting sea iceHooded sealCystophora cristataSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasEndangeredHarp seal raising its head and chest out of green water with spray around itHarp sealPagophilus groenlandicusSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedPolar bear looking up at the camera on sea ice, close view of the face and earsPolar bearUrsus maritimusSeen in 5 countries in the AtlasLives on landVulnerableGreenland shark swimming just above the seabed in deep water, filmed by a research vehicleGreenland sharkSomniosus microcephalusSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLarge bearded seal resting on snow and ice with its head raisedBearded sealErignathus barbatusSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedGreat cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black backGreat cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHuge flock of sooty shearwaters flying low over the sea beside a rocky coastSooty shearwaterArdenna griseaSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWilson's storm-petrel resting on calm water with its wings raised above its backWilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a northern gannet face, with pale blue eyes and a golden headNorthern gannetMorus bassanusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScopoli's shearwater skimming just above calm blue waterScopoli's shearwaterCalonectris diomedeaSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLeach's storm-petrel in flight over water, wings spread, with a pale patch at the base of the tailLeach's storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSeen in 35 countries in the AtlasVulnerableManx shearwater banking just above the sea, white underparts and dark upperparts visibleManx shearwaterPuffinus puffinusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat shearwater flying low over calm water, its reflection belowGreat shearwaterArdenna gravisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernNeotropic cormorant perched among willow branches beside the waterNeotropic cormorantNannopterum brasilianumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSargasso shearwater gliding over a grey sea, dark above and pale belowSargasso shearwater (Audubon's shearwater)Puffinus lherminieriSeen in 27 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTope shark swimming in clear shallow water, seen from the sideTope shark (school shark)Galeorhinus galeusSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredAnhinga holding a fish in its long, pointed billAnhinga (American darter)Anhinga anhingaSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernShort-tailed shearwater resting on the open seaShort-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernNorthern fulmar sitting on a cliff ledge, facing the cameraNorthern fulmarFulmarus glacialisSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBluntnose sixgill shark swimming over the seabed at depth in the Gulf of MexicoBluntnose sixgill sharkHexanchus griseusSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedCommon thresher shark leaping clear of the water, its long upper tail lobe trailing belowCommon thresherAlopias vulpinusSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAtlantic torpedo (electric ray)Tetronarce nobilianaSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a double-crested cormorant with an orange-yellow throat patch and a turquoise eyeDouble-crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernStarry ray resting on a sandy seabed, with a spotted back and thorns along the tailStarry ray (thorny skate)Amblyraja radiataSeen in 12 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTwo dark dorsal fins of porbeagle sharks cutting the sea surfacePorbeagleLamna nasusSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePelagic cormorant standing on a rock with wings held open to dryPelagic cormorantUrile pelagicusSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSowerby's beaked whale surfacing, with its long beak and grey back above the waterSowerby's beaked whaleMesoplodon bidensSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPortuguese dogfishCentroscymnus coelolepisSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedBlack dogfishCentroscyllium fabriciiSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernRound skateRajella fyllaeSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernNorth Pacific right whale rolling at the surface in the Bering Sea, rough head callosities visibleNorth Pacific right whaleEubalaena japonicaSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasEndangered

Read before you go

Whales and wildlife ethicsSouthern Resident Orcas: Why Boats Keep 1,000 MetresRead ↗
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