Whether you boat on fresh water or the ocean, there is a lot of 
marine life to observe and appreciate. We boat in the Pacific 
Northwest off the west coast around the islands and straits of 
the Pacific Ocean. The sea life here is exceptional.

One of the most powerful sights is that of large pods of Orca 
whales, Or Killer whales as they are often referred to, as they 
migrate off the coast. Sometimes there can be several in these 
pods including mother whales and their babies. Orca whales are 
quite beautiful to see. Their black and white bodies glisten in 
the sunlight each time they appear near the water surface or do 
a breach jump. Usually the babies follow their mothers. It is 
quite possible to watch them for hours without getting tired. 

Boaters must be careful and remain a respectable distance from 
the whales, as most whales are endangered. You do not want to 
interfere with their normal migration routes and movements. It 
is possible to see Orca whales up close in captivity, and they 
are splendid animals. But when you can actually see them in 
their normal environment in the ocean, it is magnificent. How 
fortunate we are to be able to go boating for a few days and 
have them entertain us along the way.

Another sea mammal that I always enjoy watching is the dolphin 
or porpoises. They too can be found off the west coast. These 
mammals are so sleek and they can swim at very fast speeds. As 
they jump and slice through the surface of the water they are 
quite entertaining. Most people have seen dolphins in action at 
the various aquariums around the world. Well they do the same 
in the wild. They make me laugh. I think that they actually 
enjoy an audience!

Living in the Pacific North West, we are very aware of the 
salmon industry. When boating, there are many small fishing 
boats out with their nets during the fisheries openings for the 
various kinds of salmon. It is fun to watch them jump. Seals are 
also very good fishermen. You can be sure that when the salmon 
are plentiful around the mouths of the large rivers, you will 
see a lot of seals. They love to fish for salmon, much to the 
chagrin of the commercial fishermen. They can be seen swimming 
through the waters, or sunning themselves on large logs or rocky 
outcroppings along the shoreline. The bark of a seal is loud and 
comical to hear and they are another creature that can entertain 
west coast boaters.

When the salmon are running, you will find another fisherman, 
one with wings. There are many Bald Eagles on the west coast and 
they also enjoy a good salmon dinner. These are very majestic 
birds. Their soaring overhead is something to be marveled at. 
The black and white features really stand out against the sky 
as they glide and then swoop down for a fish.

Sea otters can sometimes be seen around large beds of kelp. In 
particular I have seen many when boating in our Bayliner, off 
the coastline from British Columbia to California. These sea 
creatures are very timid, so you must give them space. They 
love to float on their backs and eat sea urchins or play in the 
water, rolling over and over. Often you can see them playing in 
pairs. Sea otters are my husband’s favorite sea mammals. He 
loves to watch them play. They really are very cute. If you 
have watched them, I’m sure you will agree.

As well as these mammals, the coast offers wonderful creatures 
that attached themselves to the rocks and driftwood or coral. 
Sea anemones are absolutely beautiful, as are the many colored 
starfish. Anenomes are found in white, pale green and soft pinks 
with large fluffy plumes. Starfish are found in ranges of bright 
orange to deep purple. They can be very tiny and fragile or very 
large. Some measure several inches across. Sea cucumbers, 
barnacles, sand dollars, oysters, mussels and crabs are all 
found along the coastline. I love to walk on docks at marinas 
when the tide is out and see some of these shell fish in tiny 
pools of water. You can often get up quite close to see them 
better.

All in all we are very fortunate in this area to be able to see 
so many creatures. Many of which are not seen by most people 
around the world. They enhance our environment and our boating 
experiences. It is important that we remember to respect all of 
these creatures in their natural environments, so as not to 
interfere with nature’s course.