Ocean Explorations Zodiac Whale Cruises

09/08/2024

Honoured (?)

I've been 'cloned' - NO, i didn't sent you a 'friend request'

07/01/2022

Happy Canada Day!

Sunset of my career, and Ocean Explorations.

Sadly we will not operate in 2022, and perhaps be winding down for good. Personal health reasons (having problems with an eye, including 2 surgeries this winter., Also reduced 'stamina' now ... or because mid 60s, it is 'catching up with me?). There are many, many reasons, big and small to call it a day. We have moved even further away into our new 'forever' SOLAR passiv 'net zero' home on the Bay of Fundy shore, up in the wonderful village of Port. George. I'll continue to keep an eye out for the sporadic whales that pass by here, and I'm a SEAL watcher now, they are swimming by our shoreline frequently.

I had a buyer pre-covid and it all crashed ... made it through pandemic and now potential buyers aren't able to get liability insurance as a new policy. A LOT of problems and price escalations upward, for those IN business. If you are IN the (or any) business involving 'risk' - the whole insurance industry is changing a lot. Even the brokers don't understand what is going on. Colleagues have been warned, if they have a claim, they might not get renewed.

40 years of whale-guiding, I'm a bit disappointed with the 'exit', originally planned as 2020 being my 'grand finale'. I'm leaving the business, with great concern(s) about the future for ALL life on the planet with this climate EMERGENCY, a lot of 'hypocritical' of/for our consumptive lifestyle(s), including my own. I just hope some (if not all) have gained appreciation for the other species we share the planet with. Please take CLIMATE CHANGE seriously, for the sake of the millions of species we are 'taking down' with us.

Environmentally yours,

(Captain/biologist) Tom Goodwin

*** UPDATE: August - we have found new insurance provider outside the region, so Ocean Explorations MAY live on! ... stay tuned! ***

07/26/2021

Great day Saturday! .... Fog slowed us down to get to see whales, but eventually lots of good sightings of several. Innocently waiting for a mother and calf to surface anywhere 1/4 mile radius and they came up very close! ... Calf thought it might check us out before re-joining mother's side.

06/24/2021

The whales are arriving in the Bay of Fundy, but (still) not a lot of 'passengers' (arriving) yet.

For safety of family & staff, WE are waiting for higher immunization rate(s) and more passengers from outside Nova Scotia. Ocean Explorations 'attracts' a LOT of our clients from outside the region; joining 'discerning' bluenosers coming to us from research, top rating reivew sites, guide books, higher end accomodations, and referrals,.

WE have the most qualified/experienced (40 years!!) captain/guide in Canada, possibly even the world!

**Our 'zodiac' is the ONLY commercial grade (heavy duty materials, and TWIN outboards) PASSENGER zodiac in Nova Scotia, the quality used by Coast guard and other professional agencies for rough seas (and safety)! Some drive BMWs, some dirve Kias! We've had/used 'consumer grade' single engine zodiacs in the past, so not critiquing other companies, simply pointing out all 'zodiacs' are not equal quality.**

Generally 'later is better' anyway. While whales are virtually always seen on on tours, sometimes fewer and/or further in the way early in the season. Still no (decided) 'official' opening date, we might take private or larger groups earliear we are aiming for approx. July 10-17th.

Hope to see you in 2021!

05/21/2021

National Endangered Species Day

Right whales are feeding in and around Cape Cod.
It was another great year of calves.

ICYMI - Nova Scotia (and various Canadian provinces) are in a (bad) '3rd wave'

Whale-watching season will definitely be reduced (again) ... hard to tell if Nova Scotia
will be allowing visitors from other provinces, .... countries? .... before August

Stay safe!

Found on Google from www.fisheries.noaa.gov

11/07/2020

Well, ........ I guess we are now 'officially' CLOSED for 2020! Whew ... glad to put this season behind us!
I think the latest I was ever out was Nov. 4th and there were consistent whales close to the Neck and Islands that fall. This year - though sporadic sightings close to home, we went over to the N.B. side of the bay for our last two trips. Getting enough passengers for trips like that was a challenge -with the Covid closure, cutting us off from the bulk of our customers. We typically get 75 - 85 % of OUR clients from outside the maritimes, and a lot of our maritimers that have come in the past have come when THEY had visitors/guests from outside the region.

More than the financial reason(s), it was difficult to go soooo many times, with just the minimum number of people on board ... even days not having any customers at all, in August - absolutely unbelievable! First summer ever, I did not have ANY staff at all and did 95% of the work myself ... with some help from my wife Penny and our new East Ferry neighbours. While there was a lot of extra 'tedious' work (for me), I am lucky to have a 'job' I enjoy! ... many people had it worse, and/or not so lucky!

Not sure if it is meant to give us 'light at the end of the tunnel' or TRUTH, but our Health officials are telling us that there SHOULD be a vaccine first quarter 2021. So by summer, a lot of people will have access to it and/or we'll have suitable testing to allow travelers from outside our region. I already have reservations for 2021 and the inquiries are starting.

September was a great month for activity including several double breaches, ... and colleagues saw a triple breach. One pair of whales gave us quite a show one trip and it was fairly easy to predict one of the many breaches, and close to the zodiac!

I hope you are getting through this pandemic without any great difficulty and I am trying to remain "glass half full".

Stay safe .... all the best!!

tom

08/17/2020

Hard to believe 3+ weeks have gone by since last post.

Yesterday was 2 year anniversary of that TRIPLE BREACH!

It has been a pretty good season for whales since we opened but rather slow for customers. Hard to (ever) imagine a day in early August and not have ANYONE to go!

https://oceanexplorations.ca/triplebreach.html

We've had numerous breaches, lunging feeding and playful calves!

One of the whales came by to check out the new tube!

Tail breach photo - one of many by David Mathews (my new neighbour in East Ferry) - check 'em out!

https://2-david-matthews.pixels.com/?fbclid=IwAR2k3sASlVDh8ASRCm2xsSlVboBK9D-B4RPUxXHp5yrK3YNrnCanBJgN8Wo

Thanks for your support!

07/20/2020

** OPENING SOON **

Not a great year to have to pay for a 'refit' - but nice to get it done without the pressures of opening back in June. However it should have been done and ready May, if it hadn't been for the covid pandemic.

My zodiac is the only heavy duty commercial grade zodiac in Nova Scotia. That 'standard' includes twin motors for passenger carrying vessels. The tube is made from/with the heavy duty industrial grade hypalon, and other 'standards' too.

The tubes generally last 20-30 years, however this application had caused lots of rubbing weaknesses, mainly from the knots of the grab lines that passengers hold on to, as well as some 'weak areas' from thousands and thousands of bums wiggling/rubbing back and forth on the tube.

After 15 years, it was time to consider a new tube. This is a 'custom' built boat, so you can't just order one 'off the shelf' like the Zodiac brand. The old tube came off in November and I took it to Sherbrooke Quebec where it was made, to order/fit. ... Needed it for the 'template' for a possible new one, as well as some PROFESSIONAL 'refurbishments' - beyond my 'touching up' skills. Making the new tube was delayed in the order line up, Jan-March and the covid frigged the whole thing up pretty good! ... I thought about using the original tube for another couple years, to sell the boat with a brand new tube included. Long story short, I ended up putting the brand new tube on! :-)

07/07/2020

2020 was 'supposed' to be my 'grand finale' last (full time) season!

Thinking maybe mid-late July pending no big changes.

As I've suggested for 30+ years to 'locals', going out mid June to mid July has it's risks (weather and lack of whales, or too far for the conditions). No disrespect to my colleagues, but they've had some much poorer than average trips so far - so why wouldn't you wait for better odds?

We are still watching and reviewing what is happening and I won't lie, the fear of getting/bringing home 'the covid' is a big factor (our ages and existing health issues in the home). We are learning more and more about it being in the air and more and more about how little we know about it!

Stay tuned .... and stay safe!

*40th includes 5 summers in NFLD

(coincidentally probably worst calendar magnet design for cutting off the photo portion, post 2020! dooohhh! I am going to have a lot of leftovers)