Eastport Charter

10/07/2026

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10/07/2026

10/06/2026

It was ripping today

🇨🇦 Just off Deer Island, New Brunswick, lies one of the most remarkable natural features in Canada.

Old Sow is the largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere and can grow to more than 76 metres across, roughly the length of a soccer field.

The whirlpool forms where huge tidal currents moving between the Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay are forced through the narrow Western Passage and interact with deep trenches, underwater rises and competing currents.

The result is a massive rotating current, often surrounded by smaller whirlpools that locals fittingly call the “piglets.”

Even its name has an unusual story.

One explanation says “Old Sow” comes from the grunting and sucking sounds made by the churning water, which reminded people of pigs feeding. Another theory links the name to the old word “sough,” meaning a sucking noise or drain.

Old Sow is more than just a tourist curiosity. Its strong currents have created dangerous conditions for small boats for generations.

Historical accounts record several fatal incidents in the area, including an 1830 schooner disaster that killed 3 brothers, a rowing fatality around 1912 and another drowning in 1943.

Today, visitors can watch the whirlpool from Deer Island Point Park, with the best viewing typically around 3 hours before high tide.

At its strongest, Old Sow is an incredible reminder of just how powerful the Bay of Fundy’s tides can be.

💬 Had you ever heard of Canada’s giant Old Sow whirlpool before?

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

One of our talented passengers made the day look so good, I got goosebumps.

09/05/2026

Schedule change

4 Seats left for Sept 12 @ 10AM Big Whale trip. We will be going to the Wolves and near Grand Manan in search of Finn and Humpbacks. This trip is subject to wind/weather. Go to eastportcharter.com to book.