A protected marine area with exceptional biodiversity, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is home to over 2200 species, from microscopic algae to blue whales.
Some of the best whale watching in the world can be found in Quebec’s Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, created in 1998 to showcase the spectacular scenery and marine wildlife of the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay Fjord. Its frigid waters are even a great place to dive into!
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We had been following two magnificent humpback whales for several minutes as they swam beside our Zodiac. Our driver kept a respectful distance, but the curious whales were not shy.
They surfaced, arcing their long dark bodies, and then silently slipped back into the St. Lawrence. Then they were up again, close enough for us to see barnacles attached on their scarred skin. Finally, they lifted their expansive tails high and disappeared into the steely depths.
“When they show their tails they are diving deep, and often won’t surface for 10 minutes or more,” we are told by our guide and naturalist Catherine Dube. “They could come up anywhere.” We scanned the surrounding waters, cameras at the ready. Suddenly, the pair shot out of the water in splendid synchronicity – so high and with a grace and elegance I would have though impossible for such huge animals.
They both tilted right and came down in the sea with a great splash, close enough for us to feel the spray. Our guide squealed in delight – while silence settled on the rest of us – thinking that 12 metre, 28 tonne creatures could take flight.
Entire article was written by James Ross and can be read in Cruise and Travel Lifestyles Fall and Winter issue. Photo Credits Jean-Pierre Sylvestre