This is a question that comes up a lot in the industry and is almost impossible to answer. Any time is equally good!
Since the marine mammals that come to visit us are here to feed and can stay in the area for weeks or even months, we can see them in the morning as well as in the evening.
What might influence the quality of the observations does not depend on the time of day, but rather on the weather conditions.
The wind
Wind is probably one of the worst enemies of whale watching cruises. Obviously, when the wind picks up on the river, the conditions on the water are really difficult. The waves can significantly limit our movements and compromise the safety of the cruise. If the conditions are too difficult, we always reserve the right to cancel a departure.
Even though it is the height of peak season, and there are dozens and dozens of whales offshore, the wind and waves could prevent us from reaching the observation sites.
The tides
Tides can sometimes have an impact on whale behavior. In the St. Lawrence River estuary, tides can reach up to 5 meters difference in a few hours. When the tides are rising, there can be an influx of nutrients from the depths and encourage whales to feed closer to the surface. Their behavior can therefore be much more active, and sometimes even gather in large groups of several individuals.
To check the tides, and whether your cruise is on a rising or falling tide, we recommend consulting the Government of Canada's tide forecasts.
Tide Forecasts - Government of Canada
