Whale Watching in Digby – My Experience

I have always dreamed of seeing whales in their natural habitat. Somehow though, over my 17 years of extensive travels, I never managed to spot them in the wild. I did take a few whale watching tours around the world, but was never lucky enough to see them. Whilst I was researching my trip to Nova Scotia I found out that the Bay of Fundy and the Digby area in particular is one of the world’s best places for whale watching, with a high possibility of spotting them during the peak season.

I travelled to Nova Scotia in September, which is still a very good month for whale watching in Digby. I didn’t think twice, and with very high hopes, I booked myself a place on a vessel.   

Where to Go Whale Watching in Digby 

Digby is a small, charming fishing port, perfect to explore over a day or two. I chose it as my base for two nights because of the greater choice of overnight accommodation. I also wanted to try the famous clams from the Crow’s Nest restaurant, which is renowned in Nova Scotia for its great seafood. 

Digby is also the gateway to Digby Neck and Brier Island, where the whale watching tour companies are located. 

Petit Passage 

Petit Passage is the closest place to Digby to go whale watching. There are two tour operators here, the Petit Passage Whale Watch in East Ferry, and Adventure Bay Whale Watch Company in Tiverton, across the water. 

Freeport and Brier Island 

Brier Island is probably the best place to go whale watching in the Bay of Fundy. Initially, I was booked on a tour here, but due to my tight schedule, I had to cancel and choose a tour departing from Tiverton. Driving to Brier Island from Digby takes close to two hours and includes two ferry crossings. Whilst there is a lodge where you can spend the night, during my trip it was fully booked, so I had to stay in Digby. 

Later on that day, at dinner, I met an American couple who went on the original tour I was booked on, Freeport Whale & Seabird Tours. They had an amazing experience seeing a baby whale on that day. Whilst both Petit Passage and Brier Island are great places for whale watching, they sail to different places in the Bay of Fundy. 

My Experience With Adventure Bay Whale Watch Company 

Before telling you about the fantastic whale watching trip I had, I want to tell you that even if I chose to go with Adventure Bay Whale Watching Company, I had amazing communication with a few other companies in the area. Due to my schedule, I wasn’t very flexible with my timings for the tour. This didn’t help, especially since I visited Digby in September, just after the main tourist season finished. Whilst in summer it wouldn’t have been a problem, in September, most of the companies have reduced their schedule to only one trip a day due to the low number of visitors. 

Adventure Bay Whale Watching Company is a relatively new tour operator, but the crew has 13 years of experience in the waters of Nova Scotia. The tours run from June until September. During the other time of the year, Captain Matthew and his crew are lobster fishing. They are based in Tiverton, which is around one hour drive from Digby. 

To get to Tiverton I had to cross the Petit Passage by ferry, from East Ferry. The ferry runs on the half hour, from East Ferry, and it’s free. Adventure Bay Whale Watching Company is just to the right, after disembarking from the ferry. 

I arrived close to 1 pm to the boat, after a fantastic chat about the lobster fishing industry in Nova Scotia with Tamara Frost, one of the owners of Bay of Fundy Scenic Lobster Tours. I was supposed to go on their tour as well that day, but, because I was the only one who booked, it was cancelled. However, Tamara was kind enough to come to the harbour and talk to me about Nova Scotia’s most loved crustacean. 

As soon as I embarked on “Casie and Boys”, I was warmly greeted by the crew and captain. Dana, a lobster fisherman since he was a boy, was first mate, whilst Linnea was the marine biologist on board, ready to spot the whales and answer any questions ocean-related. 

The weather was glorious on this early September day. The sun was shining on a blue sky, without any clouds, making the water of the Bay of Fundy sparkle. As we left behind the Boar’s Head Lighthouse, we began our search for whales. Matthew, the captain, told us that he would head to the same place where he spotted the whales the previous day, a shallow spot with rocks on the ocean bed. We were the only boat heading in that direction, and it felt like we had the ocean all to ourselves. As the land behind us became smaller and smaller, getting lost in the horizon, we spotted the first sign that we were approaching whales: a seal poking its head to the surface, munching on leftover fish. 

Just a few minutes later we spotted our first whale, taking a dive to the bottom of the sea. Its giant tale lifted from the water and then splashed around, as it disappeared under the surface. We headed that way and waited. Linnea told us that it would take a bit of time until it would come back to the surface, as it just took a deep dive to look for fish. She also told us that we were looking at a humpback whale, which was probably three times longer than our boat. 

Soon, a second humpback whale appeared, keeping its distance. We gazed at the two for a while, before they disappeared under the water. For a good few minutes, we didn’t see any of them anymore and thought they left. As I was scouting the surface, I noticed how the water next to the boat started to change its colour. Confused, I pointed at it to Linnea and she jumped with joy – a whale is circling the boat! She explained that the white we could see was the fin of the whale, which was literally swimming underneath our boat. All of a sudden, as we were leaning over the edge of the boat, the whale surfaced and took a deep breath, splashing all of us. What a moment that was! In the three seasons she’s worked on the sightseeing boat, Linnea told us she has never seen a whale come so close. 

A few more rounds around the vessel and the whales started to go further and further away. Just like waving goodbye, they took another deep dive, raising their tails above the water at the same time. Could that have been more perfect? Probably not! 

As the captain turned the boat around and headed back to Tiverton, I got chatting with Dana about the local life on the Digby Neck. During the lobster season, he fishes from Sandy Cove, a bay I’ve stopped at on my way to Tiverton. Like many other local fishermen, he joined his family business when he was only a teen. When the lobster season finishes, he likes to go digging for clams, which he preserves with salt, for winter. He does the same with venison, which he swears on. And talking about venison, Dana mentioned how sometimes deer cross the Petit Passage, from East Ferry to Tiverton, swimming. This is impressive taking into consideration that the Bay of Fundy has one of the world’s most spectacular tides, with a level drop of up to 7 meters and a peak current of 8 knots an hour – some of the strongest in North America. 

The Best Time For Whale Watching in Digby 

The best time to go whale watching in Digby is generally from mid-June to mid-September. Minkes and finback whales arrive in the Bay of Fundy around May, whilst humpbacks come back in June. Over the summer, the waters of the Bay of Fundy come alive with diverse species of marine mammals – up to 12 different types of whales, as they migrate to the rich feeding grounds of the bay to feast on the abundance of plankton and small fish. Whales usually follow the ocean currents and because the Bay of Fundy has very strong currents, there is plenty of fish here during the summer months. Besides whales, on a tour, you can also see dolphins, seals, puffins, different seabirds, and sometimes, even the bald eagle. 

August is typically considered the peak month for whale watching in Digby. The weather is warm, and the waters are calm, providing ideal conditions for both whales and whale watchers alike. During August, sightings are very frequent, and the chances of witnessing whale behaviours such as, tail slapping, breathing and sometimes even breaching, are high.

September offers a unique opportunity to witness the annual migration of whales as they begin their journey southward to warmer waters. This period often sees fewer crowds, allowing for a more intimate and serene whale watching experience. Most whale watching companies in and around Digby close around the 15th of of the month, so if you are planning a September trip to Nova Scotia, make sure to come before this date.  

What to Bring On the Tour 

As the temperature usually drops when you are on the water, it is advisable to bring a jacket or a jumper with you on the cruise. I brought my jacket but as the weather was sunny with no wind at all, I didn’t feel the need to put it on. I did feel however the temperature dropping as we left the harbour behind. 

As the tour lasts for around 3 hours, it’s good to bring some snacks and water with you. Also, a binocular is advisable, as the captain will not get too close to the whales, to disturb them. The whales will approach the boat on their own will if they are curious. 

When it comes to weather, it’s at the captain’s discretion if the sailing will take place or not. I was in contact with Adventure Bay Whale Watching Company by email and by phone the day before the tour, when I got the confirmation that the weather was good and the tour would go ahead.  

Accessibility 

Casie and Boys is an accessible boat because of the floating dock it is anchored to. If you do have mobility issues, it is advisable to let the crew know at the time of booking.  

For more articles about Nova Scotia, check my recommendations below:

• How to spend one day in Halifax
• What to eat in Nova Scotia

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