This website is the personal photo "showpository" and "blah-blah-blog" of Christopher Zylstra, captain and naturalist for various whale watch and marine adventure tourism operators in Victoria BC. Moreover it is a thank you, a way to show gratitude for the interest in marine life shown by my passengers. If you didn't pay to go whale watching, I wouldn't get paid to go whale watching. Being your guide to the water world surrounding me is an honour, privilege and indescribable joy.

Check out the "geoblogging" of individual trips on the home page, created by saved GPS tracks mashed up with satellite maps, and photos actually taken on that trip with a GPS antenna equipped camera.

You probably got here because you were on one of my trips and I promised you hi resolution photos for downnload - searchable by trip time and date. This site also houses a gallery of some of my favourite images and audio/video presentations comprised of those images as well.

Everything we do affects the animals around us... hopefully, by these and other efforts, not all of it is negative.

STRAITWATCH   

Straitwatch operates stewardship vessels in Johnstone St. (Northern Resident Orca stewardship) and S. Haro/Juan de Fuca (New, 2007, Southern Resident orca stewardship). From June to September the Straitwatch crew monitors whale watching activities and promotes the marine mammal viewing guidelines. The project aims to work with the community to increase awareness of marine conservation issues. Straitwatch needs your support. Please consider donating time, equipment or money HERE.

SOUNDWATCH

Most easily but not most accurately described as US version of "Straitwatch", Soundwatch is known primarily for educating whale-watching boaters.  Soundwatch also patrols the boundaries of marine protected areas, such as National Wildlife Refuges and Bottomfish Recovery Zones, and conducts bird surveys. The Soundwatch boat is also used for responding to strandings of marine mammals.