On our afternoon tour on June 29th, we were treated to one of those unforgettable moments that stay with you long after the boat is back at the dock. Just north of the Gulf Islands, we encountered a humpback whale that was initially unfamiliar to us. After submitting our sighting to Happywhale.com, we quickly received exciting news: the whale was identified as CRC-22668 — last recorded in February around Hawaii and now making its first known appearance in the Salish Sea!
As if that discovery wasn’t special enough, CRC-22668 put on a spectacular show. The whale breached nearly ten times in a row, launching its massive body out of the water in a powerful and energetic display. After the final breach, it didn’t rest — instead, it began tail slapping and pectoral fin slapping for more than ten minutes straight, sending sprays of seawater flying and leaving us in awe.
These behaviors are not fully understood, but scientists believe they can serve multiple purposes:
- Communication with other whales across long distances
- Playful or social behavior, particularly for juveniles or newly arrived whales
- Parasite removal or even as a display of dominance or courtship
Regardless of the exact reason, what we witnessed was something truly special. Breaching and extended surface activity like this are rare — they occur only on a few of our luckiest days on the water. Most humpback encounters are much calmer, so witnessing this kind of energy and spectacle reminds us just how wild and unpredictable nature can be.
CRC-22668, welcome to the Salish Sea. We hope this won’t be your last visit!
