Capt. Mark's Whale and Seal Cruise

Captain Mark Timmons has been running whale and seal cruises out of Pleasant Bay on the Cabot Trail since 1994, making his family-owned operation one of the longest-established whale watch companies on Cape Breton Island. The business runs small, 12-passenger zodiacs rather than large tour boats, which changes the character of the trip entirely: you ride low on the water, close to the action, with the twin motors of a purpose-built rigid inflatable boat carrying you along the rugged coastline of Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Pleasant Bay sits at the northern edge of the Highlands, where the mountains drop straight into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The bay is one of the best whale-watching locations in Atlantic Canada, and its sheltered harbour means trips can run even when conditions farther offshore are rough. The village itself is a natural base for Cabot Trail travelers, with the Whale Interpretive Centre, hiking trails and accommodations all within walking distance of the wharf.

The Zodiac Experience

Each tour carries a maximum of 12 passengers, which keeps the experience personal. The boats are equipped with a hydrophone, a submerged microphone that lets the crew broadcast the whales' underwater songs through the boat's speakers when conditions permit. Hearing a humpback's song live under the water is the kind of moment visitors talk about for years afterward. The captains also keep a respectful distance from the animals while still getting close enough for clear viewing, and the flat-bottom design of the zodiacs lets the crew navigate into sea caves and along cliff faces that larger vessels cannot reach.

The tours are narrated by experienced guides who grew up on this coast. Alongside the whales, passengers see the spectacular rock and cliff formations of the Highlands, waterfalls cascading over the headlands, sea caves, and the remains of pioneer settlements that cling to the shoreline. Bald eagles are a near-daily sighting, along with grey seals hauled out on the rocks and seabird colonies working the water.

What You Can Expect to See

Pilot whales are the specialty here - family pods of them move through the bay through the summer - alongside minke whales, finback whales and humpbacks. Humpback sightings are increasingly common in recent seasons, and the whales' acrobatic displays are a highlight of many trips. Seals are essentially guaranteed, and the tour takes its name seriously: the grey seal colony near the harbour mouth is a regular stop. Dolphins and harbour porpoises round out the marine mammal list, while gannets, shearwaters and other seabirds work the same feeding grounds.

2026 Schedule and Prices

The 2026 season runs from June 1 through September 30. In June, tours depart at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. From July 1 through September 30, departures are at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Prices are $95 for adults, $90 for seniors (65+), and $85 for children aged 6 to 18, plus 14% HST. Children under 6 are not permitted on the zodiacs. Reservations are highly recommended, especially in July and August when the tours regularly sell out.

Practical Details

The wharf is at 126 Harbour Road in Pleasant Bay, on the Cabot Trail about an hour north of Chéticamp or 30 minutes south of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance at Cape North. Booking online through whaleandsealcruise.com includes a custom waiver that must be completed before boarding. The zodiacs provide full-length flotation suits, and passengers should dress warmly - it is always cooler on the water than on shore. The boats are not recommended for anyone with back or neck problems, and expectant mothers should not ride. Seasickness is less common on zodiacs than on larger boats because the pontoon design reduces rolling motion. For visitors who prefer a larger vessel, the nearby Pleasant Bay Whale Watching company runs a bigger boat from the same harbour.