Bremer Bay orcas, far out at sea

The cruise out to the canyon takes around 1.5 hours. Then the search begins: the skipper and crew scan for blows, fins and birds working the surface, and the boat follows whatever the ocean offers. A marine biologist explains each encounter as it happens.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are served along the way, with unlimited hot and cold drinks. After 8 hours you are back where you started, tired, salty and full of stories. Photos and a daily blog from the expedition follow by e-mail.

The result shows in the numbers. The Bremer Sub-Basin supports the largest documented aggregation of killer whales in Australian waters. Researchers know more than 140 animals in this south-western population.

The water is protected too. The canyon lies within the Bremer Marine Park, which Parks Australia counts among the important gathering areas for killer whales. The Albany Canyon group and its shelf break are even listed as a key ecological feature for their high productivity.

The photos come up again and again. Guests praise the pictures taken by the crew and sent after the trip, which let them watch the whales rather than fight with a camera on a rolling deck. The listing confirms that photos and a daily blog are e-mailed afterwards.

And then there are the animals. Reviewers mention many orcas in a day, plus pilot whales, seals, dolphins and albatrosses. Several also say plainly that the sea can be rough, and that seasickness tablets are worth taking.

Science backs up the timing. In a study run from whale-watching boats in January to April of 2014, 2015 and 2016, killer whales were recorded on 91.5% of 141 trips. That is a record of past seasons, not a promise, but it shows why the boats run when they do.

Outside the season the orcas may still be around: researchers say large groups are seen mostly in summer and autumn, though the whales may use these waters year-round. For a booked trip, plan for the summer window and book early.

Take them before you sail. The CDC Yellow Book says these medicines do most good when swallowed before exposure, not once you already feel ill. It also says alcohol and smoking make motion sickness worse, so keep the night before quiet.

On board, stay outside and watch the horizon when you can. The CDC lists looking at the horizon, staying hydrated and eating small amounts often among the ways to prevent it. Our seasickness guide has more.

Plans change, and the listing allows for that: a full refund stays open until 24 hours ahead of the trip. That matters when you are driving a long way to reach the harbour.

Leave a spare day in Bremer Bay if you can. The boat sails into open ocean, and a free day gives you room to move your trip if the weather turns.

That frees you to watch. Keep your phone in a dry bag, look up, and enjoy the moment a pod rises beside the boat. If you do shoot, use a fast shutter, keep both feet planted and hold the camera close to your body.

Polarised sunglasses help you see shapes under the surface, and binoculars help with distant blows and birds. The memories you collect with your own eyes are the ones that last.

The air on the coast is mild in the orca months. At Hopetoun North, the weather station our figures come from, February averages a high of 25.5 °C and a low of 15.9 °C. Out at sea it feels colder, and you will stand still for long stretches.

The sun is strong on the water. Australia's radiation agency ARPANSA recommends sun-protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen whenever the UV index is 3 or more. A hat with a cord is worth its weight on a windy deck.

Use that expertise. Ask how to tell an adult male from a female, what the pod is doing, or why the birds are gathering. The orcas of this population are known animals: researchers have identified more than 140 of them.

The science here is young and exciting. The first published field observations of killer whales preying on beaked whales were made in this area, from whale-watching boats. Your day out is part of the same story.

Next door lies Fitzgerald River National Park. DBCA says it holds 75 native plants found nowhere else and about 200 bird species. In winter, the platforms at Point Ann are a place to watch southern right whales.

Stay a few nights if you can. A slow evening before the boat and a quiet day after it make the long journey to the coast worthwhile, and give you a spare day if the sea is too rough.

Some travelers should skip it. According to the listing, the trip is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women or wheelchair users, and swimming and snorkeling are not allowed. Hotel pickup is not included, so you need your own way to the harbour.

And nobody can promise the orcas. Wild animals go where their food takes them, and the listing makes no guarantee of a sighting. Go with open eyes and an open mind, and you may well come home with something to remember.