Guide · Wildlife

Whale watching at the Bremer Canyon, beyond the orcas

The killer whales draw the crowds, but the same deep water holds sperm whales, pilot whales, dolphins, sharks and ocean birds. Here is who lives out there and how to tell them apart.

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Editorial team, bremer-bay-orcas.comUpdated October 24, 2026Read time: 6 min40 sources

Bremer Canyon orca expedition from Bremer Bay The tour for this guide Bremer Canyon orca expedition from Bremer Bay 4.9 (147 reviews) 8 hoursMarine biologist on boardMorning tea, lunch and afternoon tea from$280per person Check availabilityCancel for free up to 24 hrs ahead

What you might meet

01Orcas
177 killer whale groups were logged in surveys from 2015 to 2017.1
02Sperm whales
69 sperm whale groups in the same surveys.1
03Pilot whales
29 long-finned pilot whale groups.1
04Seabirds
Albatrosses, shearwaters and storm-petrels at a hunt.2
05Sharks
The sub-basin draws fish, sharks and deep-diving whales.3

A crowded patch of ocean

The booked expedition names a whole cast for the day: orcas, sperm whales, pilot whales, dolphins, sharks and pelagic birds. That list matches what scientists found when they surveyed the area. A team from Edith Cowan University combined aerial surveys with ship-based surveys from 2015 to 2017 to map where whales occur in the Bremer Sub-Basin.4

Their count shows how busy the water is. The surveys met 177 killer whale groups, 69 sperm whale groups and 29 long-finned pilot whale groups, plus 2 groups of false killer whales, 1 of strap-toothed beaked whales, 12 of bottlenose dolphins and 5 of common dolphins.1 Those are groups, not single animals, and they were found over three years of searching.

Nobody can tell you which of these animals you will meet on a given day. Whale watching at the Bremer Canyon is a search in open ocean, and some days bring one species close up while others bring many at a distance. Treat every extra species as a bonus on top of the orcas you came for.

Sperm whales, the deep divers

Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales.5 Australia's species database says adult females may reach 11 m and 15 tonnes, while adult males reach about 16 m and as much as 45 tonnes.6 They are most common in submarine canyons at the edges of the continental shelf, which makes the Bremer area a natural place to find them.7

Their lives happen mostly out of sight. The US National Marine Fisheries Service says they hunt in deep dives that routinely reach 2,000 feet and can last 45 minutes.8 Their diet is deep-water squid, sharks, skates and fish.9 When one surfaces, look for a low, angled blow and a long, wrinkled back that rests at the surface before the next dive.

The south coast is known sperm whale country. The federal species profile lists the stretch between Cape Leeuwin and Esperance, close to the edge of the continental shelf, among the key localities in Australia.10 It also notes that sperm whales have concentrated in a narrow area only a few miles wide at the shelf edge off Albany.11

Survey count

Whale and dolphin groups met in the Bremer surveys

groups
Killer whales: 177 177 Killer whalesSperm whales: 69 69 Sperm whalesPilot whales: 29 29 Pilot whalesBottlenose dolphins: 12 12 Bottlenose dolphinsCommon dolphins: 5 5 Common dolphins
Groups encountered in aerial and ship-based surveys, Edith Cowan University study.14

Field guide

The big animals of the canyon side by side

AnimalSizeDivesFood
Killer whaleUp to 32 feet20 to 60 m, up to 300 mWhales, seals, fish
Sperm whale, maleAbout 16 m2,000 feet, 45 minSquid, sharks, fish
Pilot whale19 to 25 feet2,000 feet, 10 to 16 minSquid, fish, octopus
Blue whaleUp to 110 feetNot givenKrill

Sizes and dives from the US National Marine Fisheries Service and Australia's species database.1268131415161718

Spotting guide

Three animals to look for

Sperm whale, Largest toothed whale Deep diver

Sperm whale

Largest toothed whale

Male length
About 16 m
Dive
Up to 45 min
Look for
Angled blow
Join the expedition
Pilot whale, Long-finned Social pods

Pilot whale

Long-finned

Length
19 to 25 feet
Prey
Mainly squid
Look for
Rounded heads
Join the expedition
Albatross, Ocean wanderer Bird spotter

Albatross

Ocean wanderer

Species seen
Yellow-nosed, wandering
Flight
Long glides
Look for
Flocks over prey
Join the expedition

Decision helper

What to watch for, by interest

Your best focus on deck

Watch for sperm whales

They are most common in canyons at the shelf edge.7

Follow the orcas

177 killer whale groups were met in the surveys.1

Bring binoculars

Albatrosses and shearwaters were recorded at a hunt.2

Watch the feeding spots

The area draws fish and sharks as well as whales.3

Ask the biologist

The trip includes full interpretation on board.

It is considered a biologically important area that attracts a myriad of species including fish, sharks, and deep-diving whales such as sperm whales

PLOS ONE (peer-reviewed; Wellard et al. 2016)Source 3

Pilot whales and dolphins

Long-finned pilot whales travel in tight, sociable groups. Australia's species database says they appear to live in relatively stable pods, much like killer whales.19 The US National Marine Fisheries Service gives them a length of 19 to 25 feet and a weight of 2,900 to 5,000 pounds.13 Their rounded heads and dark bodies make a pod look like a row of black buoys rolling at the surface.

They dive deep too, to about 2,000 feet for 10 to 16 minutes, feeding on fish, squid and octopus.14 Off Australia, squid are their main prey.20 On the IUCN Red List they are listed as Least Concern.21

Dolphins round out the picture. The surveys met bottlenose and common dolphin groups, and the booked listing names dolphins among the animals of the day.1 A pod riding the bow wave on the way out is one of the easiest sightings of the trip, and a good warm-up for spotting fins.

Map

Bremer Bay, the marine park and the south coast

The town and the Bremer Marine Park offshore, the coast from Albany to Esperance, and the long drive down from Perth.

Map of Bremer Bay on the south coast of Western Australia with the Bremer Marine Park offshore and Fitzgerald River National Park to the north-east 1Bremer Bay2Bremer Marine Park3Fitzgerald River National Park
Bremer Bay and the marine park
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Map of the south coast of Western Australia from Albany past Bremer Bay and Hopetoun to Esperance, with Jerramungup inland 4Albany1Bremer Bay5Jerramungup6Hopetoun7Esperance
The south coast
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Map of south-western Australia with Perth, Albany, Bremer Bay and Esperance 8Perth4Albany1Bremer Bay7Esperance
From Perth
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
  1. 1
    Bremer Bay

    A town of 424 people at the mouth of the Bremer River.2223

    In Google Maps ↗
  2. 2
    Bremer Marine Park

    Holds the Bremer Canyon, which Tourism WA puts 70 km offshore from the town.2425

    In Google Maps ↗
  3. 3
    Fitzgerald River National Park

    Home to 75 plant species found nowhere else, with whale platforms at Point Ann.2627

    In Google Maps ↗
  4. 4
    Albany

    Just under two hours by car west of Bremer Bay.28

    In Google Maps ↗
  5. 5
    Jerramungup

    A stop at Lions Park on the Transwa coach line between East Perth and Esperance.29

    In Google Maps ↗
  6. 6
    Hopetoun

    The Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve stretches between here and Bremer Bay.30

    In Google Maps ↗
  7. 7
    Esperance

    Rex runs daily flights between Esperance and Perth.31

    In Google Maps ↗
  8. 8
    Perth

    5.5 to 6.5 hours by road from Bremer Bay, depending on the Tourism WA page.2823

    In Google Maps ↗
Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

Kit for spotting wildlife

01

Bring

  • Binoculars for birds and distant blows
  • A warm layer for long waits on deck
  • Sunglasses to cut the glare
02

On deck

  • Watch for birds gathering over one spot
  • Ask the marine biologist what you saw
  • Hold on when the boat turns

Video

Up close with killer whales at Bremer Bay

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Beaked whales and blue whales

Beaked whales are among the least known whales on earth, and the Bremer area produced some of the first field records of orcas hunting them. A study in PLOS ONE described killer whales attacking beaked whales on four occasions in 2014, 2015 and 2016.32 In 2016 the prey was identified as a strap-toothed whale.33 Gray's beaked whale is the beaked whale most commonly recorded in Western Australian waters.34

Blue whales pass through as well. Researchers recorded the first known killing of an adult blue whale by killer whales in late March 2019 off this coast.35 The US National Marine Fisheries Service calls the blue whale the largest animal ever to live on the planet.18

Seeing a beaked whale or a blue whale is rare on any trip, and nobody should book expecting one. They are part of why the canyon fascinates scientists, and part of why the orcas are there at all: a deep, productive sea feeds a long chain of animals, and the killer whales sit at its top. If the boat does find one, the crew will know it is a special day, and so will you.

Sharks at the Bremer Canyon

Sharks at the Bremer Canyon are part of the same food web. The PLOS ONE study calls the sub-basin a biologically important area that attracts fish, sharks and deep-diving whales.3 Parks Australia lists foraging habitat for white sharks among the biologically important areas of the Bremer Marine Park.36

The booked expedition names sharks among the wildlife of the day. They tend to show up where there is food in the water, so the scraps of an orca hunt can bring them close to the surface. You are watching from the deck of the Alison Maree: the listing does not allow swimming or snorkeling.

Shark sightings are unpredictable, and most of the time you will see only a fin or a shadow. If one appears, the marine biologist on board is the person to ask what species it is.

Albatrosses and other seabirds

Bring binoculars for the birds. At one of the predation events the scientists watched, the seabirds included Indian yellow-nosed albatross, flesh-footed shearwater, wandering albatross and white-faced storm-petrel.2 Parks Australia says the park's upwelling water feeds marine mammals and seabirds alike.37

The birds are also your best spotters. A flock wheeling and diving over one patch of sea often marks a feeding event below, and skippers watch for exactly that. When you see birds gather, keep your eyes on the water underneath them.

Albatrosses glide for long stretches without a wingbeat, low over the swell. Even on a slow morning between whale encounters, watching them ride the wind is a small joy of its own, this far from land.

How to get the most from a mixed day

A long day suits a curious mind. The expedition lasts 8 hours and includes full interpretation from an onboard marine biologist, so ask questions whenever the boat is between sightings. Learning to read a blow, a fin or a bird flock makes every later encounter richer.

Respect the distance rules even when you are not the one at the wheel. In Western Australia boats must approach whales only from the side and no closer than 100 m.38 If a whale comes to the boat, the vessel stays put with the motor in neutral or moves slowly away at less than 6 knots.39

Finally, keep your expectations open. Australian waters hold 45 species of whale and dolphin, but few of them are often seen by watchers.40 A day that brings orcas plus one or two other species is a very good day by any measure.

Pick your date

A day with the canyon orcas

A marine biologist, meals and the day's photos included; cancel free up to a day before.

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You ask,we answer.

Which whales live at the Bremer Canyon besides orcas?

Sperm and pilot whales, among others. Surveys from 2015 to 2017 met 69 sperm whale and 29 long-finned pilot whale groups.1

Are there sharks at the canyon?

Yes. The sub-basin is described as attracting fish, sharks and deep-diving whales.3

How deep do sperm whales dive?

Routinely to 2,000 feet. Their dives can last 45 minutes.8

Can I see blue whales?

Rarely. Orcas killed an adult blue whale off this coast in late March 2019.35

Which seabirds might I see?

Albatrosses and shearwaters. Indian yellow-nosed and wandering albatross were recorded at one hunt.2

Does the tour list other animals?

Yes. It names orcas, sperm whales, pilot whales, dolphins, sharks and pelagic birds.

How close do boats get to whales?

No closer than 100 m. In Western Australia boats approach whales only from the side.38

Sources

Evidence for this guide

  1. 1↩
  2. 2↩
  3. 3↩
  4. 4↩
  5. 5
    US National Marine Fisheries ServiceSperm Whale
    ↩
  6. 6
    DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT)Physeter macrocephalus - Sperm Whale
    ↩
  7. 7
    DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT)Physeter macrocephalus - Sperm Whale
    ↩
  8. 8
    US National Marine Fisheries ServiceSperm Whale
    ↩
  9. 9
    US National Marine Fisheries ServiceSperm Whale
    ↩
  10. 10
    DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT)Physeter macrocephalus - Sperm Whale
    ↩
  11. 11
    DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT)Physeter macrocephalus - Sperm Whale
    ↩
  12. 12
    US National Marine Fisheries ServiceKiller Whale
    ↩
  13. 13
    US National Marine Fisheries ServiceLong-Finned Pilot Whale
    ↩
  14. 14
    US National Marine Fisheries ServiceLong-Finned Pilot Whale
    ↩
  15. 15
    US National Marine Fisheries ServiceBlue Whale
    ↩
  16. 16
    Australian MuseumKiller Whale
    ↩
  17. 17
    Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan)Orcinus orca (killer whale)
    ↩
  18. 18
    US National Marine Fisheries ServiceBlue Whale
    ↩
  19. 19
    DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT)Globicephala melas - Long-finned Pilot Whale
    ↩
  20. 20
    DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT)Globicephala melas - Long-finned Pilot Whale
    ↩
  21. 21
    DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT)Globicephala melas - Long-finned Pilot Whale
    ↩
  22. 22
    Australian Bureau of Statistics2021 Bremer Bay, Census All persons QuickStats
    ↩
  23. 23
    Tourism Western AustraliaBremer Bay - Destination
    ↩
  24. 24↩
  25. 25
    Tourism Western AustraliaBremer Bay Canyon - Attraction
    ↩
  26. 26
    DBCA (Explore Parks WA)Fitzgerald River National Park
    ↩
  27. 27
    DBCA (Explore Parks WA)Point Ann
    ↩
  28. 28
    Tourism Western AustraliaBremer Beach - Attraction
    ↩
  29. 29↩
  30. 30↩
  31. 31
    Shire of EsperanceAirport
    ↩
  32. 32↩
  33. 33↩
  34. 34↩
  35. 35
    Flinders University (research release on Totterdell et al., Marine Mammal Science)First records of orcas hunting largest animals on Earth
    ↩
  36. 36↩
  37. 37
    Parks AustraliaBremer Marine Park
    ↩
  38. 38↩
  39. 39↩
  40. 40
    DCCEEW (Australian Government)Whale and dolphin watching
    ↩

Keep reading

More guides to the Bremer Bay orcas

Bremer Bay orca season: when the canyon orcas are thereBremer Bay orca season: when the canyon orcas are there The Bremer Canyon: where it is, how deep it goes and why orcas gatherThe Bremer Canyon: where it is, how deep it goes and why orcas gather Do orcas kill whales? What the Bremer orcas huntDo orcas kill whales? What the Bremer orcas hunt How to get to Bremer Bay from Perth, Albany or EsperanceHow to get to Bremer Bay from Perth, Albany or Esperance
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