The anchor of National Geographic Quest dropped just after seven o’ clock in the morning in sixty-four feet of water. An overcast sky with a light drizzle greeted our filled Zodiacs as they drove towards Culvert Island, home of the renowned Haiki Institute, This hidden gem houses much more than just the institute, its western coast contains multiple sandy beaches separated by patches of temperate rainforest. These hikes would be our last with Douglas fir trees, but our first with Western hemlock and Sitka spruce.
All our guests were treated to a gorgeous beach hike and a private tour of the institute grounds. The highlight of the day came just before dinner, our first sighting of a humpback whale!
