The Great Bear II

Our ship, Great Bear II, is Transport Canada certified as a passenger vessel, and carries all the latest navigation and safety equipment. Each year, the ship undergoes rigorous inspections by Transport Canada, by owner and Captain, Eric Boyum, and by systems specialists that Ocean Adventures employs.

On board our 54-foot ship Great Bear II, guests can lounge in the spacious comfort of our salon and galley area, as spectacular scenery passes by. The large windows of the salon and galley area allow uninterrupted views to the outside. A large, cozy couch for sitting and reading, for visiting with other guests, or for a siesta, is a much sought after spot on board. Across from the couch, an L shaped seating area with a table, offers a spot to download your latest photographs onto your laptop, play cards, or just have a cup of tea and a cookie. Across from the galley area is a buffet including a selection of teas, coffee, hot chocolate, a large bowl of fruit, granola bars and home made baked treats to entice you — help yourself whenever you like.

Guests will love dining in our "revolving restaurant" — sitting at the dining table in our pilothouse — as the boat turns in the tide at anchor, or as we travel during the day. (There are almost 360- degree views from the dining table.) As we travel, guests are welcome to join the Captain in the pilothouse for briefings on points of interest, wildlife sightings, navigation instruction, or even take a turn at the wheel of the Great Bear II. Whether it's getting involved in the ship's steering and navigation or just sitting with a cup of coffee, a freshly baked treat, and a good book, guests love spending time in the pilothouse.

Outside on the foredeck there is a long, cushioned settee for sitting, relaxing and taking in the scenery, and still, plenty of room for photographers to set up their tripods. The aft deck, the entrance to the ship, is covered, which gives us space to hang outdoor gear, stow rubber boots, and the perfect place for the chef's organic herb garden.

Guests enjoy private accommodation (based on double occupancy), in private staterooms. For those single travellers not wishing to share a room, there is a single berth in the pilothouse, which closes off from the rest of the ship at night. There are two full bathrooms on board, each with their own shower and equipped with electric flushing toilets. Each of the staterooms on board is well appointed with beautifully made beds, complete with duvets, pillows and linens. Large, fluffy towels, facecloths, special reading materials and chocolates also await our guests. Fresh hand towels are put out each day and complimentary natural personal care products are provided in each of the on board bathrooms. The private staterooms and many amenities are often said by our guests to "have exceeded their expectations."

Great Bear II's galley is our chef's pride and joy — equipped with a four burner cook top, full sized oven, dishwasher, microwave oven, food processors and plenty of counter space for food preparation and serving. Our galley on board Great Bear II offers plenty of space for the chef and crew person, and a place for you to sit and visit while your next extravaganza is being prepared. Our chef is diligent in the cleanliness of the galley and the safe preparation and storage of all food on board.

Our 54 foot Great Bear II tows our 16 foot hard bottomed zodiac that we use for shoreline explorations and excursions ashore. We also carry one double and two single kayaks for our guests to use to explore and enjoy the serenity of our anchorages. For trips ashore — onto estuaries and when exploring tidal flats and creeks, we supply our guests with hip/chest waders. Fishing- gear on board includes fishing rods and tackle and crab and prawn traps. Although we do not offer fishing charters where guests take their catch home, we welcome guests to try their hand at supplying 'the catch of the day' — to be prepared by our chef. If guests would like to fish, they will need to purchase their own tidal fishing licenses before they arrive on board.

All in all, there is plenty of room on board for guests and crew to enjoy each other's company or to enjoy some solitude in a private spot. With our small group sizes of 2 to 6 guests and with the spacious layout of the ship, our guests enjoy unparalleled privacy, comfort, and personalized service, as they experience British Columbia's most remote and spectacular settings.

Click below to view our Staterooms, or here for our Accommodation Plan.

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