Jordan | M/V Sea Lion | 04/18/2021 |1:00pm

Today was one of the most incredible trips of the season! I felt so grateful that all my guests got to experience such a lucky tour.

It began as a normal day as we enjoyed the Sunday sunshine in Friday Harbor. Everyone felt excited but a little nervous about what we may see during the trip. Captain Pete and I hopped on our boat, the Sea Lion, and headed down south towards the southern tip of San Juan.

As we approached Cattle Point lighthouse...

Laura | M/V Kestrel | 4/17/2021 | 2:00PM

It was a miraculous Sunday out in the Salish Sea on M/V Kestrel!  Passengers suited up in their gear and we left the dock with a loose report of Bigg’s killer whales headed towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca and towards Canadian waters.  It was a long shot, but we quickly headed south in San Juan Channel and into the Haro Strait.  Along the way we passed Steller Sea Lions and plenty of birds, but we were committed to giving passengers the best...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 4/15/2021 | 1:00PM

Today was a spectacular day out on the water!  We left the dock on M/V Sea Lion with a morning report that orcas had just been spotted near Orcas Island in East Sound!  Passengers were super excited to head out in hopes of finding whales close by on such a beautiful sunny day!  As we headed out of Friday Harbor our Captain, Pete, noticed two majestic bald eagles neatly perched along an exposed branch near the Friday Harbor Marine Labs.  They...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 4/14/2021 | 1:00PM

Today was such a fun day out on the water!  We headed north bound on M/V Sea Lion, through Presidents Channel, and towards Matia Island.  There was a morning report of Bigg’s killer whales headed SE in The Strait of Georgia near Sucia Island!  Once we arrived on scene, we were thrilled to start seeing blows to the side of Puffin Island.  This family was identified at the T49As and 49Bs, a well-known family of two sisters and all their...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 4/9/2021 | 1:00PM

What a fun day in April to be out on the water!  The skies were grey and seas a little choppy, but that did not alter the mind set of those set on seeing some amazing wildlife today.  We left the dock in a hurry, as there was a morning report of Bigg’s killer whales in the area!  Back in the office, one of our kayak guides, Clai, phoned in to let us know his guests just saw killer whales on their 3-hour kayak trip with San Juan Outfitters! ...

Jordan Higgins | M/V Sea lion | 04/03/21 |1:00pm

Today was such a special day! It is pretty rare that we see both the Southern Resident Killer Whales and the Transient Orcas in one trip. I felt very lucky and I’m fairly sure all my guests felt the same way.

Captain Pete and I began the day like any other, boating out of Friday Harbor and listening to any reports of orcas in the area. We got word from a research vessel that the Residents were only a few minutes away! So, we headed...

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | March 29th, 2021 | 13:00

M/V Sea Lion was chartered by an all-female crew today! Captain Sarah and I set out to have one of the craziest and most exciting days this 2021 season in the Salish Sea! We immediately left the dock with reports of Killer Whales in the vicinity. Not just any Killer Whales, though, there were rumors of SIX different families of Bigg’s Killer Whales- averaging around 22 transient orcas uniting on the upper west side of San Juan Island...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 3/6/2021 | 1:00PM

To kick off the first official whale watch of the season, our orcas were ready and did not disappoint!  Passengers and crew had a phenomenal day out on the water!  The morning started off a little rainy but as our departure time came near, the sun came out along blue skies and calm seas.  The day was already looking bright and hopeful, just like summer!

M/V Sea Lion, Captain Pete, myself and 23 passengers made our way out of Friday Harbor and...

Olivia | M/V Kestrel | September 20th, 2020 | 14:00

Setting off the dock for the second time today, Captain Brian and I knew that the Bigg’s Killer Whales we found in the morning had traveled north towards Point Roberts in the Strait of Georgia. Being the only potential whale sightings for the day, we decided to risk it and head that direction. Coming on scene, we found the same family, the T123’s, about as far northwest as we can go in the Strait of Georgia while remaining on the U...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 9/20/2020 | 1:00

This afternoon consisted of the most beautiful and wonderful wildlife excursion!  M/V Sea Lion departed Friday Harbor with full steam ahead, as there was an early morning report of Bigg’s killer whales in US waters.  They were headed NW from Patos Island, so we wanted to head north as quickly as possible in case they decided to go into the Strait of Georgia.  Along the way, we passed so many harbor porpoises I completely lost count.  A few of...