Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | March 22nd, 2021 | 13:00

Today was an unexpected and exceptional spring day in the San Juan Islands. Setting out with an all-female crew, Captain Sara and I started our search by heading north towards Flattop Island, looking at Seal haul out locations and bumping into Boundary Pass, staying on the U.S side of the border. Turning Southwest on our journey, we cut through John’s Pass, aiming for the Haro Strait. It was on this trek that we caught word of Killer...

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 Sea Lion | Septmeber 28th, 2020 | 13:00

Today was probably the clearest day we have had in over a month. No clouds were to be found in the blue, sunny skies and our old friend Mount Baker stood tall waving hello after a few weeks sitting behind clouds, smoke, and lots of fog. It was already setting out to be a gorgeous, fall day out boating in the San Juan Islands with a little twist of summer on top. Our migrating Humpback Whales have spent most of the summer foraging...

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...

Erick | M/V Sea Lion | Saturday, September 19, 2020 | 1:00 PM

The skies finally cleared today when Captain Sarah and I ventured out to search for wildlife in the Salish Sea. We headed south after getting reports that the Southern Residents had been spotted near the southern end of San Juan Island! As we headed down, we made a stop at Whale Rocks to look at the Steller Sea Lions and the Harbor Seals. After looking at those growly pinnipeds we continued on our way and headed...

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | September 17th, 2020 | 13:00

What a crazy, adventurous day out in the dense fog and smoke! We left the dock with no more than a 30-yard visibility in either direction of the boat. We were still able to travel out in the San Juan Islands safely and continue north where there were some whale rumors far in the Strait of Georgia. The smog started to lift the further north we went and by the time we were just past Patos Island, and just south of Point Roberts, the...

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | September 12th, 2020 | 13:00

Our excursion today started off with no whale reports in the Salish Sea. This is a very normal way to start the day as we all leave the dock, divide along the waters, and check on what is occurring in the world’s most productive waters. Captain Erick and I decided to head north and scan all the areas where their prey hangs out, which in turn, are whale hot spots. We immediately saw Harbor Porpoise swimming throughout San Juan...

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | September 11th, 2020 | 13:00

This smokey, yellow day started off a bit eerie in the San Juans due to the wildfires in Oregon, Washington, and California. We did not let this stop us from heading out in the water in search of wildlife that could be milling around. Shortly after leaving the dock, we saw a Steller’s Sea Lion swimming in San Juan Channel, coming up for big breaths in the golden haze. To start off our path, we decided to head north where there was...

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | September 8th, 2020 | 13:00

Leaving the dock today, we did not let the smoke tear down our spirits as we headed south through San Juan Channel. Reaching Cattle Pass, we heard rumors of Bigg’s Killer Whales southwest of Hein Bank and decided to aim there with our best chances of showing our guests something black and white in the water. Our entire way there we were spotting Harbor Seals and Harbor Porpoise swimming between the shallow Salmon and Hein Banks.

It...

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | September 7th, 2020 | 13:00

We left the dock today with no reports of whales in the area, a normal start with boats all leaving within the same hour out searching throughout the Salish Sea. Heading north towards boundary pass, we caught word through the Pacific Whale Watch Association of a family of Bigg’s Killer Whales on the Canadian side of north Haro Strait. Captain Pete decided to aim for that area in hopes we are lucky enough to be in the area with the...