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Marine Vessel

Sea Lion

Great for all ages
Set Sail Aboard Sea Lion

Sea Lion was built specifically for whale & wildlife viewing in the Pacific Northwest. This vessel is a staff favorite, as it provides an intimate experience while allowing for larger groups. 

Birds and Sea Lion

Sea Lion Quick Facts

  • 44 Passengers
  • No age restrictions
  • 1 comfortable restroom on board
  • Full wrap-around observation deck
  • Inside cabin area with bench seats and tables
  • Indoor and outdoor seating
  • Great for smaller groups and a more intimate experience

4-Hour Private Charters: $4,495 + taxes and fees

Tours Aboard Sea Lion
Classic Whale Watch from Roche Harbor

Classic Whale Watch & Wildlife Tour @ Roche Harbor

  • 3-4 hours on the water 
  • Departs from Roche Harbor
  • Marine Naturalist(s) for questions
  • Heated inside the cabin area
  • Comfortable restroom(s)
  • Great for families and small kids

Adult: $125.00
Child: $89.00

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boarding kestrel

Private Charters & Groups

We offer custom private tour experiences for groups of 1 to 100 participants, focusing on seamless service, complimentary itinerary planning, and personalized attention to detail.  Arrange a private activity for a variety of groups and occasions!

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Tufted Puffin on the water

Birding Safari

Charter one of our boats for a Birding Safari which is 3 - 4 hours in search of birds and wildlife in obscure coves and backwaters of the San Juan Islands.  Come see all the wildlife that the great Pacific Northwest has to offer!

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  • Birds and Sea Lion
Whale Reports from Sea Lion
Read about our recent sightings aboard Sea Lion

Our naturalists love to share their exciting adventures on the water. These reports include photos and information about the wildlife encouters on recent tours!

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Transient Orca

Transient Killer Whales in Boundary Pass

Rachel A.   

7/9/17 – Sea Lion 1:30 PM Departure

 

Today on our afternoon sea lion trip we were lucky enough to watch some transient orcas.  Transient orcas have been the name of the game this whale watching season, which is giving our guests and naturalists a good opportunity to observe the differences in the transient and resident behavior and physiology.  One major difference is their pod make-up or social groupings.  Resident orca pods are made of an entire extended family...

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Humpback Whale Fluking

Humpback in Rosario Strait

7/10/17 – Sea Lion 1:30 & 5:30 PM Departure

We spent the day out in Rosario Strait watching one unidentified sub-adult humpback whale.  Guests commonly ask us how we find our whale sightings and if we go to specific areas each day.  San Juan Safaris is a part of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, which is a prestigious company dedicated to ensuring the highest quality ecotourism out in the Salish Sea.  With that comes the variety of whale watching companies leaving from 19...

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Transient orcas swim alongside Orcas Island

Transient Orcas Visit San Juan Channel Near Friday Harbor

[7/11/17- M/V Sea Lion- 1:30PM]

Ohhhh what a day to be out on a whale watch! The reports were already great as we left Friday Harbor, but we almost didn’t even need them- whales were seen passing by Friday Harbor just as our trip was ready to depart!

After only about 15 or 20 minutes, we were on the scene with a group of transient killer whales. They were quickly dodging about and deciding which ways to travel. They were separated into 3 or 4 small groups with about 10 whales total...

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Decisions, Decisions...T101's and T49A's On the Prowl Near Salt Spring Island and Navy Channel

Lauren Fritz, 07/06/17, M/V Sea Lion, 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm Tours

What a day! Passengers on both of our tours were able to watch Transient orcas cruising through the Salish Sea. On our first trip, Captain Mike, Naturalist Sarah, and I decided to head over to a family of Tranisents that were hanging out near Salt Spring Island. What a beautiful journey it was! I hadn't been out this way yet this year, and I always love checking out the Canadian Gulf Islands. The San Juans are beautiful...

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Transient Killer Whales off the Bellingham Coast!

[7/5/17 ~ 2pm KL ~ Naturalist Sarah C ]

Transient killer whale sightings have been off the hook this season! And because their food source (harbor seals, porpoises, sea lions, and other whales) are so abundant and widespread here in the Salish Sea, these whales are also widespread and common. Sightings of transient orcas have taken us to almost every channel, strait, and pass in the San Juans, giving us beautiful and varying scenery along with excellent success in finding whales!

Tod...

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T49A's

Transients Near Orcas Island

7/3/17 - Sea Lion 1:30 & 5:30 PM Departure

Our pre-fourth of July celebration was exceptional!  The T49A’s hanging out Northwest of San Juan Island.   The T49A’s are made up of four whales, the matriarch and her three offspring.  We were lucky enough to see the whales feeding on both our afternoon and sunset tour.  The whales seemed rather relaxed throughout the day while continuing to feed, on what we would assume to be harbor seals.  Harbor seals make up about 60% of the diet of...

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Orca Blows Touch the Sky on the Fourth of July

[7/4/17 ~ 1:30SL ~ Naturalist Sarah C ]

Happy Fourth of July! A huge event in Friday Harbor, the fourth is celebrated with parades, live music, barbecues, fireworks, and, of course, orcas! To make a beautiful sunny day even more perfect, our whale watch left the dock with multiple reports of orcas in the area, leaving us with a few spots to choose from. What a treat!

With our full boat of excited passengers decked out in their best red, white, and blue apparel, the Sea Lion set forth...

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Beautiful Transient Killer Whale Encounter in Eastern San Juans

07/02/17, Lauren Fritz, M/V Sea Lion, San Juan Safaris, 1:30 and 5:30 pm Tours

What a magical day of Bigg's Killer Whales! We encountered several different family pods on the east side of Orcas Island today, over in Rosario Strait. We enjoyed some breathtaking views of the T36's and a number of other Transients. My favorite part? Seeing the massive males rise up above the surface with their huge wavering dorsal fins. It's absolutely humbling. 

The whales were busy hunting and traveling on our...

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Orca in the sunlight

Transient Killer Whales in the Salish Sea

[07/01/2017 – M/V Sea Lion – 1:30pm & 5:30pm]

 

We had a magical day on the M/V Sea Lion that again taught us about the importance of not worrying if there is no report of orcas as we leave the dock. Killer whales can travel 100 miles a day at speeds over 35 miles per hour. This means that reports literally change minute by minute and you can never write off a day based on the reports leaving the dock.

 

Since we had no reports we left Friday Harbor on our 1:30 trip with the...

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