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Marine vessel osprey starboard side

Marine Vessel

Osprey

Perfect for large groups & parties
All Aboard Osprey!

Osprey is the largest vessel in our fleet. Coast Guard approved for 126 passengers and crew, this boat is ready to host your group event, party, or private charter! Osprey runs our Classic Whale Watch and Wildlife Safari daily in June through August.

 

 

Marine Vessel Osprey

Osprey Quick Facts

Osprey Highlights

  • 126 Passengers
  • No age restrictions
  • Two comfortable restrooms
  • Full wrap-around observation deck
  • Two different level viewing decks
  • Inside cabin area with bench seats and tables
  • Galley on board, with snacks and beverages available for purchase (upon request)
  • Indoor and outdoor seating Audio system available by request

4-Hour Charter: $6,395 + taxes and fees

Tours Aboard Osprey
Classic Whale Watch from Friday Harbor

Classic Whale Watch & Wildlife Tour @ Friday Harbor

  • 3-4 hours on the water 
  • Departs from Friday 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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  • Marine vessel osprey starboard side
  • Whale flag flying with Mt. Baker in the distance on a sunny day
  • pc: Olivia Ellman, San Juan Safaris
  • People enjoying the Classic tour on the Osprey bow
Whale Reports from Osprey
Read about our recent sightings aboard Osprey!

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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What a Lovely Afternoon with Eight Bigg's Killer Whales

Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Thursday, July 30, 2026 | 12:30 pm 

Today was the epitome of a summer July day out on the water here in the San Juans; the sun was shining, the wildlife was incredible, and the energy was high! Our first sighting of the day was a lone Stellar sea lion hugging the shore in Upright Channel, one of the prey items of the group of animals in store for us through Rosario Strait by Fidalgo Island.

Here are the two families of marine-mammal-eating Bigg’s killer whales we had the...

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t75b

Family of Killer Whales Found in Shallow Water Off Smith Island

Kelly | M/V Osprey | July 29th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We pointed south in San Juan Channel towards the nearest whale report. Cruising past the scenic Cattle Point Lighthouse and eventually into the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Transiting in this bigger body of water we were treated to views of both Mt.Baker, Mt. Ranier (in the haze) and the Olympic mountain range. We began to slow our speed as we approached Smith Island, a lonely island off the coast of Whidbey Island. In the distance along the shoreline...

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BCX2081/Bandit

Humpback Whale BCX2081/ Bandit saves us from a No Whale Day!

Lauren Tschirhart | July 26th, 2026 | M/V Osprey | 12:30 pm

Whales are wild animals, so sightings of them are never guaranteed. With that being said, we see whales on approximately 90% of our tours during peak season. Peak season is considered the months of May through September. This is because during the summer months our sightings network is the strongest and we also have an increase in migratory baleen whale species like Humpback Whales, Gray Whales and Minke Whales. Orcas are a non migratory...

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7.28.26 LV T-Party Anacortes (CA Transients)

Rare Transient Killer Whales From California Join 11 Whale T-Party!!!

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | July 28th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We left the dock full of excitement today as there was an exceptionally rare report of whales within our range. A group of 11 Transient Killer Whales were making their way North up Rosario Strait. Eight of those whales were from our Bigg's Killer Whale population here in the pacific northwest. This large of a group would have been extremely exciting regardless, but they were also accompanied by three CALIFORNIA (CA) TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES...

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7.27.26 LV T100s

Two Species of Whales Back-to-Back

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | July 27th, 2026 | 1:30pm

We left the dock and pointed North out of Friday Harbor on this trip. We travelled up San Juan Channel and turned Northeast into Presidents Channel. We saw quite a few Harbor Porpoise on our way up! This is an excellent area to see them, and there was no shortage today. We continued on our way as we had a whale report a bit North of here to catch up to. Eventually we arrived to Sucia Island and just beyond that was a family of Bigg's Killer...

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7.25.26 LV Humpback

Adult Male Humpback Whale Swims Through Canadian Waters

Levi Vandebunte | M/V Osprey | July 25th, 2026 | 12:30pm

We ventured South down San Juan Channel on this trip, and were immediately greeted by an adorable Sea Otter just minutes in! He was swimming around the outside of a kelp bed just off of Turn Island. As we were arriving, he swam into the kelp and began wrapping himself in it so that he wouldn't float away. We then watched him roll around for several minutes as he groomed himself. Sea Otters are obsessive over keeping their fur clean, as it...

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A Killer (Whale) Afternoon with Hutchins, Laurel, and Estrella

Aly Liu | M/V Osprey | Friday, July 24, 2026 | 12:30 pm 

Our crew got M/V Osprey off the dock at Friday Harbor at 12:30pm this afternoon. After heading north up San Juan Channel, we waved hello to a small group of Harbor porpoise gracefully raising their chocolate-chip shaped dorsal fins above the surface of the water. Shortly after exiting President’s Channel, Captain Gabe announced that he spotted three black dorsal fins in the distance just west from Patos Island. Here are the IDs, names...

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pc: Olivia Elman, San Juan Safaris

Fiesty Bigg's Killer Whale Siblings ft. Pigeon Guillemots

Olivia Ellman | M/V Osprey | July 23rd, 2026 | 12:30 pm

Today’s cloudier skies and cooler temps compared to yesterday were a welcome surprise for our trip today! Even with a bit of wind, we had great spotting conditions and were excited to head towards Rosario to follow up on a report of some Bigg’s Killer Whales. We made our way through Upright Channel and continued to the narrower Peavine Pass which led us into Rosario. From there we turned south and traveled along the Blakely shoreline until...

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T35a&38a

Backyard Orca Whales & Other Abundant Wildlife

Kelly | M/V Osprey | July 22nd, 2026 | 12:30pm 

The M/V Osprey departed Friday Harbor and took a hard left in San Juan Channel. Today we were very lucky, a group of whales was reported right in our backyard! Not but 10 minutes later we slowed the boat and began to notice dorsal fins in the distance off our port side. This group of 9 whales was identified as the 35A's and the 38A's:

  • T035A/Lester — female, born in 1998
    • T035A1/Opal — female, born in 2010
      • T035A1A* — born in 2026
    • T035A2/Topaz — born in...
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pc: Olivia Ellman, San Juan Safaris

Bigg's Killer Whales Return to San Juan Island Shoreline

Olivia Ellman | M/V Osprey | July 21st, 2026 | 12:30 pm

After two days of no killer whales sighted in the region, today was our lucky day! We set out of Friday Harbor in search mode, scanning for any signs of whales and wildlife along San Juan Channel, peering up President’s Channel and among the Wasp Islands before turning west into Spieden Channel. We continued into the Haro Strait and made our way south towards a report of whales heading north. After a quick stop to see a bald eagle, we kept...

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