Today was quite the adventure as Abby, Cayla, Captain Gabe and I headed to Canada for the first time in 2 years!! It was a fantastic change in perspective as we crossed the border and entered a whole new world!

Going up through the San Juan Channel, around Waldron Island and towards Saturna Island, we passed close to the beautiful lighthouse off of East Point.

Continuing into the open waters of the Strait of Georgia, we found a Humpback whale!! This gorgeous animal was huge! Probably...

Abby | M/V Sea Lion | 8/9/2021

As usual, Captain Pete and I have the best luck. With multiple matrilines traveling through the islands, we had our pick of the pod. We decided to travel towards the T037A’s, one of my favorite Biggs killer whale family groups, which has a total of six members, although only five were present:

• Volker T037A (Female, 1994)
  
  • Inyo T037A1 (Gender Unknown, 2007)—Not present today
  • Inky T037A2 (Male, 2009)
  • Spinnaker T037A3 (Male, 2013)
  • Crinkle T037A4 (Gender...

Abby | M/V Sea Lion | 8/7/2021

Captain Pete and I pushed off the dock, sun beaming through the morning clouds and drizzle that covered the island. Moving through the mist that morning was like moving through the breath of a whale on a foggy fall day, a glimpse of what was to come.

We headed north through San Juan Channel, past Yellow Island, and rounded the corner by Orcas Island to see exhales dot the surface, close to the rocky shoreline. We had three teenagers off our bow:

• Jude...

Haleigh | M/V Osprey | August 04, 2021 | 5:30pm

Each departure from the harbor, we set out to find as much wildlife as we can! We are in communication with other whale watchers and vessels on the water to ensure we can each create some of the best experiences the Salish sea has to offer. Though it can sometimes be a gamble choosing certain paths, our sunset trip did not disappoint! 

We decided to head north through San Juan channel in pursuit of some large black and white animals...

Haleigh | M/V Kestrel | July 31, 2021 | 2:00pm

We started our Saturday afternoon trip moving north through the San Juan Channel. We reached a small island called Skipjack to find two dozen harbor seals hauled out along the shoreline! Some of them were playing in the kelp beds while most lay in a banana-shape pose, head and tail pulled up towards the sky. We rounded this tiny island and continued north in search of more wildlife! 

Earlier reports of Bigg’s Killer Whales near the...

Jordan | M/V Sea Lion | 07/31/2021 2:00pm

Today was the first cloudy day in weeks. But instead of being dreary, it made the surrounding landscape appear even more mystical and mysterious. Captain Pete and I left Friday Harbor in hopes of finding something near Canada, so we headed north.

We cruised through the San Juan Channel and up President’s Channel as we passed Waldron. As we emerged into Boundary, we spotted Canada and admired her elusive beauty from a distance.

Stopping by...

Jordan | M/V Osprey | 07/30/2021 5:30pm

Captain Gabe, Olivia, Maxx and I headed out of Friday Harbor filled with optimistic hopes of finding wildlife!

Quickly after we left Friday Harbor, we were happily surprised to find orcas near Lopez Island! We watched as one of my favorite pods, the T65As cruised along the shoreline in search of any prey. The large male, Ooxjaa, swam a bit further out from his family out in the middle of the channel. His huge dorsal fin impressed many on...

Laura | M/V Kestrel | 7/30/2021 | 2:00PM

Today was an outstanding day out on the water!  We headed southbound through San Juan Channel after receiving a land-based report of orcas being spotted all the way near Port Townsend!  Our Captain Brian made the announcement that it would be a long bumpy journey south, but the best chance of finding orcas!  All passengers were onboard and game for the adventure, so we headed out for an hour and a half in 2-3 foot seas on our zodiac.  What a...

Maxx K. | M/V Kestrel | 07/28/2021 | 2:00pm

    Kestrel zoomed out of Friday Harbor and began racing towards the mainland, wrapping up and over Lopez and down and around between Blakey and Decatur Islands. It has been a week or two since I’ve been on Kestrel and I’ve forgotten how fast this vessel can fly! Within 40 minutes we were slowed down and already approaching a group of Bigg’s Killer Whales that were making their way southbound along Whidbey Island. 

By the time we arrived...

Jordan | M/V Osprey | 07/28/2021 12:30pm

What a fantastic day out on the water! Somewhere wore their lucky whale socks because we saw not only one but two different species of whales!!

As the crew and I headed down south, we passed through the San Juan Channel. As we scanned the Lopez Island shoreline, we quickly found a humpback whale!!

The behemoth cruised through the water effortlessly as he headed out through turbulent waters to open sea. His breathe shot out high above the...