Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 7/2/2020 | 13:30

    Today was a magical day on the west side of San Juan Island!  I am ecstatic to report K pod received the upmost welcome back as they made their way up and down the shoreline, foraging and enjoying their time back home!  There are 17 individuals left in this pod, and we were all able to see them spread out and moving through the water in their natural habitat, a heart-filled experience that hopefully we will be able to see again one day.  

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion| June 30, 2020 | 13:30

Today was such an exciting day as Captain Erick and I were able to bring our guests over towards the outer islands to see Killer Whales! Along the route, we passed three Bald Eagles soaring overhead near Lopez Island and throughout Upright Channel with those six-foot wingspans.

We initially were aiming for Cypress Island where the transient orcas were milling around in Rosario Strait. The great thing about these whales is that they are...

Olivia | M/V Sea Lion | June 28, 2020 | 13:30

Today as quite the adventure, and a well needed one at that! We started off the trip with the fastest introduction speech of wildlife and the Salish Sea that I have done to date. The reason for the rushed speeches as we set off was because there were whale sightings far away and heading north. Captain Pete was anxious to start our travels as soon as possible in order to give our guests that black and white glimpse they were itching to...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 6/25/2020 | 13:30

This afternoon’s whale watch aboard M/V Sea Lion was simply spectacular!  We left Friday Harbor with reports of killer whales not far away, near Blakely and Obstruction Islands.  I am always so excited to hear the radio announcing the presence of whales even before we leave the dock!  After a quick safety talk from our Captain Pete, we hurried our way through San Juan Channel to get to Obstruction Pass.  There we were greeted by a couple of...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 6/22/2020 | 13:30

Today was another whale-filled day out on the water! M/V Sea Lion headed south through San Juan Channel and we barely made any headway before our first whale encounter!  A humpback whale was feeding in Griffin Bay and taking about 4-minute dives.  It was so exciting to see such a large animal so close to the shore in his/her natural habitat.  The upwelling was telling of a prime feeding spot in this area, as the birds swarmed above as the...

Sarah | 06/20/2020 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00pm

We had an excellent, albeit the moody weather, out on the water. On my first tour back on the water this season, we got to see so much wildlife, and enjoyed some stunning scenery.

We left Friday Harbor and headed north through San Juan Channel, and took a right up President’s Channel. While we cruised through the impressive channel with the tall hills and bluffs of Orcas Island and Waldron Island on either side of us, we got to see some...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 6/13/2020 | 5:30pm

This evening's sunset whale watch was spectacular!  We headed southbound through San Juan Channel towards Cattle Point.  We passed some fun pelagic bird species along the way, including pigeon guillemots, rhinoceros auklets, and cormorants.  After reaching Cattle Point, the seas were a little rough but passengers were excited for the adventure!  We received a report of Bigg's killer whales (historically called transients) along the west side...

Laura / M/V Sea Lion / 6/10/2020 / 12:00pm

    Today I am thrilled to report a most fulfilling whale watch after a long sabbatical due to recent COVID regulations.  Captain Pete and I dusted off our binos and set off into the Salish Sea on M/V Sea Lion!  She seemed just as happy to be back out on the water as well and cruised through the seas like a well-oiled machine.  Our first tour is officially scheduled for this upcoming weekend, Saturday June 13th as well as Sunday!

    After...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 3/12/2020 | 12:00pm

It is always fun to report when passengers find whales from the sky as they arrive to San Juan Island via sea plane!  Two passengers had an early morning flight to Friday Harbor and sighted four orcas from above while flying over the San Juan Channel.  We boarded as quickly as possible to leave the dock with hopes of seeing these whales again!

M/V Sea Lion cruised up the channel and into Boundary Pass as everyone anxiously scanned for...

Laura | M/V Sea Lion | 3/10/2020 | 12:00pm

Today was such a fun day to be out on the water!  M/V Sea Lion left the dock of Friday Harbor and headed north.  Moments after we left the dock a large common loon came right by our boat and surprised all the passengers!  He was sporting some gorgeous spring breeding plumage and this sighting was the closest I have ever been to a loon!

We continued through the San Juan Channel and stopped at Flattop Island to watch a juvenile bald eagle take...