A few years back, we went sea kayaking and camping at San Juan Islands. One of the activities on that trip was to spot whales while kayaking. Unfortunately, we did not see any whales on that trip.
Early this year, together with some friends, we bought a Groupon to go whale watching on a boat. Maybe this time, we’ll see some whales!
We just went this weekend and we are happy to report that we were successful in sighting whales!
We strongly believe your chances of sighting whales is always higher if you go out on a boat, especially one that uses a float plane to sight the whales. The float plane directs the boat to the location where the whales are.
We went on Mystic Sea Charters who happens to be part of an international organization called SAFE which gives them the use of the float planes!
On the way out, it was foggy. This is what surrounded us.
Sighted a whale!
The whale was headed towards us! The captain had to turn the engine off because the whale was getting close to us.
We did not have a zoom lens this time, so this shot was not zoomed in. This really is how close the whale was to us!
We saw another whale farther out that was just flipping its tail in the water! Looked like the whale was enjoying the sun and the water!
We saw quite a few more whales on the trip. The last few came close to us again. This one was swimming beside us for a bit.
Boat Ride
It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Seattle to Anacortes, WA to catch the boat ride.
On the day we went, the sea was a bit choppy due to strong winds. So the ride out was rather bumpy. Several people on the boat got sick, some threw up. Some of our friends went a few weeks back and reported the opposite, where their boat ride was calm and smooth the entire way.
So your experience may vary depending on the day you go and the weather.
If you’re prone to motion sickness, make sure you bring your medication and take it before the ride! We left at about 11am and got back at around 4pm in the afternoon.
We also learnt that this boat was the Warner Bros. official shoot boat for 3 months in the San Juan Islands when they were shooting Free Willy 2!
Our whale watching boat
Food
They had drinks and some lunch available for purchase. Menu was primarily sandwiches, hot dogs, chilli, chips and such. We paid $7 for a simple turkey sandwich. We’d recommend that you bring your own lunch and drinks!
Recommended?
Overall, we had a great time. We paid a fraction of the price because we bought a Groupon. At the advertised retail rate of $89 + tax for adults, we feel it might be a bit too expensive. It is however cheaper than doing a kayak + camp trip to sight whales (which has a lower chance of seeing whales)!
We did find out though that if you go in a group of 10 or more, it is discounted to $49+tax per person!
If you find a discounted deal or go in a group of 10 or more, then this experience is worth it.
Have you been on a whale watching trip? Did you see any whales? Would you recommend it? Do share through our comments section!
[notification type=”star”]REMEMBER:
- You’ll get a better chance of seeing whales if you go with a boat that has the use of a float plane to sight whales.
- Bring your own packed lunch and drinks. It’ll be cheaper!
- If you see a discounted deal, you should buy it. Paying at retail price seems a bit expensive to us.
- Go in a group of 10 or more. This will give you a discounted rate of $49 + tax per person. That’s a more reasonable price!
- Bring a sweater and/or a warm jacket. No matter how sunny it is, the breeze on a boat can get quite chilly!
- If you’re prone to motion sickness, take your medication before hopping on the ride!
- Bring or ask the boat for the use of binoculars to see the whales.
- Bring your zoom lens with you if you’re taking pictures!
- PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: The pictures above were taken with our Nikon D700 DSLR together with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Prime Lens. Some of the photos above were also taken using our Leica D-Lux5 point & shoot. A comparable point & shoot to the Leica D-Lux5 is the Panasonic LX-5 and Canon S95.
32 Comments
-
So… I’m still not totally clear on what a float plane is. How does it help you see more whales?
Beautiful photos, though – looks like the whales got super close!
Christy recently posted..Princess Di Lived Here?! London’s Creepiest Palace.
-
Author
Floatplanes are seaplanes. The propeller planes that can take off and land on water. See here –> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floatplane
The boats basically have radio communication with the floatplanes. Floatplane pilots fly around, spotting whales. When they see the whales, the radio in to the boats and let them know where the whales are. Boats then head to the coordinates provided by the planes 🙂
Yeah – seeing the orcas swim in the ocean is such a magnificient sight.
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{Tips} If nothing else, take these 3 photographs on your travels
-
-
They have Groupon for everything now 🙂
Never done a whale watching tour but definitely plan to one day.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..My Decision to Go Home-
LOL – yes they do! I just bought another one a few weeks back for digital magazines!
I hope you get to go on a whale watching tour one day!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{Japan} Our Ryokan Experience at Noboribetsu, Hokkaido
-
-
Great tips and beautiful photos. Seeing whales in nature is definitely better than at SeaWorld. 🙂
Michael Figueiredo recently posted..Side Trip: Catalina Island-
I must agree to that! Definitely better than seeing it at Seaworld! But at Seaworld, you get a 100% guarantee you’d see a whale though! 🙂
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{Tips} If nothing else, take these 3 photographs on your travels
-
-
Whales are just amazing, aren’t they? I’ve been lucky enough to see whales off Hervey Bay in Queensland (much further north than where Red Nomad OZ was), and also off the west coast of Australia.
I’ve never heard of any Australian whale watching operation using planes, though. That seems very expensive!
Barbara – The Dropout Diaries recently posted..Meet The Dropouts – Locationless Jason Batansky-
The use of planes is probably why the ticket prices are higher. Heard so much from reader comments about seeing whales on Australia’s coast! Sounds like a must-do next time we drop by Australia!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{MALAYSIA} Snorkel, Dive and Chill at Redang Island
-
-
This sounds like an awesome trip- I would have loved to have been with you. We were lucky to see two whales on our last trip out, but not that close!
Jade recently posted..Pimp My Treehouse: Houses of Pohnpei-
My friends who went out the day after we went saw the whales even closer up! Some folks reported success seeing whales while kayaking! I guess it’s how lucky you are 🙂
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{Japan} Our Ryokan Experience at Noboribetsu, Hokkaido
-
-
Very cool pictures. And thanks for the tips! Hopefully we will make it up there some day.
-
Thanks Kathy! Definitely a sight to see that you should try out one day. As Laurel mentioned below, kayaking day trip to sight Orcas might be something you want to check out too since you’ll be closer to the whales!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{Japan} Our Ryokan Experience at Noboribetsu, Hokkaido
-
-
Great photos! I think a lot also depends on the time of year, we went whale watching in Victoria last year, (not prime whale season) and didn’t see a single whale and the ride was very bumpt. This year, we did a 3 day kayaking trip with orcas and saw several very close up. I also liked being so close to the water in a kayak with the whales so would recommend that as another option as well.
Laurel recently posted..Jasper Tramway – Canada’s Longest and Highest Guided Aerial Tramway-
Amazing! You’re right! We were unlucky on our kayaking trip and didn’t see whales. If we went at the right time, we’d probably have enjoyed it more since we’d be so much closer! Great recommendation, Laurel!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{Japan} Our Ryokan Experience at Noboribetsu, Hokkaido
-
-
Whale Watching at San Juan Islands http://t.co/bfFdJu7 @idelishTravel
-
You have some amazing pictures here! I have never done whale watching…but I know that I accidentally saw one whale once 😀
Sailor recently posted..Cruise Line Reputation Clean-up After Hurricane Irene-
Thanks! How did you “accidentally” see a whale? Was that while on a cruise? Must’ve been an amazing sight, either way!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{India} India’s Golden Triangle, 7-day Itinerary
-
-
{USA} Whale Watching at San Juan Islands http://t.co/pHTypwZ via @idelish
-
Wow – excellent photos! Whale watching is exhilarating – I’d love to see killer whales!
Andrea recently posted..Exploring Hundertwasser’s World in Vienna-
It definitely is! You should give it a go when you get a chance but go during Whale season! Otherwise, you might be disappointed!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{India} Is Khardung La really the Highest Motorable Pass in the World?
-
-
It’s an awesome experience, isn’t it? I’ve been so lucky to spot whales on my travels: first, while on a whale-watching boat in Hawaii; last year aboard a small-ship cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage; and this summer in Ecuador, on a small-ship cruise of the Galapagos Islands.
Nancy recently posted..Off to Otavalo-
It absolutely was! You’re so lucky to have spotted so many whales on your travels! We can only truly say this was the first time (after 10 years of traveling together), we’ve spotted whales so close to us!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{Tips} If nothing else, take these 3 photographs on your travels
-
-
Wow! An amazing experience to get so close!! But I’ve been lucky enough to spot whales from Australia’s east coast – Byron Bay and Ballina – many times. It’s a known whale hotspot for Southern Right Whales – but while you’re waiting for a whale sighting, there are dolphins, turtles and schools of sea mullet to keep you entertained. How good is that??!!
Red Nomad OZ recently posted..Only in OZ #17 – Ned Kelly Tribute, Jerilderie, NSW-
That definitely sounds awesome! Definitely a must-visit on our next trip to Australia!!!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{MALAYSIA} Snorkel, Dive and Chill at Redang Island
-
-
Whale watching tips and pictures via @idelishtravel http://ow.ly/6fBYg #travel
-
Wowza! This is where we live 🙂
Kent recently posted..Postcard from Alaska – Sunshine and a Glacier-
You guys live on san juan islands?! So jealous of you! Must be awesome to have such beautiful scenery out of your window everyday!
Idelish (Jeremy & Shirlene) recently posted..{MALAYSIA} Snorkel, Dive and Chill at Redang Island
-
