Humpback today off Stuart Island

Hi, I'm Becca, I was the 1:30 naturalist going out Friday Harbor today. We encountered a humpback traveling solo along the coast of Stuart Island today. We were able to catch a glimpse of it's beautiful white fluke as it inverted it's body to take it's long dive.

Back Roads Group Goes Kayaking off San Juan Island

Michael Silverstein sent us these photos of Back Road Bicycle Tours recent kayak tour with San Juan Safaris.
He says: "Had a blast"

We can take up to 30 guests on a tour. 10 guests per guide so we would have 3 guides, at least. Most of the Back Roads tours have 24 guests, so 3 guides would be accompanying them.


Here is one of their guides Iron Man Brent.






This is one of THE nicest shots of guide Brent Molsberry. That is Battleship Island in the backgroud. It is a National Wildlife Refuge. He is sitting in one of our favorite kelp forests with the guests.



Here is another of that tours guides: Sammie

Sunset Whale Watching Sat July 14, 2007

Fellow passengers photographing the J pod orca whales. They all had bigger/better cameras than mine. Think they got some great shots. We were north of Orcas Island. A bit unusual, but since orcas travel about 100 miles a day, anyplace is fair game.








This is a photo I took the next day of the MV Sea Lion from the very south end of San Juan Island. Wasn't there to photograph this boat, it just happened.

Sunset is my favorite time on the water, whether it is kayaking or whale watching. These are some photos from my trip on the Sea Lion 5:30 - 8:30 pm. The first photo is the back of Capt. Peter and the trip plotter. The 2nd is naturalist Debbie aka The Debbie chatting with guests.

Frank and the gang go whale watching, kayaking & hiking

I FINALLY got around to downloading the photos from our great adventure at Friday Harbor in May. I'm sending some pictures that include some of your fabulous staff and some other stuff that I hope you enjoy.


FYI, the eagle pictures were all from Stuart Island. I'm not a professional photographer, so I didn't have pro equipment. But I put the camera lens in front of a pair of binoculars, and got some relatively decent pictures. Not too bad for an amateur.

I still think frequently about our adventures, and my desire to return to see you again. For your info, I am currently wearing the SJ Safaris T-shirt you gave me.

Best wishes to you and your whole team!
Frank Nemiroff

Captain Nancy & NaturalistDeborah with Frank and the gang on the Kittiwake (ferry in the background)


Frank and the guys

Great Bald Eagle over the water shot

Frank (green shirt) and the guys.

They chartered the Kittiwake to go to Stuart Island for the day, hike to the lighthouse, have lunch, hike back and return to Friday Harbor.

San Juan Safaris staff says "they were a fun group".

Staff BBQ Whale Watching & Kayakig Crew

Food. It's a 'good thing'

Through the window piling it on, THE EATTING MACHINE Trevor with Kate



Laughing Tyler, Margo, Blake & Kate

The whole gang. . .
almost
Standing Nick, left to right Aileen, Trevor, Margo, Blake, Bill, Traci, Becca, Phone, Kate, Tyler, Kendal, Cailyn MacDaddy, Debbie, Kasse, Caitlyn cousin of Brent


MacDaddy & Debbie


Nick







Aileen . . .
what?















Margo & Trevor


Kasse & Phong
"What got stuck, where?"
Oh Yeah,
It was funny.





Debbie & Phong




















Kasse, what is that?
Which helping are you on?















Cap'an Cal



Brian, Tyler, Debbie & Caitlyn











Rare photo of the two (captains)
together in the same place at the same time
Peter and Nancy















No?!





Brian, Cal & The B B Q









Aileen, Tyler & Blake





Bill w/Alaska Beer
Traci w/camera, of course
Becca w/corn

Aileen w/red scarf

Aileen, Trevor, Margo, Blake & Kate


Tip for guests: Bring food

Orca Whales on June 26

Thanks for a fun time on June 26. Here are a couple of shots of Ruffles
as he approached our boat, dove under and swam away!
- Thanks
- Jay Sanyal, PhD
Lead Development Engineer, Ansys/Fluent

Ohio

Note:

These photos have been entered in our photo contest.

Venus Maher June 19, 2007 Whale Watching Tour

Dear Debbie, here is the promised photo of the J pod breaching whale. thank you for your enthusiasm and information. Enjoy! LOVE, Venus Maher.

This note was sent to Debbie Sharp, whale watching naturalist on the boat that day.

Our Kayaking Tour June 26, 2007

Guide Kasse Rupp discusses the unique property of bull kelp in a kelp forest off San Juan Island

A mature bald eagle being harassed by some smaller birds. It was straight up above my kayak.

Here is a another guest. Look at the harbor sea just above her boat.
Frederick Kohler

France comes to San Juan Islands Whale Watching

Naturalist Kendall chatting about the life of the resident orca whales with Alexis.

Ruffles - the orca famous for his ruffeled dorsal fin

We were aboard the Sea Lion June 25, 2007. My son and I had never been whale watching or sea kayaking before. We had a wonderful time.

Frederick Kohler

more from John Eldridge

I also went on the Sea Lion last year as well and got a TON of even better shots. My favorites from that trip are My favorite. It hangs on the wall in my office at home.

He mentions that this one is one of his favorite from 2006 whale watching with San Juan Safaris.

Here are his notes on this one:

I photographed this pair of wild orcas in the Pacific Northwest. The mountains in the background are the Olympics. The photo was taken in 2006 aboard a whale watching tour out of Friday Harbor. I made the custom border in Photoshop. This is one of my favorites by composition and color

John Elderich goes whale watching and WOW the photos!

Hello! I was just on the Sea Lion yesterday (that was 6-28-07) and took some photos and noticed that you have a photo contest. I have two from yesterday that I liked the best. They are :

Breaching Orca off the West Side Of San Juan Island &

Orca Near Lighthouse Stuart Island

Whale Watching Tour Sunday July 1, 2007 5:30 pm

I was on your Sunset tour with the awesome Captian Peter and crew last night! I've been on one other tour with Peter last August. I can't tell you how much fun he! He impressed me last year with his respect for the whales which is why I was back again and he did the same this year. I will definately be back for your adut tour before season end!

These shots could not have happened without his placement of our boat, so 1/2 the credit needs to goto Peter. He suggested I submit them, so here they are. Let me know if you'd like full resolution, I made them e-mail friendly.

All my best for a great season!
Robyn

Robyn Hartzell