Maya's Legacy Whale Watching

08/18/2024

Have you listened to After the Breach Podcast? Well, next weekend is Jeff and Sara’s second annual podcast weekend of all-day trips! Though it has been full for a bit they had a last minute cancellation and there is now space so if you’re looking for something fun to do next Saturday and/or Sunday reach out to Jeff and Sara at [email protected].

These photos are from last year’s weekend of whales! :)

08/16/2024

We always say we never know what the day will hold and that things can change at the drop of a hat. We live and work in a dynamic ecosystem with whales that can move an easy hundred miles in twenty four hours.

This evening was a good example of that! Patience paid off and we ended the evening with a harbor porpoise hunt by the T37As in Boundary Pass.

07/04/2024

Check out this awesome video from one of Captain Jeff’s tours last week. He had an encounter with over twenty Bigg’s killer whales socializing. Make sure your audio is up because these often-silent whales were chatting up a storm!

You never know what you might experience out on the water and this was an experience to remember!

(P.S. If you want to hear more about this encounter, and others, check out the latest episode of After the Breach Podcast. 😉)

06/24/2024

The whales and wildlife have been epic lately but the scenery is just as stunning!

📸 by Captain Sara of Cattle Point Lighthouse and a gorgeous sky beyond!

06/18/2024

Who wants to spend this evening on the water!? We have some seats left on our 4:30PM departure this afternoon and there are whales out there to see!

Call Mikayla in the office at 360-378-7996 to snag a seat for today. It’s going to be great!

06/14/2024

Summer night trips are back! We've had some amazing tours lately and that late afternoon lighting we get on our 3:30PM and 4:30PM departures is sublime!

This photo was taken just a few days ago while we watched the T075Bs hunt seals for over an hour. The sun was warm, the seas glassy. We can't ask for more!

And if you happen to be looking for something to do on your Friday evening we have space available on our 3:30PM tour and we would love to take you out to see just what we're raving about! Give us a call or book online.

06/10/2024

Stick ‘em up! While we don’t see sea otters very often we always love when we do. The other night while we were heading out west on our evening tour we found this guy chilling out in the middle of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. What do you think? Isn’t he otterly adorable?

We love our evening tours and are so stoked that they’re a daily thing now. Come join us for one and see why they’re our favorite!

05/31/2024

We've had some amazing sightings in the past few days and we still have space on our tours this weekend! We've seen killer whales, humpback whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, horned and tufted puffins, and a sea otter in recent days---amongst a myriad of other amazing wildlife! As we always say things are constantly changing in this dynamic and unique environment and there is so much potential any time we head out on the water.

So what are you waiting for? Come join us!

05/14/2024

It's that time of year! Afternoon trips are back on the calendar and our team is stoked to be able to get out there later in the day! It's a beautiful time to be out on the water, especially with that evening light.

Contrary to other places in the world where winds can pick up in the afternoons that is not something we regularly see here. We are blessed with a gorgeous backdrop of islands that also helps shield us from rising afternoon winds on the open ocean, over 80 miles away.

Come see why our repeat passengers and crew alike crave these afternoon trips!

05/02/2024

We’ve had some beautiful days filled with epic sightings of whales and wildlife here in the San Juan Islands. We have seats open this weekend and would love to host you!

Give us a call at 360-378-7996 or book online at our website.

03/28/2024

On Tuesday our crew members, Jeff and April, set out from our slip in Friday Harbor and within fifteen minutes found the whales! Luck would find them arriving in Speiden Channel at the same time the T018s and T049As did. That same luck would not be with the Steller’s sea lion that the whales quickly separated and killed. Captain Jeff remarks that it was the fastest sea lion hunt he’s ever witnessed!

For the rest of the day, even long after they had to leave, the whales milled around, sharing their prey with each other and socializing.

Enjoy these photos by Jeff and remember—we’d love to host you too! Reach out to us by phone or book online to join us for an adventure.

📸 by Jeff Friedman
Post written by Sara Shimazu

03/18/2024

Our search for whales today had us cruising up Trincomali Channel where we found one of our favorite families of Bigg’s killer whales—the T123s.

This family of whales consists of matriarch, T123 “Sidney” and her three kids, T123A “Stanley”, T123C “Lucky”, and T123D “Darcy”. Sidney is the presumed daughter of the iconic T046 “Wake”, who was one of the five whales taken during the last live capture in Washington State in 1976. That capture would convince the state to outlaw the taking of anymore whales from Washington waters. With the ban in place and her capture itself deemed illegal Wake was released.

Though she passed away last year her legacy lives on in the lives of her many children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. They are large extended family of whales who we love to talk about.

Our tours are departing daily and we would love to host you. Join us to learn more about Sidney and her family (and all of the other amazing whales and wildlife that call the Salish Sea home)!

03/16/2024

Yesterday was a beautiful day out on the Salish Sea, and with few reports, Captain Sara opted to head north to scope out the fringes of the herring spawn that has captivated wildlife viewers and wildlife alike up in the northern Strait of Georgia. However, like many of our trips, our initial plans changed: we received word of inbound Bigg's off of Sooke while scoping out the waters off of Stuart Island, and while it is never a sure thing and it was a long haul from Turn Point, we took a risk and it paid off - upon acquiring the whales in Race Pass, they suddenly erupted into an energetic sea lion hunt.

The hunters were identified as the T71B matriline and T86A3 Tyndall with her new calf. This is her first known calf, and comes less than a year after her older sister, T86A1 Nahanni, was sighted with a new calf up in southeast Alaska. The hunt carried on long after we had to leave, but it was incredible watching the calf swimming right alongside its mother and companions - these kids really do start learning how to be apex predators from a young age! We did receive word that their hunt was ultimately successful, which can be very bittersweet - we love our killer whales and want them to be well-fed, but it is hard not to be sympathetic to their prey sometimes. Still, it is important that they get all the nutrients and calories they can get so that they can grow up to be big and strong and healthy - as we say here at Maya's Legacy, the Bigg's are the balance!

Post written by naturalist Ellie Sawyer.

Photos by Ellie Sawyer and Sara Shimazu.

02/28/2024

When we adopted the motto "Going the Distance" it wasn't just about geographic range. It's a commitment to our customers both on and off the water, a commitment to conservation and recovery, and a testimony to our crew's approach to sharing with guests our home, knowledge, and passion for the Salish Sea and the animals that call it home.

However, this past Saturday we ended up embracing "Going the Distance" in a few different ways, not the least of which was actually how far we traveled to find whales for our guests. But these weren't just any whales, and even for some of our crew this was a first-of-its-kind encounter.

This past Saturday we saw Northern Resident killer whales.

The report came in after we were already out on the water and almost an hour into our trip. It was a ways away but the only other reports were far to the north, well out of our range, or far to the south and moving away through some rougher conditions. We'd heard that for the past week and a half three families (known as matrilines) had been cruising the waterways of Howe Sound but this time they were at the entrance of it, giving us a chance to make it happen. As we told our passengers, this was a long shot, a Hail Mary. We had to be willing to go all that way and see nothing, because it was a distinct possibility. But they were willing to give it a shot and so were we. And it paid off.

These three families are the A23s, the A25s, and the A42s, which collectively make up the A5 pod. While the A42s have been visitors to these waters the past couple of winters it is normally rare to find them this far south in the Salish Sea.

The Northern Residents are a separate community from our Southern Resident killer whales and though they are both salmon-eating populations they are not related, nor do they interact with each other. While the endangered Southern Residents number just 74 individuals their Northern Resident counterpart's population sits in the high-300s.

Among these whales was a special individual for Captain Jeff. The big male, A61 "Surge", was just a sprouter male when he approached the kayak Jeff was in up in Johnstone Strait in 2009 and from that moment on Jeff knew he had found his calling. It would be a few years before he found his place on San Juan Island and began running tours here but now he can't imagine it any other way. When he saw A61 surface this past weekend, now a 30-year old male with an impressive dorsal fin, Jeff later told me he wanted to say to him "Look what I've done because of you." That's an incredibly special thing.

It was the farthest we've run on one of our half day tours (and we had to extend it a little bit) but none of our crew or passengers minded the extra time to get to visit with these very special whales.

Post by Sara Shimazu
📸 by Jeff Friedman, April Ryan, and Sara Shimazu

02/21/2024

Last weekend sure made a splash! Who wants to join us this weekend to see what we can find out there?

Give us a call at (360) 378-7996 or book online at our website. We would love to host you!

02/19/2024

Our second trip of the season started out a little quiet but as we approached Spieden Island we saw a big group of Steller’s sea lions lazing around. There were easily sixty of the big guys hanging out and snoozing away their Sunday morning.

As we headed along the shoreline something tiny and bounding caught our attention—a newborn mouflon lamb (there were two!). It’s our first lamb sighting of the season and we were counting ourselves pretty lucky already. Eagles, seals, sea lions, exotic hoofstock. Even without the whales it was pretty incredible.

Continuing north towards Canada we made a stop at Turn Point where we found not one, not even two, but four big bull Steller’s sea lions hanging out in the eroded hole in the cliff face there. And we thought it couldn’t get better.

After a bit of a meander through some of the BC Gulf Islands we met up with four of the whales we saw yesterday—the T18s! They were all grouped up and we once again thought it couldn’t possibly get better than this.

But the whales were intent on proving us wrong and when the four T18s made a sharp turn I said to Jeff, “Maybe they’re meeting up with someone” and only a few minutes later—more whales ahead! The T18s joined the T30Bs and T117Bs who were in the midst of a sea lion hunt.

We had to leave before the outcome was decided but it was a pretty intense and amazing thing to witness. The whales would move in to have a go at him and then move off, over and over. At one point the sea lion tried to get to our boat for some cover. It’s hard to not want to help but the last thing we want is to interfere with the hunt and the course of nature. Whales have to eat. We maneuvered away and the whales continued their pursuit of the sea lion.

I think all of us, crew and passengers alike, were left speechless by the raw power of the whales and the tenacity of the sea lion. He was still holding his own when we had to leave.

What a great kick-off weekend to the 2024 season!

02/18/2024

Our first trip of the 2024 season started out with welcome news—our friends had found Bigg’s killer whales in Rosario Strait. With reports of some wind and bigger seas we weren’t sure what would come but it ended up being beautiful!

T019B “Galiano” and T060E “Lynx” were socializing the whole time as the rest of the group spread out against the stunning backdrop of the Olympic Mountains. On our way home we stopped to see the Steller’s sea lions at Whale Rocks and also spotted some harbor seals, harlequin ducks, black oystercatchers, and a bald eagle.

What a fantastic way to kick off the new season and we’re back out again tomorrow so stay tuned. And remember, if you’re on San Juan Island or want a good reason to visit make sure to give us a shout. We would love for you to join us out on the water.

02/09/2024

A few of our crew have been in the Southern Hemisphere for the winter but they are back and ready to get out on the water! Jeff and Sara’s first day back was spent with the T99s as they cruised down and then back up San Juan Channel. Here’s a sweet moment of little T99E nuzzling up to her mom, T99 “Bella”.

We have our first trip on Saturday, February 17th and we also have Sunday, February 18th available. Come join Jeff and Sara and ask them all about their winter adventures!

Book online at our website www.sjiwhalewatch.com or give us a call at 360-378-7996.

12/21/2023

Looking for a unique gift for the wildlife and whale-loving person in your life? Well, we have gift certificates available! You can call us at 360-378-7996 and we’ll get you all squared away.

Or, if you’re on island come on down to see us in person this Saturday from 10AM-4PM. We’re located at Cannery Landing next to the ferry landing. We have whale-themed gifts and stocking stuffers available and if you come get your gift certificate in person we’ll have a little extra holiday gift for you too!

11/04/2023

If you haven’t checked out the After the Breach podcast by our very own Jeff Friedman and Sara Shimazu you should! Their latest episode just dropped and on it they talked with Jared Towers of Bay Cetology about the recent rescue of T049A2 and T051 from Barnes Lake in SE Alaska. This huge collaborative effort played out late this summer and ended in success! Huge thanks to all involved!

In mid-August two killer whales were observed to be trapped in Barnes Lake, near the small community of Coffman Cove, in Southeast Alaska. Through an amazing collaboration between residents of Coffman Cove, NOAA, scientists and others, the whales were successfully rescued and guided back to open wat...

09/14/2023

September is here! We’ve had some gorgeous days on the water and the sightings have been amazing. Come join us!

We have tours running daily and on September 23rd and 24th, Jeff and Sara are offering special all-day tours with a focus on photography—these two full days on the water (you can book one or both!) will include lunch and more. There are still some seats left if you want to join them!

📸 from yesterday’s visit with the T46s and T46Bs (including the T46B1s), taken by Captain Sara.

08/29/2023

If you’ve been out with us you’re likely to know that our crew love the whales so much that it feeds into many other aspects of their lives (and free time). Two of them, Jeff and Sara, host After the Breach Podcast where they share recent sightings in the Salish Sea, invite on guests to talk about their research and other projects, and share the stories of the whales with their listeners.

Well, they’re going to be sharing those stories in person next month on their back-to-back all-day tours on September 23rd and 24th. With catered lunches, a ton of on-the-water time, and two passionate hosts to share tips on photography, whale IDs, and more it’s going to be a blast! You can email them directly at [email protected] for more info or to sign up, or reach directly out to us and we’ll get you in touch!

08/12/2023

We had a pretty amazing day on the water AND we had some last minute seats open up on our 11:00AM departure tomorrow morning! Who wants to go on an adventure?

Give us a call at 360-378-7996 (yes, our dedicated crew is still answering phones for a while tonight!) or visit our website to reserve your seat online.

We hope to share moments like this one, of a flying T137A “Jack”, with you!

08/06/2023

Did you know that two of our crew, Jeff and Sara, host a podcast called After the Breach Podcast? You might guess the topic based on their profession—whales! They keep listeners up to date with recent sightings here in the Salish Sea and also invite on researchers, professionals captains and guides, and others to share their insight into these amazing animals!

They are also running a workshop next month, open to anyone! September 23rd and 24th they will spend all day out on the water with participants, looking for whales and wildlife here. They’ll be sharing stories about the whales, tips on photographing them, identifying them, and even recording some clips for future episode(s) of the podcast. Both days are catered and you can sign up for one or both days.

Reach out to learn more and sign up!

07/31/2023

Who’s looking for something to do this evening? We’ve got a few seats left on both of our 3:30PM and 4:30PM departures and we’ve really been enjoying some lovely summer nights lately. Stop in to see Lee in the office to snag a seat or give us a call at 360-378-7996.

07/03/2023

Everybody (and we do mean everybody!) has been all smiles on our trips lately, especially on our evening trips! We love being out on the water in the evening. Here in the Salish Sea we see amazing wildlife all day long, all season long!

We have an afternoon tour tomorrow departing at 3:30PM if you’re looking for something to do for the holiday but still want to enjoy the Friday Harbor parade! Give us a call at 360-378-7996 or stop into our office to book your seat (you can also find us online on our website).

06/23/2023

Another beautiful evening on the water with glassy seas, sunny skies, and a cute baby orca!

T085 “Eve” surfaces with the T046B1s—mom, T046B1 “Tread”, T046B1A “Tsakani”, and her newest kiddo, T046B1C.

06/19/2023

Our evening trips have always been a crew favorite, and this one of the MANY reasons why. The lighting is outstanding!

We have evening trips now every day—come join us to see what magic awaits you! Call us at 360-378-7996 or book online on our website.

06/16/2023

Last night’s lighting was pretty magical. At times the water blended with the sky so well it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. That’s the beauty of summer evenings on the water.

T124A4A surfacing beside her mother, T124A.

📸 by Sara Shimazu

06/10/2023

Our evening trips have been beautiful, even if there are clouds! We really look forward to the “golden hour” on the water—especially with scenery like this!

We’ve seen orcas, a gray whale, humpback whales, and minke whales this week, along with a plethora of amazing wildlife and stunning views! Come join us one evening (or morning if that works better for you!) and take in the beauty of the Salish Sea from the water. We’re available daily in our office in downtown Friday Harbor, by phone at 360-378-7996, or on our website.