Out to Sea Expedition Co

08/27/2024

For 100 years, First Bank has been proudly providing financial services to Southeast Alaska.

08/27/2024

Thank you to everyone that has reached out regarding the recent landslides in Ketchikan, we are safe, but our community has experienced a devastating loss. Our hearts are with those mourning the loss of a loved one, as well as our neighbors that have lost their homes. We are incredibly grateful for the first responders that arrived on scene last night and continue to navigate a challenging situation while keeping our community safe. The love & strength of Ketchikan is most evident during difficult times, and we have already seen so many examples in the past 24 hours.

If you’re visiting Ketchikan in the coming days, please be mindful of the situation and exercise patience & compassion as you interact with locals and local businesses.

PS Like many others south of the slide, we currently do not have internet and cellphone coverage is limited. If you need to reach us, please try calling our landline at (907)-247-6441 or email [email protected] and we will get back to you when we can access WiFi.

08/25/2024

Yesterday we completed our annual beach cleanup as part of our stewardship project! We collected 100 lbs of marine debris including sections of fishing net that pose an entanglement risk to marine mammals & birds, and we recovered a 130 lb barrier from the port that was returned to the city for continued use.

So far this season we have also collected 50 lbs of marine debris from the ocean while on tour and we estimate that by the end of the season we will have collected over 300 lbs of marine debris between our ocean & beach cleanup efforts.

An additional part of our stewardship project is incorporating citizen science into our trips, and we are excited to share that we recently completed the permitting & setup process to monitor for invasive European Green Crab (more on that soon!)

To learn more about Whale SENSE, visit whalesense.org .sense

For information on marine debris and what you can do to help, visit marinedebris.noaa.gov

08/21/2024

The fireweed is fading and as of today we have 1 month left of our 2024 season. The transition from summer to fall is always bittersweet, and with the current conditions of 65° & sunny, it’s hard to believe that in only a few weeks we’ll be bundling up to enjoy the cooler autumn days.

We still have room on some of our trips for the 2024 season, and our 2025 calendar is now live if you’re planning ahead to next year! Book online at outtoseaexpeditions.com or call (907)-247-6441

08/14/2024

A few of our favorite shots from July!

-Steller Sea Lion
-Ancient Murrelet
-Sitka Black-tailed doe & fawn
-Humpback Whales-Aurora B & a shy companion
-Harbor Seals
-Marbled Murrelet vs Herring (the Marbled Murrelet eventually won)
-Multiple Humpbacks traveling together
-Common Murre
-A busy summer day on Ketchikan’s waterfront
-Progression photos of a baby Bald Eagle taken exactly 1 month apart. The head is just barely visible in the first photo (to the right of the adult) and in the second, the little one is exploring the boundaries of the nest! They grow up so fast 🥲
-More Steller Sea Lions
-Bald Eagle
-Humpback Whale-Phoenix (perhaps the most well known whale in Ketchikan!)
-A whole family of Sitka Black-tailed Deer!
-🌈

PS We got busy last month and forgot to share that our 2025 schedule is now available to book online at outtoseaexpeditions.com or by calling (907)-247-6441

08/03/2024

🫐🫐🫐

Get a blueberry crepe (or two) at the blueberry arts festival AND support the local search and rescue! KVRS appreciates our wonderful and supportive community! See you tomorrow

08/01/2024

Be sure to stop by booth 35 (across from the old Subway) this Saturday for your Blueberry Crêpe supporting Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad It’s the best way to start Blueberry! 🫐

07/08/2024

2019 ➡️ 2024

Yesterday marked 5 years of Out to Sea! We’re so grateful for everyone that has explored with us over the years, and we feel incredibly lucky to share the beauty of our home with visitors from around the world. We are also very thankful for our community and the folks that have shopped with us, rented gear, or recommended us to friends & family. Looking forward to the next 5 years of adventures!

07/04/2024

🦅Out of the office 🦅

Out to Sea HQ will be closed July 4-6, calls & emails received during this time will be returned when we get back to the office on July 7

We hope everyone has a happy & safe 4th of July!

06/20/2024

Happy Summer Solstice! ☀️✨

We welcome the new season and the abundance that summer brings to our beautiful island home. From salmon in the sea, to berries in the forest, and alpine flowers in the mountains, it is a magical time of year in Southeast Alaska

06/18/2024

We’re over halfway through June and haven’t had much time to post anything, so here are a few highlights from the last 2+ weeks!

Summer finally arrived with plenty of sunny days, and we’ve had some incredible (& rare) wildlife sightings including multiple pods of Orcas (Killer Whales), several uncommon birds, and even a curious Humpback calf. One of the aspects we love most about being on the water is that you never quite know what you’ll get to see, so every trip is a little different!

-Humpback Whale diving close to shore
-Harbor Seals
-Arctic Tern
-Humpback calf checking out their surroundings & rolling around in kelp while mom feeds (so cute!)
-Mink with a freshly caught Sea Urchin
-Killer Whales (aka Orcas)- over the past few weeks we’ve seen the A54s, I12s, and B7s
-Bald Eagle dining on a salmon
-Ancient Murrelet with chicks (a first for us!)
-Sitka Black-tailed Deer (fun fact: Deer swim between islands!)
-Rhinoceros Auklet (We have had amazing alcid sightings this past week!)

06/07/2024

05/22/2024

Another beautiful day in Ketchikan 🌈

05/11/2024

Our feed is 100% northern lights today and we think that’s pretty awesome, so here’s our contribution to keep it going!

It seemed like all of Ketchikan was out enjoying the spectacular sights brought to us by the geomagnetic storm and it somehow made it even more magical knowing we were sharing in this collective experience ✨

Seeing the aurora borealis is somewhat rare for us here in Ketchikan, especially this time of year. The combination of longer daylight hours and cloud coverage can make viewing the northern lights very difficult during the summer months, so last night’s display was nothing short of incredible. 💚🩷💜💙

05/08/2024

We are so happy to welcome Jenny (aka .science.mom) back for another season!

After last summer, Jenny & her family decided to leave Virginia and move to Ketchikan full time! We’re excited to have such an awesome addition to our community, and can’t wait for our guests to experience the knowledge & enthusiasm Jenny brings to every trip.

Follow .science.mom and check out ScienceMom on YouTube or visit https://science.mom for courses, activities, & educational videos 👩🏻‍🔬🔬🧪

05/07/2024

The day started with rain, hail, and even a little dusting of snow on the mountains, but it sure turned into a lovely afternoon for a boat ride! We saw Bald Eagles, Harbor Seals, plenty of sea birds, a Steller Sea Lion devouring a salmon and 3 Humpback Whales 🦅🦭🐋

It looks like the next two days might bring some interesting weather, but we look forward to getting back on the water later this week!

04/28/2024

We’ve been busy getting ready for our first trip of the season and this includes things like running through safety drills. This photo is from last season when we had the whole crew out for a fire drill (Paris was happy to be included, but thought there should be more treats).

We can’t wait for the official start of our 2024 season in just a few days!

If you’re coming to Ketchikan this summer, and want to get out on the water, book with us online at outtoseaexpeditions.com or call (907)-247-6441

04/18/2024

It’s that time of year again! Join us on Saturday, April 27, 2024 for a special 2.5 hour birdwatching adventure, just in time for spring migration.

We will have a few experienced local birders joining us to help lead the group, but you do not need to be an experienced birder to participate!

100% of proceeds from the Ketchikan Birding Expedition will be donated to the research & conservation efforts of Audubon Alaska

Call (907)-247-6441 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot!

04/01/2024

Continuing our series of answering frequently asked questions…

Q: What should I wear?

On our Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition, we provide full rain gear, overboots, and dry bags, but recommend dressing in warm layers. The image shows the layering system we use under our rain gear to stay warm on the water. Most outdoor experts suggest wearing non-cotton clothing such as wool or polyester fleece when adventuring in our wet and often unpredictable climate. In addition to wearing the right clothing, sunglasses may be appreciated to keep sun and wind out of your eyes, and gloves & a hat can be nice for cooler days. Remember that it is generally colder on the water, so even if you are comfortable on land, you may want additional clothing at sea.

When packing for a trip to Southeast Alaska, layers are key. The weather changes quickly and it’s best to be prepared for everything so you can stay comfortable and enjoy your time in this incredible environment!

03/28/2024

Back to work after a quick trip south for our WFR recert!

We’re only about a month away from the start of our 2024 season and we are counting down the days until we can get back on the water 🌊

03/19/2024

Happy Spring Equinox!🌷☀️

The days are growing longer, birds are singing, and life is slowly beginning to bloom all around us.

What is your favorite sign of spring? 🌼

03/12/2024

Back to our series of answering frequently asked questions…

Q: What is a Zodiac?

A Zodiac is an open, inflatable boat. Specifically, we use fully inflatable Zodiac Milpro HD vessels which are designed with a low center of gravity, and redundant flotation chambers making the boats exceptionally seaworthy for their compactness. Without the barrier of windows, they are the ultimate platform for uninhibited marine exploration.

Founded in 1896, Zodiac Milpro has its origins as a French airship builder. In the 1930s, they produced a prototype of one of the world’s first inflatable boats. Zodiac inflatables were later made famous by Jacque Cousteau on his television show, The Undersea World of Jacque Cousteau. Today, in addition to military & rescue applications, Zodiacs are used by scientists and explorers all over the world.

Climb aboard a Zodiac this summer on our Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition! Book your 2024 Zodiac adventure online at outtoseaexpeditions.com

03/08/2024

Going out to sea…Ketchikan, Alaska ➡️ Grenada

We are back from our little social media break!

Delaney made a trip to visit family, then joined on as crew aboard a sailboat in Grenada (with pretty limited wifi access!), so it seemed like a good time for a pause in posting.

Returning to winter in Alaska after a week of tropical weather was an adjustment, but spring is just around the corner followed by the start of the 2024 season!

02/14/2024

Sending you a bouquet from Alaska this Valentine’s Day! 💐

From seaside cliffs and fields of muskeg to alpine meadows, summertime brings a delightful display of wildflowers. The recent stretch of “false spring” has us excited about the warmer days ahead…but of course we’ll probably have to deal with at least one “revenge of winter” before we get there!

02/09/2024

Continuing our series of answering frequently asked questions…

Q: When is the best time to see wildlife?

When it comes to wildlife viewing on our tours, there isn’t a time that is guaranteed to be better than others. The Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition has no particular destination by design, so we can tailor the experience to the tide and weather to maximize our chances of seeing wildlife. The main difference between tour times is the tide. At lower tides, more of the intertidal zone is exposed, allowing us to see sea creatures like anemones, sea stars, sea urchins, chiton, etc. These colorful creatures are still present at higher tides, just less visible because they are underwater.

If your itinerary is flexible, and you are interested in a tour time at a lower tide, you can consult a tide chart for the desired date. Otherwise, we recommend selecting a tour time that best fits your schedule!

outtoseaexpeditions.com

02/07/2024

The start of the 2024 season is only a few months away, so we’re answering frequently asked questions about our eco-tours, traveling to Southeast Alaska, & more!

Q: What will we see?

Besides the rocky coastline, emerald islands, & incredible scenery surrounding Ketchikan, we can see a variety of wildlife on our Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition. While we can’t guarantee specific encounters, possible sightings include seabirds (like Marbled Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemots, & Harlequin Ducks), Bald Eagles, Harbor Seals, Steller Sea Lions, Harbor or Dall’s Porpoise, Humpback Whales, and occasionally, Orcas. We also have a chance of seeing Sitka Black-tailed Deer, Mink, and River Otters both on the beach and in the water. Depending on the tide, we can observe colorful marine invertebrates like sea stars, sea anemones, and urchin, as well as flowing beds of bull kelp which are home to small fish, nudibranch, and kelp crab.

One of the exciting aspects about going out on the water is that you never quite know what you’ll get to see! Join fellow ocean lovers aboard an open Zodiac on our Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition, and discover the wonders that await 🌊

outtoseaexpeditions.com

01/20/2024

We are heartbroken to share that we had say goodbye to our little Alaskan adventure pup yesterday.

Over the past 4 years, Paris greeted guests from across the country & around the world. She was an important member of our crew, and we had the honor of knowing & loving her for almost 16 years. She accompanied us on so many adventures, and her presence will be dearly missed.

She was well loved until the very end ❤️

01/16/2024

Snow day ❄️☃️✨

01/11/2024

A frosty morning in Thomas Basin ❄️

It is currently 18° (-8°C) in Ketchikan with temperatures forecasted to drop into the single digits this evening…and yes, that is ice in the harbor 🥶

01/11/2024

Just a reminder to our wonderful Facebook followers, if you see a spam comment sharing a link on any of our posts, please DO NOT click the link! Any link we share in the comment section of our posts will come directly from our page. We also do not sell any merchandise beyond what is available on outtoseagear.com or outtoseaexpeditions.com (for tours)

We try to block and delete spam comments as soon as possible, but sometimes we have to delete things multiple times. Unfortunately, this is an issue across Facebook, and Facebook/Meta offers very little support in stopping these spam accounts.

If you see a spam comment/sketchy link we’ve missed, or are unsure about a link, you can always message us directly!