Sea Kayaking with Orca Whales

San Juan Islands

(Or, Truth in Advertising)

Sea Kayaking with whales in the San Juan Islands. A very exciting notion, and a much touted activity here in the San Juans.

A common question that gets asked every year is "Are we going to see whales?"  It's a good question that really needs to be accurately addressed in the sea kayaking industry out here in the San Juan Islands.

Most kayak outfitters have pictures that have captured fantastic moments of our tours kayaking with the whales. Naturally, we all like to use these images in our websites and on our brochures.

Although the images are enticing, and appeal to most people's sense of adventure, is it something that can be expected on any given day? Well, here's our take on the subject....

If it is reasonable to expect to go kayaking with Orca whales, why don't the kayak companies who boast of "kayaking in prime Orca habitat" guarantee results, as the more successful whale-watch companies do?

Megan and I worked for years out on San Juan Island as a whale-watch boat captain, as naturalists, and as professional kayak guides, we also have been active whale spotters since the early days of the Whale Spotting Network (something that no other sea kayaking outfit in the San Juan Islands can claim). This experience gave us many memorable moments, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the whales' movements during the summer months. We can confidently say that we have spent more days in the presence of orca whales than any kayak guide in the San Juan Islands. This puts Anacortes Kayak Tours in the enviable position of being able to accurately, and truthfully, give you the scoop on your chances of kayaking with the whales.

What is the "prime orca whale viewing area"?

The Seattle Aquarium defines "core Orca habitat " as the entire Georgia Basin. That's a lot of territory, it includes the South Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Rosario Strait, Georgia Strait, and the waters surrounding the San Juan Islands. It's a massive area, many hundreds of square miles of open water. If you are kayaking along the west side of San Juan Island, and the whales are in Rosario Strait or up near Vancouver B.C, then you won't be seeing them on your tour.

Orca whales travel in large groups and are always on the move. The salmon that they depend upon in the summer months funnel into this inland sea as they head for the rivers of the mainland. The orcas follow the fish. They often travel over one hundred miles in a single day. One morning they may be near San Juan Island, by afternoon they could be up by the Fraser River in Canada, and the next morning they may be feeding off of Burrows Island right here in Rosario Strait (Actually, this circuit is a very typical scenario during the summer).

Sea kayaking with whales is pure luck, and good timing, nothing more.Orcas are very fast moving animals, a leisurely pace may be 6-7mph, top speed is around 30mph. A kayak typically travels at about 2-3mph. In other words, "you cannot manufacture a whale sighting by kayak".

Now, we can understand why some kayak outfitters would describe that their kayaking routes are in "the best place to kayak with Orca whales". It is a powerful incentive to get people to sign up for a tour. And once one company starts to market "kayaking with whales" then it is hard for competing outfitters to restrain themselves, even if it creates an unreasonable expectation.

At Anacortes Kayak Tours we are taking a different approach. We choose to run our business in a straight forward, and transparent manner. No omissions, no "whale sighting statistics", and we won't build up your expectations of kayaking with whales just to get you to sign up. Our belief is that nobody can make promises about wildlife sightings of any sort. The animals are wild. They are not here simply for our entertainment.

We would rather earn your business by providing a unique product in a remarkable area. There is no need to make vague promises, our guests love our trips and come back year after year. We are different.

Our guests do kayak with whales during the summer months, but the frequency and proximity of those sightings is determined by the whales, not us. We have an added advantage of having our booking desk located less than thirty feet from the desk of the most successful whale watching company in Washington State (Island Adventures), and we are members of the Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest, when the whales are in our area we know about it!!

Kayaking with whales, in our opinion, should remain what it always has been.... an unbelievable bonus to an already great kayak trip in the San Juans. Sea kayaking is a great way to really experience the San Juan Islands. Nothing else gets you closer to the essence of the place.

Note: In February of 2008 the Washington State Legislature passed a bill making it possible to be fined up to $750 for driving a boat, or kayaking, within 300 feet of an Orca whale. Companies that actively advertise kayaking with whales may actually put your pocketbook at risk, or force you to paddle far offshore to avoid an encounter with killer whales.

For more information - Washington State's newest Killer Whale legislation

If seeing whales is what you want, then we suggest going kayaking, and then go on a whale watch trip. Doing both activities will give you a more complete perspective on the San Juan Islands.

Whether you decide to come out with us, or some other kayaking outfit, we certainly hope that your experience is entertaining, educational, and something that you will want to do again. And we hope that we helped shed some light on the subject of kayaking with whales. Please call if you have any questions.

Thank you!
Erik and Megan Schorr
Anacortes Kayak Tours

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Sea Kayaking Burrows Island

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March 24, 2008