Tour Details 
Public whale & wildlife tours are generally 3-4 hours. Guests can feel free to bring snacks, lunch and non-alcoholic drinks onboard.  Each vessel has blankets, binoculars, a restroom and a highly educated marine naturalist onboard. For groups traveling with small children, we generally recommend booking a 2 hour (limited range) whale watching tour. If you have mobility issues please give us a call before making a reservation. Temperatures while cruise close to the water are generally 10-15 degrees cooler then on land. Please dress in layers with close toed shoes and long pants. 


Basic Whale Sightings & information
The prime season for whale watching around Orcas Island and the San Juan Island's archipelago is June - September. Most of the migratory whale species (humpback, minke & gray whales) return to our sheltered waters to feed around April- May. Orca whales frequent our waters and are a non-migratory species of dolphin (thats right, orca are not really whales!). Two genetically distinct and seemingly similar types (eco-types) of orca live, hunt and socialize around our region YEAR ROUND. However, having a reliable "whale sightings" and calm weather during our offseason (November through March) can be hit and miss. 

 All companies engaged in "Whale Watching" in the region work a sightings collection network together. We communicate whale sightings, whale directions, group composition, unique whale identification and much more. This data is collected in real time and accessible only to Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) member companies. In addition, we collectively hold drivers meetings and implement best practice policies yearly. This is what makes whale watching in the Pacific Northwest the best in the world! 

 Orca Whale Information 
We are lucky enough to have two distinct eco-types of Orca Whales that frequent our region - Biggs Orca Whales and Southern Resident Orca whales. Biggs orca whales aka mammal eating orca whale make up roughly 98% of our orca whale sightings while Southern Resident Orca Whales (SRKWs) aka fish eating orca whale make up roughly 2% of our orca whale sightings. 

About 10 years ago we watched SRKWs almost exclusively and rarely had viewings of Biggs orca. Since then the population of Biggs orca has been booming! With new calfs each year and a steady food supply, it looks like the Biggs have moved in. In contrast our Souther Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs) are struggling to find food and maintain healthy population. Lack of prey, vessel noise, pollution are some of the suspected impacts that are aiding the continued population decline.

Recently in 2021 the Washington State Legislator passed laws banning the viewing of SRKWs from vessels between the months of September-May. Permitted Vessels (like Deer Harbor Charters) may view SRKWS between June-August as long as they stay at least 400 yards away, although it is unlikely that we will watch them given the chance due to our company policies. 

In 2015 we had nearly a perfect prime season (June-September). Since then we continue to have record setting whale sightings each year. This rise in sightings is due to orca (biggs), humpback, minke, grey and fin whale populations that have been on the rise. In contrast, since 2015 we have had less then 2% of our orca whale sightings made up by the SRKW population. In 2015 we saw the SRKWS less then 3 times and in 2018, 2019 we had zero encounters. Times are tough for the SRKW and we hope for a speedy population recovery. 

 Thanks for reading about our whales. Call (360)376-5989 for whale sightings or if you have questions or comments.