Catching Sight of Orcas in Puget Sound

I see so many posts, on various social media platforms, asking where they can go to see Orcas or other whales, or what the best charter option is to do so. Hopefully this post is enjoyable but also provides some insight into options that may work for you. Last year, we decided to take the Puget Sound Express and hoped we would be fortunate enough to spot a few of whales while out on the water.

One of the most important factors when considering your options is to Be Whale Wise and know what the regulations are when seeking out wildlife. The great thing about chartering from local whale watching companies here in Puget Sound is that they know the regulations and are considerate of the impact they could have on these majestic creatures. Private boats often get much closer than they should and run their engines too close to these animals. This summer, there have already been reports of violations and fines.

We saw orcas! We actually were able to see them twice for two main encounters but also saw a few in the distance. In addition, we were able to cruise out and see some puffins as well. As you may have read in our about us section, we are definitely not professional photographers, and while we did take some photos with our camera phones, they did not turn out that great and did not have a zoom option really needed to capture the moment.

Instead, we were able to purchase the photos taken by Bart Rulon, and with his permission, post them here for your viewing pleasure. He also provided the referenced map which shows our route aboard the Puget Sound Express and where we encountered orcas.

I know, I know...show the orcas already. They were a group and at certain points there were one or two others you could see at a distance. They were actually at a decent distance (never close enough to endanger or stress the animals!) but the camera Bart used makes all the difference.

There is so much wildlife around Puget Sound, and we were fortunate enough to also watch a Puffin grab some lunch. I absolutely love the pic with his catch in his beak while taking flight.

Our second encounter was during a hunt, so you see quite a bit of splashing and tail slaps. We didn't stay too long as there were quite a few boats already gathered but it was an experience to see how these animals behave in their natural habitat.

Surprisingly, if you are in the right place at the right time, you can also see these creatures from shore. This has the potential to be a better view than from a vessel that has to keep to a certain distance. The other positive when taking these tours through Puget Sound Express or similar is that these companies work with each other to ensure these animals are not bombarded by surrounding vessels when hunting or feeding. It truly was an amazing experience!

Keep watch for our next post to see more orcas as well as grey whales right off shore during our visit to the San Juan Islands!