History
Nathan founded Outer Island Expeditions in 2005 with one small boat and started operating high end private charters by himself. After only 10 years, we now have 7 vessels, 5 locations, and over 20 employees- making Outer Island the fastest growing ecotourism company in the region! Our newest vessel the Blackfish III is also the first certified Marine Ambulance in Washington State. In 2015 we worked closely with the Orcas Island Fire Department and are now available to assist rescue response to marine emergencies throughout the region. To increase education and public outreach, Outer Island Expeditions sponsored the creation of Orcas W.I.L.D.: a museum on Orcas Island about whales, birds, salmon, geology, the state parks, and more. Our naturalists guides with advanced degrees in marine biology, geology, and beyond developed the displays in the museum and work there to raise awareness about the diverse ecosystem of the Salish Sea and to foster environmental stewardship in visitors.
Specialties
We offer private charters and personalized, small group tours of 6-30 people on high speed vessels so you can spend less time getting to the whales and more time with wildlife, your captain, and naturalist guides. The Blackfish Fleet are the fastest vessels in the region reaching up to 50mph, and are the perfect blend of comfort and thrill! Looking to go fishing? We also offer fishing charters for Salmon, Halibut, Lingcod, Kelp Greenling, Flounder, and more. You can join a group Salmon Charter on a per-person rate, or charter your own private vessel. On custom private charters you are in control of the itinerary. You can go whale watching, fishing, island hopping, or combine activities to create your perfect trip. On Orcas Island we also offer guided kayaking tours and self-guided rentals that we can deliver to anywhere on the island. Our guided kayaking tours have two options: a three hour trip to Point Doughty State Park or a ~6hour day trip around Sucia Island. We also provide a ferry service to Sucia Island from Orcas Island, and can provide a Water Taxi from any point A to point B throughout the San Juan Islands region! What makes us different is that we do it all. If you are looking for a great experience on the water we are happy to help you build your customized trip to make your time on the water unforgettable.