An 8 – 16 person boat filled with people jockeying for a whale-viewing vantage point did not appeal, and when I found “Jayleen’s Alaska” through Google, it felt right. Six people max, with an option for a custom tour. Perfect. Captain Jayleen looks even younger in person than she does in her picture, and on learning her story, it’s easy to figure out why: the whales keep her and first mate Emily young and curious and ever-wondering at what these magnificent creatures will do next.Read Less
As if it wasn’t exciting enough to listen to the humpbacks sing through the hydrophone, it’s infectious to watch them discover new whales sounds themselves – humpbacks, apparently, can moo! Whale-watching is an experience that’s best shared (as I did with my son, Josh) but can remain intensely personal. I’ve been wanting to see whales in their natural habitat my whole life, and to know you’re in their turf where they are doing exactly what they want, in their time and for their own reasons, just makes one feel blessed to be able to do so. Capturing them on camera is an immense bonus, especially since I’d been praying to witness the humpbacks bubble-net feeding.
Having Jayleen and Emily on-hand to point out the signs to watch for – even the false alarms from the seagulls– was great. Their years of experience on the water shone through. We didn’t miss a single bubble-net feed, and it was just amazing to be part of it all.
If you want a similarly personal tour, go with these ladies. You’ll be rewarded with a fantastic experience.
PRIVATE TOUR JULY
