Some of us naively dream of paddling with large aquatic mammals. Others would be happy just to see a porpoise or whale breeching in the distance. In most cases, unless you're spending a lot of time on the water in the San Juans or Gulf Islands, one of the few ways to stack the odds of spotting a whale or porpoise in your favor is to see where marine mammals have recently been sighted. The Orca Network is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest. Their website has a recent sightings map, which allows you to see where and when recent sightings in the Salish Sea have occurred, as well as news, natural history, and photos.
It's important to note that NOAA's Fisheries Service estimates there are currently only 86 orca whales that are residents of Washington waters. Remember that no vessels may approach whales within 200 yards and vessels are forbidden from intercepting or positioning in a whale's path. This includes not only motor boats, but also sailboats and kayaks, and by default, standup paddleboards.
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