An Amazing Place and an Amazing Boat
This jet boat tour through Deception Pass, yes- under the famous bridge and out into open water, is a fun and instructive trip whether it’s your first time or your 20th.
Things get underway from Cornet Bay Marina when Captain Brett welcomes you aboard “The Island Whaler.” This open-style catamaran has comfortable seats for any age and an unobstructed 360° view of everything around you.
Deception Pass Jet Boat Tours offers many departures daily from April through September, so there’s sure to be a time to fit your schedule.
From the bay, you head out into the main channel towards the bridges. Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife! From eagles to otters, they’re all in the pass!
You can make reservations online for your trip. Or, you can head to the ticket stand located about 1.8 miles north of the bridge. Summer days, especially weekends, are popular, so plan ahead.
Deception Pass is actually a gap between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands. It got its name because early explorers were deceived by what they saw. The tides were forcing so much water through the gap, they were sure it was the mouth of a river. Only later did they learn the truth.
Captain Brett has made thousands of trips through the pass and knows all the history of the pass. Be sure he tells you about the smuggling that went on and shows you where the prison used to be!
On the Deception Pass tour, you’ll be thrilled by the cliffs that tower over you as you work your way through the pass. The bridge, actually two bridges, are a highlight as you cross under this engineering marvel 18 stories above you.
You’ll head out into Puget Sound, with the San Juan Islands only a few miles west of you. You’ll spot sailboats and more sea life. Porpoises, and maybe even a whale might surface.
On the return trip, keep your camera ready for more “photo ops.” Captain Brett will be on the lookout, but every eye helps! Pay close attention along the rocky shoreline for otters and heron.
Be sure to join Captain Brett on Saturday mornings and evenings from May to September for special whale watching tours. The jet boat can reach speeds of up to 45 miles an hour, so they can quickly get to where the whales are. You’ll stay warm in special suits designed to keep you comfortable no matter how fast the boat is going.
There are also scheduled trips to Smith and Minor Islands. These small islands west of Whidbey Island are part of a marine preserve so there’s often wildlife you don’t usually see!
There are also special whale-watching tours in the spring, as gray whales visit the water between Whidbey and Camano Island.
If you’re looking to “go big” or “go special,” the “Island Whaler” is available for rent. Maybe you have a special destination or a special occasion, or you have your own group, talk with Deception Pass Jet Boat Tours about a custom experience.
