Ok, First time to Alaska and have been mind blown by scenery. The natural beauty of this state is almost overwhelming in its grandeur. What really made the trip special was getting out on the ocean with a local guide that not only knew the ins and outs of the waterways but was also truly dedicated to his craft as a guide. Captain Dave is passionate about his home town of Sitka and an absolute wealth of information. On the way out of the harbor he fired off a plethora of awesome facts that rivaled anything Wikipedia might have to say about this majestic seaside port. Safety was always on his mind and that played a huge roll in our comfort considering we had a 5 and 7 year-old with us. At all times, including when we disembarked on a remote island for a quick hike, he was sure to let us know he had our back (he had a bear deterrent on the form of a shotgun). Dave also provided us with a killer breakfast and lunch which were both accompanied by spectacular views at unique locations on the water that were second to none. Bottom line, if you want to see AND learn about Sitka and it's wonderful culture/history/ecology then Captain Dave and his vessel the Esther are the premiere choice for anyone who wants to see the real deal Alaska! read more

We had the most amazing day with Davey! We saw whales, puffin, sea otters, and more! The homemade cookies were the best I had ever eaten and most importantly, Davey made sure that we got to do exactly what we had dreamed of doing. He was a pleasure to deal with and my whole family continued to rave about our day on Esther G Sea taxi. read more

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Davey was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and gave us an incredible tour. He knew where to go to find whales, sea otters, and lots more. He gave us history of the local area, taught us about the wildlife we saw, and even took some amazing pictures for us. We could tell that he truly loved what he did, and he was almost as excited as we were when we came upon wonderful sites (especially humpbacks that swam really close to us!) We recommend him very highly! read more

Sitka Wildlife Adventures - Boating Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

We went out on Davey's tour of the sound at the end of April and it was absolutely breathtaking. We even saw bears on the shore! Davey was incredibly knowledgeable and shared some fantastic stories. You can tell he really knows Sitka inside and out! I'd highly recommend this tour for anyone who is visiting beautiful Sitka. Thanks for the great tour, Davey! read more

It was raining when my family went out on the tour - and a little chilly. I remember as I got on the boat, thinking "well this is gonna be a wash!" I was so very wrong. I think its fair to say that in all my travels in north America, my family and I have NEVER enjoyed an outdoor tour more than the sea tour led by Captain Davey. With his eagle-like eyes, his unfailing instincts, and his contagious enthusiasm, he navigated, discovered and showed us things that were simply put... breathtaking! And he knows a LOT about the wild life. I live thousands of miles away in East Coast suburbia - but still at night, regularly in my dreams, I find myself in Sitka -on Captain Davey's boat, and the natural world is exciting! read more

Wow what a tour! Our family went on the whole day tour and it was the best decision we made on our week long trip. Davey was very hospitable and knowledgeable about marine ecosystems and made the trip fun. We saw sea otters, orcas, whales, sea lions, Eagles and puffins around baranof island just in one day. The food was catered from a downtown vendor and it was excellent, a menu in a picture frame was even provided for both meals. Definitely take a tour on the Esther G!! read more

We wanted to do a little research on what was the best boat tour around Sitka Sound only to discover some very unprofessional behavior. When we discovered that we were being asked to pay over 300.00 a "private excursion" that is the same as the one that is not a private excursion, we questioned the price. At that point, we were given an excuse and the operator backed out. At the same time, the other operator wrote and said he was backing out. When we finally got a tour, and by the way our friends did book the boats so we had first hand experience of what occurred with the trip, we learned that the operators that we contacted were on the boats that day and all talk to each other. Yes, this is a business, but there is a respect and honesty that should occur. The tour industry is short in Sitka, and you can feel the greedy desire for money in the air. BEWARE, if you are going to contact more than one operator! read more