About Crystal Seas and the Crystal Seas Team

Crystal Seas Kayaking got its start in 1994. Founded by Johannes Krieger, the company provided single day kayak excursions in the San Juan Islands. Not long after, we expanded our program to include multi-day camp-to-camp and inn-to-inn sea kayaking tours.

The 2000s brought new opportunity. With growth in mind, we created TerraTrek Bicycle and Multi-Sport Vacations, our premium bicycle tour branch. The parent company later purchased, San Juan Excursions, offering whale watch and wildlife cruises. The company also expanded to offer tours in Bar Harbor Maine, the Florida Keys, Florida’s Everglades, and Costa Rica. After 11 years exploring in these locations, we brought the focus back home.

Today, Crystal Seas operates solely in the San Juan Islands. Our tours include sea kayaking, bicycling, and blended tours that combine biking, kayaking, hiking, and whale watching cruises.

Since the early days, Crystal Seas overarching goal has been to deliver an unforgettable San Juan Islands experience with best of the best treatment. The heartbeat of the Crystal Seas experience is our guides and staff. Each guide is selected for their leadership skills, integrity, sport and environmental knowledge, and enthusiasm. We all work hard, play hard, and are dedicated to making every guests’ experience top notch. Our team is one of the most experienced in the kayaking industry and we continuously educate and challenge ourselves to higher levels.

Whether the adventure is in the water or on land, we always keep your experience in mind. From the quality of food we prepare, to accommodations and gear, to the people we bring aboard as guides, we aim to exceed your expectations.

COMMUNITY FOCUS

Crystal Seas also believes in giving back to our community. As much as we possibly can, we buy local products and produce, and hiring our team from the islands. The company also donates to a variety of programs and individuals on the islands that focus on education, health, environment health, and animal rescue.

Why Choose Crystal Seas?

Meet Our Guides

Andy

(started in 2019) - Andrew was born and raised on a small island in Southeast Alaska. During his time in Alaska he spent most of his life on the water and coastal mountain range. After he graduated high school, he became a sea kayak guide in Alaska. Eventually, he headed to New Zealand to travel and be a kayak guide down under! These days, Andy spends his time traveling around the world during the off season to places like Germany, New Zealand, Mexico, and Austria. He loves to answer all your questions about wilderness in the Pacific Northwest and kayaking.

Angie

(Started in 2002) - Office manager- Angie runs our T-Shirt Shop and office in downtown Friday Harbor. She grew up in the San Juan Islands and loves living here because of all the wildlife she gets to see just on a simple drive to town! She loves to explore the world and has been to Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Central America, Germany and Thailand. She'll help you choose which tour is best for you through e-mail and phone calls and give you advice about where to dine and stay. She has been sea kayaking San Juan Islands west side since 1992 and is happy to help you plan a trip for your family.

Annie

(Started in 2018) - Field Director/Guide - Annie was born and raised in the mountains of upstate New York. When she was younger she loved whales and knew she wanted to work and live around them. Getting people outside and experiencing nature has always been important to her. In addition to guiding she also does behind the scenes work supporting guides and maintaining gear. You can find Annie sending tours off on their adventures, resupplying on a beach or welcoming them home.

Brooke

(Started in 2017) Operations Director- Brooke grew up spending her time on the lakes, rivers, and forests of Michigan. She found Washington in her early 20s and decided it was home. Like many, she spends her time recreating outside climbing, biking, kayaking, skiing, and nerding out about nature.

Johannes

(Started in 1994) - Founder/Owner - His first time to kayak in orca waters was when he was five years old with his father along the shores of San Juan Island. He began guiding tours at the young age of nineteen. What started as a summer job, turned into a lifetime career. Today you will find Johannes planning tours for our guests or guiding a trip along the west-side of San Juan Island. You will always sense his commitment to providing our guests with the highest quality kayak and bicycling tours imaginable. Mail keeps pouring into the office addressed to Johannes, reminding us of how ‘top rate’ Crystal Seas has become. Johannes is on the San Juan Island Parks Commission, the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee and with the San Juan Island Kayak Association.

Krista

Started in 2015 - Krista's love for the outdoors began in the adventurous town of Bellingham, WA where she was born. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Outdoor Recreation, and has since been pursuing skills in kayaking, rock and ice climbing, backpacking, rafting, backcountry snowboarding, mountain biking and any new activity that comes her way. She has a variety of experience working with youth, people with disabilities, and also guiding mountain treks in the Andes of Ecuador. In the winter, Krista is found cooking for the employees of Mt.Baker Ski Area. She's always up for good conversation on long or short paddles, so don't be afraid to ask questions!

Lauren

Lauren was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. When she moved to Bellingham, Washington for college, she fell in love with the two best types of water - frozen and salt. After she graduated from Western Washington University, Lauren decided to stay in the Pacific Northwest due to its access to so much fresh produce and an abundance of outdoor activities. In the winter, you can catch her slinging tickets and shredding the gnar at Mt. Baker Ski Area. Lauren is stoked to return for her second season paddling through boat wakes, strapping on PFDs, and screaming with excitement when a jellyfish is present. A trip with Lauren will guarantee a safe, stunning, and silly time. Happy paddling!

Madi

Madi grew up in Illinois and worked as a camp counselor there during her teenage years, which inspired her love for guiding and the outdoors. She went on to study at Southern Utah University and is finishing up her degree in Outdoor Recreation in Parks and Tourism. Her teaching and guiding experience spans from zip lining to climbing to backpacking. Her goal is to help people with their mental health through outdoor experiences. When she is not on the water, you can find her at a used bookstore, taking film photos around town, and trying to learn everything about everything. She has rich experience with youth, so she loves family tours and teaching beginners. An entertainer at heart, she never fails to mix in a joke or a riddle while she shares her knowledge on the water.

Monique (She/They)

(Started 2023) Monique was born and raised in Seattle, WA, between the Puget Sound and Schmitz Park Forest. In her childhood, she spent countless hours kayaking, hiking, and camping throughout the Pacific Northwest. Monique recently graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY where she double majored in Biology and STS (Science, Technology, and Society). She has lived on three different islands in the Salish Sea—Lopez Island, Vashon Island, and San Juan Island—doing work in marine ecology, organic lavender farming, and guiding! Monique is passionate about outdoor education, and loves showing guests the amazing scenery and wildlife of the San Juans. When not kayaking, she can be found biking, paddle boarding, or reading an Agatha Christie novel.

Stella Sisson

Stella grew up in Seattle volunteering every weekend at the aquarium as a naturalist, chatting with guests about the interconnectedness of the ocean and all the cool creatures that live in it. She recently received her degree in Recreation Management and wants to make the outdoors a more equitable place by creating a welcoming, low pressure environment. When she's not kayaking, you can find her ski touring in the Baker backcountry or backpacking all over Washington.

Timmy

(started in 1998) - Tim just loves to mess around in boats. He is not only a sea kayaker, he is also a canoeist, a sailor, and an oars man. Tim has kayaked in 18 states including Hawaii and Alaska, 6 Mexican states, and 3 Canadian provinces. During the summer evenings you can find Tim kayaking San Juan's west side or river kayaking on the mainland. In the winter you can catch him surf kayaking in Sayulita Mexico and working on photography projects or skiing with his brother. Tim would love to spend some time on the water with you. As Tim always says, "See you on the water".