Why Choose Crystal Seas Kayaking?
It's your vacation... We understand that your vacation time is precious so we offer an exciting adventure that will bring a bit of relaxation, a bit of challenge, a visual feast, an orchestra of animal chatter, education and a ton of fun.
We have a remarkable amount of guests who come back year after year and refer their friends and relatives to us because they know we are consistent, safe, local, ethical and a lot of fun.
A Great Reputation...
Because we are owner operated by second generation islanders, we take our good reputation seriously and we do this by:
- Buying from local farms to support the health of our local economy and organic farming.
- Hiring local guides and maintaining good relationships with the community.
- Supporting a healthy planet by recycling, composting and leaving NO trace at our campsites when we leave.
- Maintaining a perfect safety record.
- Being ethical and fair to our customers and our staff.
- Following the county, state and federal laws when we encounter wildlife and educating our guests before we get onto the water about the 'Be Whale Wise Guidelines'.
- Supporting local charities through donations and fund raising.
- Keeping our guides happy. 90% of our guides return after their first year for another season and many guide for several years.
Safety First...
The safety of our guests is our number one priority. We want you to have a worry free vacation so we have chosen the best equipment available in the industry and plan our tours around the current weather patterns and tidal exchanges. All of our staff are certified in first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and have extensive safety training on and off of the water.
We are here to show you the best of the best while keeping you safe and offering you the best routes for kayaking and bicycling. We know the islands inside and out and only lead you to places that offer the most beautiful and memorable views.
Quality Equipment...
We pride ourselves in using the highest quality equipment, gear and supplies in all aspects of our company. We enjoy and are proud of what we do and this attitude can be seen in all of the fine details of our tours. For these reasons we are always looking for better, stronger, lighter, more efficient and more comfortable gear to make our trips better and more enjoyable for you.
Being Green...
Supporting our environment is extremely important and part of the foundation of our company. We do this through:
- Providing a free shuttle service in downtown Friday Harbor to our launch site so that people do not have to bring their cars to the island.
- Buying local and organic food and supplies when we can to support local farming which cuts carbon emissions and supports fair trade.
- Supporting local businesses to cut on carbon emissions and to support our local economy.
- Recycling and Composting our waste.
- Using Reusable Bags to end "one time use" bags
- Educating the public about habitat restoration and conservation.
- Leaving No Trace when we leave our campsites.
- We have a Solar Powered facility where we prepare for your trip.
- We give our edible leftovers from our tours to local farmers to feed their pigs.
Animal Conservation Projects...
Crystal Seas supports many charities by making donations to causes we feel are important. Our Conservation Fee that we collect from every person who goes out on a trip with us goes directly to animal conservation projects. Here are a few of our local favorites...
Giving Back
Crystal Seas Kayaking also gives college scholarships to local high school students, supports school arts, sports and programs. Here are a few of our local favorites:
- FRIDAY HARBOR LABORATORIES (K-12) SCIENCE OUTREACH PROGRAM (FHLSOP)
- Purple & Gold Club (Provides money for high school athletes to participate in school sports programs)
- Friday Harbor Film Festival
- San Juan County Arts Council
- San Juan Public School Foundation
- San Juan IslandLions Foundation
- Safe San Juan
Besides being part of the team who plans your active vacation with Crystal Seas Kayaking, our founder Johannes Krieger is very active in our community. He spearheaded and volunteered as the Project Manager for the Spring Street Rain Garden for which he was awarded the Good Village Steward Award. He also served on the San Juan Island Marine Resources Committee for many years, coached Friday Harbor High School Girls Volleyball, and coached Friday Harbor High School Boys Soccer. He currently serves on the San Juan County Parks and Recreation Commission.
Spreading the Word...
We have been reviewed in many forms of media ranging from television to newspapers and magazines and most importantly by our guests. We take these reviews very seriously and are always adjusting and modifying what we do based on what our guests have to say. Below you will find various quotes and a list of various critiques.
Above: Our Crystal Seas ladies team (Jellyfish) won second place in their division at the 2009 Oktoberfest Marathon! Angie, Kelly, Carolyn & Carrie
We've been favorably reviewed by:
- Voted #1 Best Tour Company on the West Coast by Sea Kayaker Magazine
- Featured on Oprah "Not Your Typical Vacation"
- Disney's Wild Animal Kingdom
- The Weather Channel
- Outside Magazine: Family Vacation Guide
- KTTV / Fox Television Los Angeles
- Seattle Times Newspaper
- Eddie Bauer Newspaper for Eddie Bauer Associates
- Family Fun Magazine
- Hidden Pacific NW
- Fodor's Berkeley Guide
- USA Weekend Magazine
- Lonely Planet Pacific Northwest
- Washington Handbook Moon Travel Publications
- Essential San Juan Islands Guide
- Boatless in Seattle
- and many more...