Building the Island Explorer 5

See how the best in the west was built.

Island Explorer 5 is the most modern whale watch boat in the region. Designed from the ground up specifically for whale watching in the San Juans, this dream was inspired by over 20 years of whale watching experience. Designed by One2Three naval architects in Australia and built by Mavrik Marine in La Conner, WA, she is simply the best whale watching boat on the west coast.

A modern white yacht with multiple decks sailing on water.
Four workers assembling large metal frames or structures on a workshop floor surrounded by tools and equipment.
Indoor industrial workspace with construction or setup area, orange traffic cone, metal railing, and equipment on the floor.
Construction of a large metallic structure in a warehouse with tools and ladders around.
Large metal frames, possibly aircraft sections, are being constructed or assembled in a factory or industrial setting with workers and tools around.
Industrial workshop with metal frames, tools, and workers assembling or repairing large metal structures.
Interior of a boat under construction with metal framework and tools.
Inside a manufacturing or assembly plant showing partial view of a large black metallic structure, with tools and equipment on top, surrounded by yellow safety railings.
A large metallic boat under construction inside a workshop, with visible ribs and framework in progress.
Steel framework of a building under construction, with metal beams and structural supports visible, along with some construction tools and equipment.
Metal framework and components of an aircraft or machinery under construction, with visible structural beams and panels.
Inside a workshop or factory with machinery and tools, a large metallic cylindrical object is being worked on or assembled.
View of an aircraft fuselage under construction or repair inside a workshop, with tools and equipment around.
Large boat under construction inside a workshop, with scaffolding, ladder, and workshop tools nearby.
Industrial workspace with metal framework, a large partially assembled structure, and various tools and equipment scattered around.
Orca whales swimming in the ocean with snow-capped mountains in the background.

Trip Highlights | 2021 Gallery

A group of orcas swimming in the ocean with their dorsal fins protruding above the water surface.

Trip Highlights | 2020 Gallery

A whale spouting water and breaching the surface of the ocean.

Trip Highlights | 2019 Gallery

An orca whale breaching out of the water with its dorsal fin visible, surrounded by a vast expanse of blue ocean.

Trip Highlights | 2018 Gallery

Orcas breaching the water with seagulls flying around, a distant coastline, and hills in the background under a clear blue sky.

Trip Highlights | 2017 Gallery

A whale breaching the water surface in a calm body of water with a distant shoreline and trees in the background.

Trip Highlights | 2016 Gallery

An orca whale surfacing in the ocean

Killer Whale Gallery

A whale's tail emerging from the water with a mountainous forested shoreline and a sailboat in the background.

Humpbacks Gallery

A dolphin swimming in calm ocean water.

Minke Whales Gallery

A blue whale surfacing in the ocean, with water splashing around its head.

Gray Whales Gallery

A seal resting on a rocky shoreline near the water's edge.

Pacific Northwest Wildlife Gallery

Snow-capped mountain at sunset or sunrise with a body of water in the foreground and boats floating on the water.

World-Class Scenery Gallery