bioluminescence kayaking tours in the San Juan Islands

Sea Quest offers bioluminescence kayaking tours in the San Juan Islands every night. No prior experience is required to join our bioluminescence kayak tours which offer you a chance to enjoy some of the finest light shows that nature provides! Beneath our kayaks, the fertile waters of the San Juan Islands support plankton that produces sparkling lights. And in the sky above, our rain-shadow shields away clouds to create the clearest nights anywhere in western Washington. We are certain that kayaking in bioluminescence is an experience you’ll never forget!

bioluminescence night kayaking tours in the San Juan Islands

Sea Quest’s bioluminescence night kayaking tours in the San Juan Islands are offered daily after dusk. Our knowledgeable kayak guides will take you out to explore the beauty of our coastal waters in the evening. You’ll have a chance to see amazing array of organisms that produce or reflect light, including plankton, jellyfish, and shrimp. Book a bioluminescence night kayaking tour with Sea Quest to experience one of the great wonders of nature!

Is night kayaking in the san juan islands Dangerous?

Night kayaking in the San Juan Islands is accessible to anyone with an adventurous spirit and is incredibly safe. No experience is necessary to join a guided night kayak tour with us. In fact, many of our guests in the San Juan Islands experience kayaking for the very first time at night with Sea Quest. Our expert night kayak guides manicure a safe, educational and entertaining tour. In no time you will be comfortably paddling in the safest waters with the highest densities of phytoplankton and the greatest chances of seeing vibrant bioluminescence! Don’t miss your chance to experience a night kayak adventure with Sea Quest!

How do I Choose a Date for My Bioluminescence Kayak Trip in Friday Harbor?

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Bioluminescence and the lunar cycle have a strong relationship. A bright full moon will make the glowing organisms seem dimmer. Oppositely, a dark new moon will allow the full glory of bioluminescent organisms to shine! The “in-between” phases of the lunar cycle offer moderate displays. To increase your chances of seeing a good bioluminescence display on your kayak trip with Sea Quest, use the lunar calendar on this page and select a date with a darker moon. If you want to see a partial moon, the best time to do so is during the third quarter phase. This is when the moon is waning and rises later at night. The first quarter moon rises well before the sun sets, so it is not as visible.

What Dates are Best for Bioluminescence Kayak Tours on San Juan Island?

June, July and August are best due to plentiful sunlight and warmer surface waters. But there is still the potential of seeing displays in late spring and early fall.

Reviews

Jon M.

9/25/2023 - Google

Had a great time! Super fun guide, well maintained equipment, and excellent instruction made this a fun, safe, and memorable day trip. Will definitely be going ... read moreHad a great time! Super fun guide, well maintained equipment, and excellent instruction made this a fun, safe, and memorable day trip. Will definitely be going back! read less

Banu R.

9/24/2023 - Google

- great weather and trip to view the bioluminescence - excursion went great and is recommended even for novices -the guide was knowledgeable and provided good i... read more- great weather and trip to view the bioluminescence - excursion went great and is recommended even for novices -the guide was knowledgeable and provided good information and advice - tour is highly recommended and definitely worth it read less

Melanie S.

9/19/2023 - Google

Sea Quest Kayak Tours is excellent. Our guide Martine was awesome. It was everything we had hoped for and more. A wonderful memory for our family!

joshua d.

9/18/2023 - Google

Fantastic overnight tour with Cody! From the great food, to organized schedule, friendly folks and multiple picturesque stops - Would definitely recommend!!

Stacy M.

9/18/2023 - Google

Had a wonderful time night kayaking to see the bioluminescents. The guides Ben and Will were great and kind and helpful. The bioluminescents were so beautiful a... read moreHad a wonderful time night kayaking to see the bioluminescents. The guides Ben and Will were great and kind and helpful. The bioluminescents were so beautiful and I am glad I had this experience with Sea Quest Kayak Tours. read less

Josh B.

9/18/2023 - Google

Great trip with Martine as our guide. We were in for a family wedding with limited time and she absolutely helped us make the most of it. We saw plenty of harbo... read moreGreat trip with Martine as our guide. We were in for a family wedding with limited time and she absolutely helped us make the most of it. We saw plenty of harbor seals, some bald eagles and lots of other wildlife. As a side from reading other reviews: kayaks are not exceptionally heavy and we all carried it down the 40 feet or so as a group. Two men and 2 women, zero trouble. I’m not certain why anyone would book a tour which requires you to be physically active and then be upset when you have to actually be active. Great operator and would absolutely use again. read less

ing w.

9/17/2023 - Google

our paddle under the stars with Julia was amazing! She was terrific and seeing the bioluminescent water was magical

dentonphillips

9/16/2023 - Google

This was a spectacular experience to see the bioluminescence in the water while kayaking. Our guides JJ and Nathan took great care of us and lead an amazing tou... read moreThis was a spectacular experience to see the bioluminescence in the water while kayaking. Our guides JJ and Nathan took great care of us and lead an amazing tour. We all had a fantastic time. read less

Kenyacktie H.

9/12/2023 - Google

I recent went on the Quest Kayak Tour along with a friend. It was my first time in a kayak. Quest made the tour safe, engaging and informative. I had a great ti... read moreI recent went on the Quest Kayak Tour along with a friend. It was my first time in a kayak. Quest made the tour safe, engaging and informative. I had a great time and gained a new experience. read less

Ian L.

9/11/2023 - TripAdvisor

Had a great time! Sea Quest had our rental right in time. Delivered it to the ferry dock and had us on our way. The equipment worked great, no break downs, no p... read moreHad a great time! Sea Quest had our rental right in time. Delivered it to the ferry dock and had us on our way. The equipment worked great, no break downs, no problems. Had only good times paddling thru amazing scenery. They made the drop off go so smoothly, just took out our gear and the picked the boat up. Couldn’t have had a better time! read less

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Trip Details for The Bioluminescence Kayak Tour from San Juan Island

• Schedule: Bioluminescent Kayak Tour offered daily
• Trip Fee: $129 per person plus $10 government launch fee. On rare dates, the fee is $149 due to limited resources, and this will be noted in the online reservation system.
• Meeting Place: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. Look for our van and kayak trailer in the traffic circle adjacent to the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal.
• Meeting Time: Bioluminescence kayak trips usually begin at sunset. Note that the trip start times in our reservation system vary with seasonal daylight hours. Our online reservation system will indicate the exact meeting time if you enter a specific date. If the times don’t work for you, we may be able to change them to meet your needs so feel free to ask!
• Itinerary: Our shuttle van takes you to the launch beach. The drive takes between 5 to 25 minutes. We provide a one hour kayak lesson on the beach. This lesson familiarizes everyone with the basic skills before we launch the sea kayaks in the dark. We then explore for about 1½ hours, covering 1 to 2 miles during the kayak adventure. We will paddle at a leisurely pace in search of good areas. If we find a rich spot we will float there to soak in the experience and look for the glowing outlines of fish of and seals. Remember to bring a headlamp or flashlight but turn it off to enjoy the bioluminescence!
• Finish Time & Place: Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal; 3 hours after we pick you up.
• Total Time: Approximately 3 hours from meeting your guides to finish. Be aware that our weather, winds or currents can occasionally delay us!

What Is Bioluminescence?

Bioluminescence is a biological light display that produces no heat. It is created by special protein, and enzyme combinations found that evolved in organisms ranging from fungi to fish. Some objects emit light in a single color, while others can produce a rainbow of colors.

In the sea, most bioluminescence is produced by plankton – organisms that drift on the currents. These include pulsating “jellyfish,” clusters of salps, and even masses of mating marine worms! utmost dinoflagellates are bitsy organisms that use the sun for energy during the day. At night, they produce sparkles of light when disturbed by the movements of fish, seals, kayaks, and swells. 

Why Does Bioluminescence Exist?

One theory for why bioluminescence occurs is called “The Enemy of my Enemy is My Friend hypothesis.” When a bloodsucker moves in, these organisms release light, which has the implicit to illuminate a different target for the bloodsucker to eat  rather. Or the predator itself could be illuminated and be eaten by a larger one! Jellies may use their light to attract prey light moths to a candle. Others, such as nerius worms, use their glow to attract mates – very sexy!

Is Bioluminescence the Same Thing as Phosphorescence?

Bioluminescence is a strictly biological phenomenon. Phosphorescence also produces no heat but differs by releasing light absorbed by a chemical process. The reason you may hear some people use the wrong term is that soldiers in World War II saw light in the sea of the same color as their phosphor tracer bullets. Not knowing any biology, they mistakenly called it “phosphorescence,” and the improper name stuck for decades afterward.