About Ken

I have been a professional mariner for 46 years, serving as a captain, mate, and deckhand. My experience has been mainly on ocean-going tug boats on the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. I started as a deckhand on the Columbia River, but shortly after that, I began sailing oceans. Much of my life at sea has prepared me to share the “net of wonder” “Jacques Cousteau lived and shared with all of us. Most importantly, I fell in love with the sea very young, and I have nurtured that ever-growing love ever since.

Cruise Ship and Tugboat Experience

Among my experiences was time on small cruise ships in Southeast Alaska, where I spent much time observing marine life. On the Columbia River and Snake River, we mainly saw land mammals. I worked on ocean-going tug boats in the Gulf of Alaska to the Aleutians. Towing barges up Cook Inlet to Anchorage and back many times. My time at sea includes time spent on vessels in Southeast Alaska, the Gulf of Alaska, and the Inside Passage waters of the British Columbia islands. I started as a young deckhand right out of high school. I spent my first three years as a deckhand on the Columbia and Snake Rivers from Astoria, OR, to Lewiston, ID.

During my years at sea, I have been very fortunate to observe marine life in the wild where it belongs. My years at sea on the west coast from Alaska and the west coast of British Columbia down to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.   From the shores of Costa Rica and the waters from Puerto Rico to Florida. Hundreds of humpback whales were observed “bubble net feeding” in Alaska. A highlight was when I rubbed the heads of curious gray whale calves in Mexico. I often see killer whales chasing and killing prey in the Salish Sea, the waters of Alaska and British Columbia.

Naturalist Experience

As a certified naturalist since the spring of 2015, with ongoing training each year, I will share my knowledge with you. One of my greatest pleasures is sharing my experience with my guests aboard Spirit of Orca. I can do this on our unique and intimate tours by taking you to meet and observe the whales. Most importantly, they belong in their natural and magnificent environment, and we can appreciate them best when they are in their natural and magnificent environment.

I hope this section, ‘About Ken & Spirit of Orca,’ gives you a feel for who I am, my love of the sea and all its life, and who we are as a company.

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