Experience Wild Alaska
Explore the nature & wildlife of Ketchikan, Alaska aboard a Zodiac
Ketchikan Nature & Wildlife Tours
Discover your next adventure aboard a Zodiac tour with Out to Sea Expeditions
Go on an adventure as you explore the deep mysterious waters of island studded sea passages in search of wildlife aboard a rugged Zodiac expedition craft..
Do you want to use our local expertise to help create a custom experience, enjoy the privacy of having exclusive use of the boat, or need help with marine transportation logistics for your own adventures?
Shop a variety of high quality outdoor gear and equipment, made in Alaska products, and unique outdoor inspired gifts. Shop, rent, and explore with Out to Sea Expedition Company!

Why Out to Sea?
Out to Sea Expedition Company is owned & operated by Ketchikan locals that love where they live. Since 2019, we have been committed to sustainable exploration of the beautiful waters surrounding the island we call home.
Reviews
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A must do if you are visiting Ketchikan. We had a great experience. The Zodiac boat was comfortable and the gear they provide is top notch. Delaney & Eric’s knowledge... read more is amazing.
Chuck S.
September 27, 2025 -
Delaney, Eric, and our nature guide (her name is escaping me) were absolutely fabulous. From the very start of arriving to the office they were friendly and ready to make... read more sure our party of 6 had the best experience ever. We documented all the birds we saw including many Bald Eagles and their nest, harbor seals, and we were lucky enough to have a whale encounter that we watched for quite some time. The warm coffee and coco while out was perfect to warm us up. I cannot recommend this group enough!
Tiffani D.
September 16, 2025 -
Great whale watching experience, saw so much!
Sarah
September 12, 2025 -
Extremely happy with our excursion. It was a blast! Saw a bubble net feeding humpback AND an orca. Jenny was very knowledgeable. It couldn’t have been... read more better!
John P.
August 22, 2025 -
The captain, mate, & office manager were all fantastic! We saw lots of wildlife, & they shared so much knowledge about the area, especially the marine environment. Their enthusiasm was... read more contagious. It was a rainy day, but their excellent rain suits kept us warm & dry. All of their equipment looked new, & everything was exceptionally clean. I’ve take a number of similar tours, & none were better than this one. ❤️
Lorraine H.
August 16, 2025 -
My family was lucky enough to explore the coasts of Ketchikan with Jenny (aka Science Mom) and Eric while visiting on an Alaskan cruise. The entire experience was 5 stars,... read more great communication before our tour, wonderful service getting us from our dock at Ward Cove, and then a beautiful day on the zodiac. We were able to learn about multiple types of birds, we even saw red-necked phalaropes (which were learned was a big deal). Jenny was knowledgeable, kind and entertaining. Eric also was able to share from his years of experience out to sea in Alaska. The trip was a great combination of spectacular wildlife viewing and hands-on learning. I highly recommend this company. We will be back for certain the next time we’re in Ketchikan. My elderly father ended up being very sick on board our ship and wasn’t able to disembark the last 4 days of our trip, this excursion let us cancel the tickets he and my mother had bought and were very understanding which was above and beyond what we were expecting (a blessing in that stressful time). A really high quality business and a pleasure to be able to spend the day with.
Skylee N.
August 14, 2025 -
We had an absolutely amazing experience with Out To Sea Expedition Company on their Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition! From start to finish, everything was perfect. We went out on a... read more comfortable zodiac with Eric and Delaney, who were both incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. They went above and beyond to make the trip enjoyable for everyone — especially our 6-year-old, who they treated with so much patience and enthusiasm. We saw an incredible variety of sea life and learned so much about the Ketchikan area along the way. It’s clear that Eric and Delaney truly love this place and are passionate about sharing that love while also being faithful stewards of the ocean for future generations. This was the highlight of our trip to Alaska, and we can’t recommend it enough! They also had very inclusive sizes for the provided rain gear which is always a relief.
Sarah F.
August 14, 2025 -
Great company! We booked this company which was hard to do because very highly rated and they do a great job but unfortunately the day we showed up in... read more Ketchikan it was heavy rain and winds. The owner called that morning and gave us the option to cancel because of the weather. She said we will still go out and operate but she wanted to make sure we would have a great time. We took her up on the offer because the way my wife was feeling already and the weather looked bad. I think this speaks volumes about a company and how they operate. We will be back to Ketchikan one day hopefully soon and we will be sure to use this great company again.
Rich P.
August 7, 2025 -
We had an incredible day in Ketchikan!! Our Captain and ‘Science mom’ took such good care of us and made sure to bring us to interactive stops for our 3yr... read more old. We got to see whales, eagles, jellyfish, sea stars and so much more. We will definitely book another trip if we make it back to town! Thank you!!!
Chelsey H.
August 2, 2025 -
Very personable service. We saw lots of wildlife and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Everyone made sure we had the best time we could have ever hoped.
Steve M.
August 2, 2025
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One of the best tours we’ve done in Alaska! - The last week of August, 2025, Delaney and Eric took us out on their Zodiac. The other group had to cancel but they still took us out... read more even though there were just 2 of us. I’ve been with other companies that require at least 4 people on a tour or they don’t go out, so we were impressed from the start. Eric captained the Zodiac and was a very careful driver, even slowing the boat to reduce the spray that could hit you. They did a good job from the start in dressing us in a way to protect our clothes from getting salt water and everything they did from that point was more of the same in being thoughtful of how we could have the best experience. Delaney was especially interested in nature and birds and explained things in a way easy to understand. Their knowledge of the area and sea-life were invaluable in making this a memorable trip. We saw harbor seals, bald eagles, marbled murrelets, sea stars, anemones and the best of all a male humpback whale named Phoenix that put on a show better than any of the whale watches we’ve done in Juneau could match! He was bubble net feeding solo. We could see the rings of bubbles so we knew exactly where he’d pop up, which made seeing him come out of the water and taking pictures so much easier. They knew his habits so we got the best possible views. They were also respectful of not stressing Phoenix or any of the other sea-life. They were also genuinely friendly and enjoyable to be around. The next time we’re in Ketchikan, we are definitely going to do this trip again.
jbiddlecome
September 1, 2025 -
Unforgettable Alaska Ocean Adventure with Knowledgable, Friendly Guides - We had an absolutely amazing experience with Out To Sea Expedition Company on their Alaska Ocean Wilderness Expedition! From start to finish, everything was perfect. We went out on a... read more comfortable zodiac with Eric and Delaney, who were both incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. They went above and beyond to make the trip enjoyable for everyone — especially our 6-year-old, who they treated with so much patience and enthusiasm.
We saw an incredible variety of sea life and learned so much about the Ketchikan area along the way. It’s clear that Eric and Delaney truly love this place and are passionate about sharing that love while also being faithful stewards of the ocean for future generations. This was the highlight of our trip to Alaska, and we can’t recommend it enough!
sjeia
August 14, 2025 -
Top Tier Experience! - Had an amazing trip with Out to Sea! You can tell they are good stewards for the environment and have a passion for teaching you about it! Full service with... read more all of the dry gear you could need!
Sarah E
August 4, 2025 -
Don't book a cruise ship tour when you can go with these guys! - A great experience overall! The only downside was that there weren't longer tour options allowing for further exploration. As it were, we saw a lot of wildlife in... read more 2 hours. As far as mammals, we watched and photographed 2 Humpback Whales bubble net feeding, Harbor Porpoises, Harbor Seals, and Sitka Black-tailed Deer. We also saw a number of birds and as a birder, I was happy to gain a few more "life list" birds. We saw many of the common birds like eagles, crows, ravens and gulls, but we also saw some birds that are of higher interest to birders such as Black Turnstone, Marbled Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, and Common Murre.
Eric was our captain and Jenny our onboard naturalist. They were both great and very enjoyable to be around. Jenny was able to answer any questions thrown at her and Eric was great at maneuvering the boat always being mindful of the safety of the whales and his crew. He also was mindful of the placement of the sun for photography purposes which is always a nice touch for photogs like me.
Delaney though not on the actual adventure was my main point of contact and she was also in the shop before the tour. I got there earlier than everyone else and had some great conversation with Eric, Delaney and Jenny and can tell you that they are great people to hang with.
I would not hesitate to get out on the water with them again if given a chance. Thanks guys for the adventure and for putting up with the demands of a traveling birder!
Patrick R
July 27, 2025 -
Ketchikan Excursion You Don’t Want To Miss! - If you do one excursion while in Ketchikan, pick this one! Eric and Delaney were so knowledgeable about the wildlife we saw on this trip. Being out so... read more close and personal and exploring sea urchins, eagles, porpoises and learning about the various types of birds was amazing. Making our way back, we saw humpback whales! The entire experience was so nicely done with outfitted gear to keep us warm and dry to the sweet sip of hot cocoa while on the water. You guys are the best, this was an unforgettable experience! Thank you!
Explore158363
October 16, 2024 -
Awesome Guides - Eric and Delaney made the whole experience. They clearly were so knowledgeable about the wildlife and ecosystem. I thought the snacks and warm drinks were a perfect touch. I will... read more definitely be back!
Shannon S
October 2, 2024 -
Best 2 1/2 hour trip ivve ever experienced. Great time. - Excellent tour. The boat was a stud. It was exciting going from island to island checking out the birds and mammals in thee Northern Pacific. Eric and Nichols were fun,... read more exciting knowledgeable and great hosts! Naming 7 different types of birds we saw. Then it was an Orca show. There were a pod of five putting on a show for us.
marlinchaser
September 27, 2024 -
Great Experience - Highly recommend booking a zodiac boat tour with Delaney and Eric when visiting Ketchikan. It was an incredible experience seeing all the different Alaskan wildlife in a more up close... read more and personal manner. Delaney and Eric are the sweetest people and highly involved with Ketchikan wildlife. This tour was truly inspiring!
Tricia S
September 23, 2024 -
Unforgettable Adventure with Out to Sea Expedition! - Absolutely thrilled with our experience with Out to Sea Expedition in Ketchikan! From start to finish, the trip was a highlight of our vacation. Delaney and Eric were outstanding guides,... read more sharing their extensive knowledge of the area and its wildlife, which made the journey even more enriching.
We were lucky enough to see an incredible variety of wildlife, including whales, seals, a sea lion, and soaring eagles. Delaney and Eric made sure we had the best views and photo opportunities.
The small group size made the experience feel personalized, allowing us to connect with our guides. We felt safe and well taken care of throughout the trip.
If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure in Ketchikan, I can’t recommend Out to Sea Expedition enough. Thank you, Delaney and Eric, for an amazing day out on the water! We can’t wait to come back and explore more.
Kerry W
September 20, 2024 -
One of the highlights of our vacation. - We stopped at Ketchikan on our cruise and thoroughly enjoyed this tour. It was just my husband and I and the guides, Eric and Delaney. We saw seals, sea lions,... read more eagles, a mink, as well as different types of starfish, sea urchins, and a jellyfish. We also saw a lot of other birds. They provided the gear to keep us warm and dry as well as coffee and a snack. Eric and Delaney were awesome, very knowledgeable and friendly. Delaney kindly emailed a list of all the birds we saw after the tour.
JenniferL45
September 17, 2024

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