Meet Our Guides

Angie

Office manager- Angie runs our T-Shirt Shop and office in downtown Friday Harbor. She grew up in the San Juan Islands and loves living here because of all the wildlife she gets to see just on a simple drive to town! She loves to explore the world and has been to Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Central America, Germany and Thailand. She'll help you choose which tour is best for you through e-mail and phone calls and give you advice about where to dine and stay. She has been sea kayaking San Juan Islands west side since 1992 and is happy to help you plan a trip for your family.

Annie

Field Director/Guide - Annie was born and raised in the mountains of upstate New York. When she was younger she loved whales and knew she wanted to work and live around them. Getting people outside and experiencing nature has always been important to her. In addition to guiding she also does behind the scenes work supporting guides and maintaining gear. You can find Annie sending tours off on their adventures, resupplying on a beach or welcoming them home.

Archie

Brooke

Operations Director/Guide - Brooke grew up spending her time on the lakes, rivers, and forests of Michigan. She found Washington in her early 20s and decided it was home. Like many, she spends her time recreating outside climbing, biking, kayaking, skiing, and nerding out about nature.

Clark

Clark spends every second possible on the water. He fell in love with sea kayaking on Lake Superior and made it out to the San Juans after graduating college. He paddled all the way to Alaska in 2025 and is ready to help create a perfect adventure with you.

Hannah

Hannah came of age in California before moving to Maine to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies and History. Being in connection with humans and nonhumans out of doors has been integral to her growth and development. She has spent time studying oysters in Seattle, instructing downhill mountain biking in Steamboat Springs, and teaching skiing at Bridger Bowl. Her love of the ocean runs deep, and her favorite sea creature is the elusive and humble moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita). When not working, she can be found contra dancing, charcoal drawing, working on bikes, skiing when the snow falls, and sharing home cooked meals with loved ones. The San Juan Islands are one of her very favorite places on the planet, thanks to their mysticism, rich ecology, unique histories, and vibrant community. She is beyond excited to be returning to Crystal Seas for another season of guiding folks with the ocean and through the hills, flowers, and forests!

Hannah

Hannah grew up by the lakes and boreal forests of Minnesota. Her experience guiding canoe camping trips for families in the Boundary Waters cemented her love of water sports and learning about the natural world in community with others. She moved to Seattle three years ago and enjoys exploring the city via bike and going on outdoor adventures in the broader Pacific Northwest region. When she's not outside, you can find Hannah tinkering on her sourdough recipe, playing an energetic game of cards with friends, or studying for her Midwifery degree at UW (go Huskies!). This summer, she can't wait to share the beauty, ecology, and joy of the San Juan Islands with you on bike and kayak trips!

Isaac

Isaac grew up exploring the rugged coastline and expansive lakes of Maine by kayak, developing a strong connection to the water. With a deep appreciation for the natural world, he brings both skill and enthusiasm to every guided trip. Isaac is passionate about creating inclusive and accessible outdoor experiences, and he thrives on helping others build confidence on the water. Whether he’s teaching paddling technique or sharing stories about local ecology and natural history, he is enthusiastic about sharing time outdoors with others.

Joe

Joe was born in California with salt water in his veins and dirt on his boots. He has worked as an Alaskan fisherman, a snowmaker on Colorado's slopes, and a Conservation Corps member building trails through the Rocky Mountains. As a certified Wilderness First Responder, Joe brings the credentials to keep people safe and secure while exploring the wild. Off the water, Joe loves to read everything from history to the natural sciences, and he brings that curiosity to everything he does on a trip. Whether that's identifying wildlife, reading weather, or explaining the geology of what you're paddling or biking through.

Johannes

Founder/Owner - His first time to kayak in orca waters was when he was five years old with his father along the shores of San Juan Island. He began guiding tours at the young age of nineteen. What started as a summer job, turned into a lifetime career. Today you will find Johannes planning tours for our guests or guiding a trip along the west-side of San Juan Island. You will always sense his commitment to providing our guests with the highest quality kayak and bicycling tours imaginable. Mail keeps pouring into the office addressed to Johannes, reminding us of how ‘top rate’ Crystal Seas has become. Johannes is on the San Juan Island Parks Commission, the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee and with the San Juan Island Kayak Association.

Kaelyn

Kaelyn was raised in Maryland and spent her childhood scouting the many woods, rivers, streams, and estuaries near her home. She loves exploring different parts of the world and after spending the winter in the high desert in northern Arizona, she decided to continue west to be near the water again. She was drawn to the San Juans' incredible wildlife and unique history. Kaelyn’s goal is to share her passion for kayaking and cycling with others and she loves creating a sense of community on the water and on the road. When not kayaking or cycling you can find her baking, skiing, watching old films, or planning her next trip abroad.

Kate

Kate grew up in sunny Southern California where she fell in love with the ocean and all the life it had to offer. Pursuing the study of such wildlife brought her to Seattle, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology. In her spare time, she loves to go tide pooling, bike touring, and trying new coffee shops. Her favorite marine animal is the stingray, though she’s been stung twice! She can’t wait to share the magic of the San Juan Islands with you!

Kris

Kris grew up in Washington and Oregon, and is stoked to be coming back to her home after seasons in various states. Kris loves spending time talking about plants, invertebrates, and is working on becoming a better nerd about birds! On any given day she can be found hammocking, biking around town, or swimming in the bioluminescence. She is super excited to be with Crystal Seas to introduce more people to everything the wonderful ecosystem has to offer!

Krista

Krista's love for the outdoors began in the adventurous town of Bellingham, WA where she was born. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Outdoor Recreation, and has since been pursuing skills in kayaking, rock and ice climbing, backpacking, rafting, backcountry snowboarding, mountain biking and any new activity that comes her way. She has a variety of experience working with youth, people with disabilities, and also guiding mountain treks in the Andes of Ecuador. In the winter, Krista is found cooking for the employees of Mt.Baker Ski Area. She's always up for good conversation on long or short paddles, so don't be afraid to ask questions!

Luke

Luke was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. Between semesters at university he spent the summer working on San Juan. After applying to all the kayaking companies on the island, Luke found his forever home with Crystal Seas Kayaking. You can normally catch him on the water searching for birds and drinking instant coffee. Pull up your spray skirt, snag those sunglasses and let's hit the water!

Maddie

Maddie grew up on the Mississippi river in the driftless area of Wisconsin canoeing, camping, and hiking. She later moved up north to the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior to pursue sea kayak guiding, where she fell in love with the sport. She is currently getting her bachelors in Botany and would be happy to talk your ear off about the local plants! Maddie looks forward to meeting you and taking you on a great adventure in the San Juan Islands!

Mae

I grew up on Lake Superior, where I was able to experience the beauty of the Apostle Islands. Spending so much time on the water inspired my love for the outdoors and eventually led me to guiding, which I have been doing for the past three years. For fun, I enjoy almost any kind of water sport, especially kayaking. I also love talking about geology, biology, and the natural systems that shape the places we explore. I’m currently in college studying biology and enjoy learning more about the environments I spend time in. I’m an extrovert who loves meeting new people and sharing my passion for the outdoors. I’m very excited to continue my outdoor adventures in the San Juan Islands and can’t wait to help others experience their beauty too.

Maggie

Maggie was lucky enough to grow up in Teton Valley where she learned to nurture a connection to nature. Her journey to San Juan Island was brought about by an inability to ignore her admiration of the islands. Maggie hopes to always incorporate joy and play into her life, especially in a boat! She is a lifelong learner, especially when inspired by nature and she is excited to share everything she has learned about the beautiful ecosphere of the San Juan Islands.

Natalie

Natalie grew up in the Pacific Northwest, living in Portland for 13 years before moving to San Juan Island in the summer before 8th grade. She graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 2019 and now attends Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. She plans to major in Geology and minor in Chinese. Rocks, she’s recently discovered, are more than just fun things to climb! Although she traveled so far for college, a special place in her heart will always treasure the beauty of the San Juan Islands. She grew up backpacking, biking, and kayaking with her family. She spends her summers still doing all of those activities, but has added rock climbing, canoeing, and mountaineeringto the list. In the winter you can find her nordic or alpine skiing! She is also passionate about sharing her love of the outdoors, which is one reason why she’s a kayak and multisport guide. Ask her about her experiences in the northwest, northeast, and abroad! She always loves good conversation!

Nate

Nate has spent most of his life in Washington having moved from Alaska when he was eight. He loves to spend time on the water and in the mountains sailing, snowboarding and hiking. When not outdoors he can be found cooking, drawing and working on his boat.

Noa

Hey! My name is Noa and I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. The San Jauns are a truly magical place and I am so excited to share that magic with you! I am becoming addicted to bikepacking, love hackey sack, drawing, and am getting more and more time in a boat every summer. Here’s to your next expedition!

Payton

Payton is originally from Georgia, moved to Colorado, then kept moving west to the San Juans, which has been a dream since childhood. She enjoys hiking, biking, painting, and birdwatching. She has a degree in wildlife and loves talking about whales, birds, kelp forests, and all the wonders of the natural world. She can’t wait to show you the magic of the San Juans on land and at sea.

Søren

Søren was born and raised in Bellingham Washington and has spent his life exploring all the environments that the beautiful Pacific Northwest has to offer. He grew up on the water and loves to go biking, skiing, climbing, backpacking, and all things outside. He has a strong background in the environments around the Pacific Northwest and even interned as a wetland scientist, so feel free to ask any questions about the island’s native flora, fauna, and fungi.

Timmy

Tim just loves to mess around in boats. He is not only a sea kayaker, he is also a canoeist, a sailor, and an oars man. Tim has kayaked in 18 states including Hawaii and Alaska, 6 Mexican states, and 3 Canadian provinces. During the summer evenings you can find Tim kayaking San Juan's west side or river kayaking on the mainland. In the winter you can catch him surf kayaking in Sayulita Mexico and working on photography projects or skiing with his brother. Tim would love to spend some time on the water with you. As Tim always says, "See you on the water".

Weston

Weston is a mountain boy from Colorado who made his way to the PNW the second he could. Although he loves the high elevation of the Rockies, the one thing Colorado is missing is the ocean, and boy, does he love the ocean. While studying Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Studies at Western Washington University in nearby Bellingham, he found a home on San Juan Island and quickly fell in love with everything that makes this place so special… but mostly the whales. He is the first to drop everything if the whales are around. Sea kayaking and biking in the islands have become passions of Westons, and he looks forward to sharing this special place with you.

Zach

Zach grew up swimming, kayaking, and canoeing on the beautiful waters of the Midwest. He’s always had a deep appreciation for the natural world. After being a raft guide in Oregon, he discovered his love for guiding others through nature, and the west coast!