Why Us?

If smaller groups and personalized time on the water calls to you, then we are at your service! As life long locals, our love and respect for our home is the driving force behind Salish Seacrets. With us, you get simply us - Darren, Rhi, and our wealth of knowledge of the islands. We hope to give you a taste of what island life is really like. Have a look at our tour options, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, give us a call.

We are happy to try accommodate your individual needs!

In fact, that’s really what we’re all about.

Meet the Crew

  • Captain Darren Stevens

    FOUNDER

    Darren’s true passion in life is fishing, prawning, and crabbing. He has countless hours on our home waters as well as in Homer, Alaska where he and his dad have run salmon fishing charters during the summer months. It brings Darren pure joy to show others the secrets of the sea and share his life learned knowledge of our home. Salish Seacrets Adventures was born out of Darren’s love for rounding up his closest friends and embarking on epic, outer island camping excursions. Providing limitless fun on the water, enjoying the beauty of the islands, and bringing home the catch of the day - these are the things that are deeply embedded in the bones of this man. If you were to consider going out into the Salish Sea surrounding the San Juan Islands, there’s no better guide out there. Seaworthy, trustworthy, noteworthy.... he’s a lifelong Orcas local with a huge heart and open arms. He looks forward to sharing the beauty of our beloved home with you. A day on the water with Darren, is guaranteed fun!

    Darren is a US Coast Guard licensed Captain & Fish Slaying Machine!

  • Naturalist Rhiannon Serna

    FOUNDER

    Rhiannon’s love of nature, art, and the ocean, is fulfilled by the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. A life long San Juan Islander and true island girl at heart, she tried to leave once, and knew it almost immediately to be a mistake. She has worked every job the islands have to offer. From zip line tour guide, hotel concierge, bartender, and bookkeeper. To running her own cleaning business for many years. She is the voice on the phone, and the words behind the email when contacting Salish Seacrets. When out on the water - the deckhand to bait your hook, first mate to Captain Darren, and even your personal chef if you’d like! Whatever you need, she is on it. She looks forward to meeting you from first contact, to spending the day out on the water with you.

    When not working, Rhiannon (or Rhi if it’s easier) enjoys painting, yoga, horseback riding, free-diving, and spending time on the water with Darren.

    Rhiannon is a certified naturalist with the Whale Museum of Friday Harbor.

What About the Whales?

Yes, it is true – the San Juan Islands are a primo destination to see Orca Whales! Every year thousands of visitors come to the islands in hopes to catch a glimpse at these remarkable creatures in the wild. We get it, seeing an Orca whale is an incredible experience and we know it is on a lot of people’s bucket lists! However, we just don’t offer whale watching trips. And we have a few reasons why…

Firstly, there are TONS of whale watching companies out there! We are happy to point you in the right direction of some awesome, locally owned companies to go whale watching with, if that is what your heart desires.

Second, we prefer a more laidback approach to our time on the water. There is SO MUCH to see out there, and we find a lot of it gets missed when the stress of “whale tunnel vision” is engaged. We often will see sea lions, porpoises, harbor seals, river otters, bald eagles, and a host of water birds while out on our tours. Each wildlife sighting has its own magic to offer and it’s a shame when that becomes overlooked by the desire to see a whale. Sometimes, we encounter whales and we feel it’s a bonus – a truly special and humbling experience when it happens by chance. We just don’t believe in forcing it.

Third, whale watching simply doesn’t align with our purpose with Salish Seacrets. Our goal is to provide you with a peak into life here in the islands. To share the beauty of this unique place with you in a relaxed and informative way. To make you feel welcomed into our community for however long you are here.  And that means so much more to us than seeing a whale. We hope that when you complete a charter with us, you will have newfound understanding, appreciation and love for our home, like we do.