Tour guide in Sitka Gary D.

Hello, I'm Gary and I guide tours--by land and sea--in my hometown of Sitka, Alaska. I'm a born and raised Sitkan and proud of it. I feel really lucky that I get to show Sitka off to visitors from all over the world. Sitka is one of the most epic places on the planet. It's wild and pristine and so very scenic. We have mountains and ocean and lots of wildlife. My family's been here for 4 generations so my roots go deep on this island. I've spent my entire life exploring our waters and honing my inner "wildlife radar" so if you'd like to see whales and sea otters and sea lions and all the wondrous creatures that live here too, I'm the guide for you. I've been guiding visitors to Sitka since 1994. Like many of us who grew up here, I started out working on commercial fishing boats. My first experiences out on our waters were actually with my Grandma Susie, who was quite the pioneering Alaskan fisherwoman. I then went on to guide fishing charters until I found my real passion: Whale watching and eco-tours. I love the natural world and marveling at its creatures and getting to share that with other people just makes the experience that much more epic. You could say my life motto is "livin' the dream, sharing the adventure. " In 2016 I had the opportunity to purchase my own boat, the M/V Blue Dawg, and venture out on my own. Being the 'captain of my own ship' has allowed me to create the customized tour experience for my guests that I can truly get excited about. Exploring together, sharing an adventure and giving you an authentic experience of Sitka is what I'm all about. Boat Captain & Guide US Coast Guard Licensed 100 Ton Master No Restrictions