Celebrating 50 Years
Decades of Coastal Exploration & Stewardship
It is hard to believe Bluewater Adventures celebrated 50 years in business in 2024.
What does that mean? As one of the first ecotourism companies, we get to visit many places that are now protected with restricted access – making for extraordinary experiences. Our perspective is long term, so that our commitment to First Nations and coastal communities must be reciprocal and ensure we give back. And with each generation of Bluewater captains, resource guides, and crew, their accumulated knowledge grows — profoundly benefitting the guest experience.
Our Mission
By bringing people into direct contact with outstanding wilderness and wildlife, we learn about our interconnectedness to nature and the need to protect it. By providing personal experiences of Indigenous guides, art and culture, we discover a reciprocal way to see the world. By focusing on responsible and ethical tourism, we travel with a small footprint in a relaxed style.
Our Story
Family Owned Since 1988
Starting in 1974 with whitewater rafting, the first Bluewater sailboat tours explored the Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound.
By the late 70’s we were heading up to Johnstone Strait in North Vancouver Island, offering citizen science to help identify killer whales. In 1986, we began our first trips to Haida Gwaii, Southeast Alaska and the Great Bear Rainforest.
Today, with a fleet of three vessels and a seasonal crew of about 40 individuals, Bluewater is operating trips from the Southern Gulf Islands all the way to Admiralty Island in Alaska, exploring the coves & inlets of the Pacific coast along the way. Guiding 657 guests and students in 2024, we continue to believe that exposing people to the wonder and beauty of our natural world will inspire conservation and respect for it.
Why Bluewater Adventures?
The Bluewater experience has been honed over decades of operation. With guest experience and education being at the core of our mission, we offer trips that are casual and approachable in tone, transformative and profound in setting.
Small Group Travel
- Maximum of 10 – 12 guests onboard
- Feel familiar with your fellow guests quickly
- Allows for intimate experiences
- Connect personally with the Bluewater crew members
High Environmental Standards
- Sustainable practices in office and onboard
- Long-standing and reciprocal relationships with coastal First Nations
- Ethical wildlife viewing always
- First small ship tour operator in BC and Southeast Alaska to offer carbon neutral adventures
Coastal Expertise
- Deeply knowledgeable crew
- Decades of finding the best corners of the coastline
- Well-known and respected along the coast
- Passionate and expert crew are always eager to share and educate
Stress-Free Booking & Travel
- Book directly with Bluewater
- Expect personalized and quick responses to inquiries
- Receive detailed trip and travel itineraries
- Travel lightly to our thoughtfully provisioned vessels
Meet the Crew
Discover all the passionate and knowledgeable individuals who make the Bluewater experience truly exceptional. Browse through our captains, crew, chefs, and naturalists.
Bluewater CrewSustainable Travel
Bluewater Adventures was built on the principles of ecotourism even before the term was coined. It is how we carry out our operations from the field & in office, to how we engage with our guests, to how we train our incredible crew.
Learn MoreSustainability: A Core Principle
Leaving Minimal Impact On Our Incredible Coastline
Part of why sustainability makes sense to us is largely due to our style of travel. How we live aboard a small ship is inherent in how we operate our trips: from provisioning for our incredible menus, to how the captain charts our days.
It is also part of Bluewater’s DNA. We really believe that traveling sustainably is important when factoring our responsibilities to the communities we work with and the beautiful coastlines we explore.
Bluewater Adventures aligns our operations with standards set by experts serving the tourism industry. A sustainable and regenerative approach to operating our tours forms the bedrock of our success as an eco-tour operator, and we are inspired to continually search for ways to improve.
Current Job Openings
Join a team of like-minded individuals who care deeply about our coast and share unparalleled passion for nature. Check back frequently to see our current openings.
The captain is primarily responsible for the operation and safety of the ship 24 hours a day, guiding guests, safety of guests and crew, and the coordination of crew and guests daily. Captains should have mechanical experience and aptitude with main engines, generators, bilge spaces and outboards motors. As sailing is a large part of our ethos, our captains should have sailing experience on larger vessels and be familiar with all related boat operations: setting sails, docking, anchoring, and mooring. Most importantly, our capaints need to possess and demonstrate strong and steady leadership and communication skills to aid in crew cohesion and management onboard.
requirements
- Transport Canada 60-ton Master’s Certificate
- Extensive knowledge of the BC coastline from Victoria to Prince Rupert including Haida Gwaii
- 20hr Remote First Aid + CPR-C or higher
- Commercial Bear Viewing Association Level 1 or higher certificate
The captain is primarily responsible for the operation and safety of the ship 24 hours a day, guiding guests, safety of guests and crew, and the coordination of crew and guests daily. Captains should have mechanical experience and aptitude with main engines, generators, bilge spaces and outboards motors. As sailing is a large part of our ethos, our captains should have sailing experience on larger vessels and be familiar with all related boat operations: setting sails, docking, anchoring, and mooring. Most importantly, our capaints need to possess and demonstrate strong and steady leadership and communication skills to aid in crew cohesion and management onboard.
requirements
- Transport Canada 150-ton Master’s Certificate
- Extensive knowledge of the BC coastline from Victoria to Prince Rupert including Haida Gwaii
- 20hr Remote First Aid + CPR-C or higher
- Commercial Bear Viewing Association Level 1 or higher certificate
The chef is primarily responsible for all food preparation and galley management, ensuring cleanliness, organization and upkeep of the galley, pantry, salon and food storage areas while on trip.
Chefs will plan menus, food shop, and prepare meals and snacks for guests (and crew during trips, deliveries, and turnarounds). Cooks need to ensure that all crew and guest dietary needs are met and accommodated in their menu. A typical menu plan will be for 12 – 16 people anywhere from 5 to 14 days. In addition to menu planning, cooks must also be up to date on onboard inventory of all food and wine as the cooks are responsible for restocking the boat in between trips and passing on current inventory to incoming cooks.
Though the galley is where the chef does most of their work, chefs are also welcome to, and encouraged to, join guests on shore excursions and act as a guide to provide safety, enrichment, and support to guests during their shore experience.
Skills & Qualifications Required
- Experience cooking/catering for groups up to 20
- Experience developing, purchasing for, and executing menu planning for groups
- Experience working in close quarters with a small team
- Ability to provide a varied, healthy, and delicious menu
- Customer service, hospitality, or guest-facing experience
- Strong communication with other team members
- Ability to adapt and adjust quickly to reflect the needs of the group
Preferences
- Experience working on boats and the outdoors
- Experience working in remote locations with generators, semi-commercial ovens, and household stove tops
- A strong interest in nature
- 20 Hours Wilderness Remote First Aid (RFA, WFA, or WFR) + CPR – C
- FoodSafe Certificate
- Serving it Right Certificate
Contact Us
The Bluewater office is always here to help. Connect with us to receive personal assistance during any step of your trip experience.
Get in Touch