2006 Testimonials
We just wanted to let you know what a great trip we had with
you. It was AMAZING. Your zest and zeal for the wildlife was infectious and
created a LIFETIME EXPERIENCE for both of us. Everyone that I have told and
all of my friends and family were awestruck by the experience you gave us.
Thank you!
Marc & Meredith Nicklas -
Dickenson, Texas
To anyone considering taking a trip with the Esther G, we had a wonderful
trip to St. Lazaria Island where we saw an amazing encounter between a
humpback whale and 3 orcas and a baby orca. Davey is a kind, gentle spirit
and loves sharing his world. He went out of his way to make our trip extra
special, even serving delicious salmon, crackers, and homemade cookies:)
He is very knowledgeable about wildlife and the area around Sitka. His
love of Sitka is contagious. It was the highlight of Alaska for my family.
Thanks for the memories as we go forward on this journey called life.
Sarah Elder -
Alpharetta, GA
We wanted to thank you for the great tour you provided. It was so nice to
meet someone who loves their job and their life the way that you do. Thank
you for the unforgettable memories.
Sincerely,
Marian, Michael, Kristina and David Eggnatz -
Cooper City, FL
Thank you so much for the safe and enjoyable trip from the Kruzof Island
wilderness back to Sitka. Given the rough weather that day, my Outdoor
Leadership students appreciated your captaining, and so do I.
Thanks again!
Professor Mike Kaplan -
Sheldon Jackson College - Sitka, AK
I want to let you know that we certainly enjoyed the tour we took with you
on Aug. 29th. I still can't get over being so up close to the Orca whales
and the humpbacks. We took some great pictures. All of the wildlife you
got us so close to was just unbelievable. You offer a great tour and I
will highly recommend you to others when I hear they are going to Sitka.
Again, thanks for a wonderful experience. Take care!
Linda and Ralph Boling -
Everett, Washington
It was a dark and stormy night. No, wait --- actually, it was a gray and
stormy morning. I had my doubts that we'd see any wildlife. (In fact, I
had my doubts that we'd ever see land again!) But it didn't take expert
Davey more than five minutes, navigating through that pea soup, to find
those humpbacks. Happily feeding, they gave us quite a show. What magic!
Thank you!
Rabbi Marna Sapsowitz -
Olympia WA
Hi Davey, we thank you very much for sharing your Sitka with us on our anniversary.
And, thanks for the cap too!!! We enjoyed every bit of our time with you...especially
the whale breath!! OMG!! We certainly hope to return to Sitka again someday
and will be sure to take another trip with you.
Pat and Lori Wolke -
Glendale, AZ
When we met Davey on the docks of Sitka, he whisked us out to the bay for
the start of an absolutely amazing time. Seeing the Humpbacks much closer
than possible while on the cruise ship was great. The variety of birds,
seals and the surrounding areas were also really cool. But the most spectacular
event of the day, and even the entire week-long cruise, was the time we
spent watching the Orca whales. Watching them splash and swim so close
to the boat was something I will never forget! It was practically the only
thing my family and I could talk about for days! They repeatedly thanked
me for taking the initiative to book the tour with you. So, thank you Davey
for one of the best experiences ever. I, and my family, look forward to
our next tour with you. Thank you, Davey!
Dan Lahrman -
Serving in Belgium
I just wanted to email you another big "thank you" for the wonderful
excursion you provided for my sister and me. We had such a great time. Your
obvious heart-felt enthusiasm for the care, feeding and protection of our
earth's most valuable and precious gifts is noteworthy and contagious. It
is just so unbelievable that there is a part of the US that is so untouched
by commercialism and a place where the environmental elements, its resources
and all those amazing animals, birds/fish/4-legged/2-legged/winged/fur and
finned, can thrive and survive. What an absolutely extraordinarily wonderful
experience - which I will never forget. Not the sights, sounds...nor you.
Stephanie Gonzalez and Elaine Lee -
Bolivia-Sunset Harbor, North Carolina and Alameda, California
I just want to let you know that you are the best wildlife guide I have ever
met!
Thank you for showing us the natural beauty around your island. I can't believe
that in one tour you managed to show us whales, seals, sea lions and eagles.
I will never forget the whale that jumped from the ocean right in front of
the boat. It was unbelievable!!!!! Must say, that everything was so organised
and your wife’s cookies were delicious! Can't explain in words my feeling
about our tour, but I know for sure that it was my best day in Alaska!!!!
I will certainly recommend you to my friends.
Anya Baymler -
Saint Petersburg, Russia
I wanted to say thanks so much again for the great whale watching. I thoroughly
enjoyed myself and was pleased to see at least one whale breach. I have
3 pictures of the peregrine falcon we saw and will send them when I get
back to California.
Kimberly Steiner -
Claremont, CA
Cris & Rob here, from England! We are writing with regard to our fantastic
trip we went on with you last 14 September:
“
Sitka: by far the best port of our Alaska cruise and one of the most beautiful
places we have even seen (and we saw a lot!). The weather was gorgeous, and
the place looked like Paradise. We organised our independent tour, with Davey
Lubin, and I cannot recommend him enough. We were on the Esther G, of course,
with four other people plus him, and we had a jolly time. We followed the
whales and orcas, saw lots of cormorants, seals, starfish on the rocks, and
on and on. It was a very personalised tour, we felt free to explore the area
with our new friend at the helm. He was very informative, professional but
fun at the same time, and we enjoyed his company and his tour enormously.
Seeing the local fauna with him felt adventurous and not “standardised” as
many other tours prove to be. We stayed outside most of the time, enjoying
the sun, the crisp air, the occasional sea spray lifted by the boat and the
incomparable beauty of nature. The whole effect of speed and nature was intoxicating.
Breathtaking. We also greatly enjoyed the break, when we were offered the
most delicious home-made cookies imaginable. We almost felt like family.
This was definitely a highlight of our trip. On arrival back to the harbour,
we saw two huge sea lions swimming just next to our boat. A nice good-bye,
hopefully not a final farewell.
Cris & Rob -
Hertfordshire, U.K.
Thank you so very much for the wonderful evening tour, My out-of-town family
loved their time with you. Our niece was especially impressed since she’d
never seen anything like this before in her life. They appreciated learning
all about the whales and their habitat and will never forget the whale breath!!
You truly made their October trip to Sitka a memorable one. Thank you for
your generosity, enthusiasm and kindness.
Carole Denkinger -
Sitka, Alaska
Thanks a million for being who you are and doing what you do for the resource
with such authenticity! Of the 3 weeks we spent in Southeast Alaska, our
adventure with Capt. Davey was the best! It wasn’t just the AMAZING
diversity of wildlife we saw that day that made the trip fun and exciting,
but also the capability and enthusiasm of the Captain. Capt. Davey is an
exceptional guide because his passion for the sea and its creatures is
so immense, it’s contagious! His deep appreciation and knowledge
of these waters is extremely apparent and profoundly inspiring! Thanks,
Capt. Davey for such an awesome day that will stand out in our hearts for
a lifetime! And thanks again to your wife for sharing her cookies! My memory
of them is as clear as the breeching humpback!
Much gratitude,
Theresa Doumitt and Mark Szczypinski -
Jackson, Tennessee
Thanks again for an incredible tour, it was certainly the highlight for us!
Karen and Jamie Meyer -
Midlothian, Virginia
Thank you so much for the great tour of the waters and wildlife around Sitka.
You are a true professional and very knowledgeable about the environment
you live in. My wife and I felt right at home for the more than 3 hours
we spent on your very well-kept boat. Our experience on your tour will
be remembered for life. Hope to get back there again.
Ken & Karen Tymecki -
Long Island, New York
Thank you! for the wonderful trip. It truly was wonderful, one that we will
always remember.
Julie Sutton -
San Francisco, California
As promised by a couple of desert rat land lubbers, please find attached
the picture of Sea Otters we saw while you sailed us around the Sitka Sound
during the last week of August. We were visiting Sitka as a port of call
while on the Statendam. We had the best time on your tour. Thanks again!
Rick & Donna Brown -
Phoenix, Arizona
We're still reliving our excitement and the joy associated with our Alaska
trip and thanking you again for all your friendship, for a wonderful trip
and for your kindness to us.
Dave and Barb Sparling -
Tacoma, Washington
I certainly enjoyed your trip and would recommend the experience to anyone.
I hope the whale ID picture helps to identify the very cooperative humpback
whale we saw.
Marvin Price, Professional Photographer -
Marietta, Georgia