About Salish Sea Now and Then..
Salish Sea: Now & Then explores the region’s past and present through photography, revealing the changing landscapes, shorelines and coastlines of the Pacific Northwest.
From time immemorial to present day join me in comparing past and present images from Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and northwards into British Columbia.
Where is the Salish Sea?
The Salish Sea extends from south Puget Sound to Neah Bay on the Strait of Juan de Fuca and northwards up Vancouver Island to Campbell River, BC.
Learn more here, (link from the SeaDoc Society)
About Me - Rob Casey..
Growing up in Seattle I’ve always been a history nerd since my youth, fascinated by the coastal defense forts along Puget Sound.
In the late 1970’s at Marrowstone Music Camp my buddies and I spent more time hiding from our instructors in the gun emplacements and bunkers of Fort Flagler than playing music.
For the past 25 years I’ve been a frequent paddler along the shores of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. My water time renewed curiosity about previous cultures, old forts and coastal ghost towns thus increasing my interest to research the shoreline history of these areas.
My interest in shoreline history led me to giving a talk to the Ballard Elks Paddling Club in 2019 about the history of where we paddle in Seattle’s Salmon and Shilshole Bays.
In 2020 my friend Ian Miller in Port Angeles and (WA Sea Grant) approached me with an interest to start a blog showcasing old and new photos of local shorelines. Joined by Shanon Dell of Sequim, we started Washington Shorelines Now and Then.
Photographer, Paddle Coach & Guidebook Author
Since the early 1990’s I’ve been a photographer shooting for editorial and commercial clients. Some of my fine art “Miniatures” work were purchased by Elton John and Disney back in the day. These days I focus on conservation, travel and the outdoors.
Conservation is important to me mostly regarding keeping beaches clean of beach debris (trash). For over a decade I’ve been picking up debris and arranging the items of each find into still-life images to bring attention to that issue.
I started paddling in 2000 and with a passion for the water, I started looking for ways to work on the water. In 2010 I started my paddling school Salmon Bay Paddle in Seattle offering surf ski and sup lessons.
Soon after I updated the first book on sup “Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers” for Mountaineers Books. In 2012, I updated the the 3rd edition of “Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans” also for Mountaineers Books.
In 2024, I updated the prior book which was released with a new more inclusive title “Paddling the Salish Sea 80 Trips” with new photos, an enlarged format and 23 new trips. The book recently won a Silver IPPY award for guidebooks.
I recently presented the book to several bookstores and outdoor clubs such as Village Books in Bellingham, REI Seattle and the Cascadians in Yakima. I’ll be keynote speaker for the Everett Mountaineers Gala in November 2025.
Check out my other SubStack page ‘Paddling the Salish Sea” which explores my book trips, new trips, Salish Sea history and paddling and photo gear for local travels.
I’ve recently contributed to ExploreNW Magazine for a travel piece on cafes you can paddle to in the San Juan Islands. Should be out June-July 2025.
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