A whale watching excursion near Deception Pass went terribly awry Thursday night when the vessel ran aground.

The 65-foot passenger vessel, Island Explorer II from Island Adventures in Anacortes, was traveling south of Deception Island at approximately 8 p.m. when the boat struck rocks submerged at high tide.

Jack Harrt, Deception Pass State Park manager, heard about the accident after a passenger on the boat, one of 52, relayed the news to a significant other via cell phone.