North of this narrow passage is Fidalgo Island, named for the Spanish explorer Lieutenant Salvador Fidalgo. South of it is Whidbey Island, the second largest island in the contiguous 48 states, which Captain George Vancouver, while exploring this region in 1792, first thought to be a peninsula. His further exploration disclosed the existence of this intricate channel. After realizing that he had been deceived about the character of the large island, Vancouver named the channel Deception Passage and honored his trusted officer Joseph Whidbey in the island's name.