The deep water canyon that defines the underwater topography of the Monterey Bay creates ideal conditions for a wide variety of pelagic as well as nearshore species and offers incredible wildlife viewing opportunities year round. Come join us for an unforgettable experience as we sail in search of the many species that make the waters of Monterey Bay their home or pass through in migration. In season we regularly see Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, Gray Whales, Killer Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Northern Right Whale Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins, Long-beaked Common Dolphins and Dall's Porpoises. With a little luck we also find Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Harbor Porpoises, Bottlenose Dolphins, Baird's Beaked Whales and Cuvier's Beaked Whales. Sea Otters, California Sea Lions and Harbor Seals are also regularly seen and Northern Elephant Seals, Northern Fur Seals and Steller Sea Lions sometimes put in an appearance. We also see fishes like Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) and Blue Sharks, Leatherback Turtles and we encounter a variety of seabirds on our trips, including the majestic Black-footed Albatross. Our three vessels, the Blackfin, the Sea Wolf II, and the Point Sur Clipper are piloted by the most experienced captains on the Bay who are also marine biologists. There is a fully stocked snack bar aboard the boats. You can round out your trip with a visit to our eclectic souvenir shop on the wharf. We also often have one of our professional photographers on board who will offer photos from your trip for sale in the shop once we return back to the wharf. In addition to sharing these amazing encounters with our passengers, we collect valuable scientific data on abundance, distribution and behaviors of the many species we encounter. We publish some of the data ourselves in scientific journals and share it with other researchers. From April through mid-December we offer multiple daily trips in search of Humpback Whales, Blue whales, a variety of dolphin species, and other marine creatures. The morning trips depart at 9AM and 10AM and return between 1PM and 2PM. The afternoon trip departs at either 130PM and 230PM and returns between 4PM and 5PM
From mid-December through March we run a four-hour trip and 3-hour trip each day in search of Gray whales and other marine creatures, departing at 10AM and 2:30PM. We also offer many 8+ hour All Day Trips! People are always asking how to dress:
FOOTWEAR: Sensible footwear, waterproof if possible. No, spike-heels are not recommended. HATS: Almost required, the sun (even on a foggy day) can be damaging. PANTS: Something water resistant/proof. Skirts are not recommended. JACKET: Again, something water resistant/proof. The temperature on the ocean is 10-15 degrees colder than at the pier. That combined with wind chill can result in "it feels like" 40's. Remember to dress in layers. You can always take a layer off if you are too warm, but if you don't have an extra layer to put on you may get cold. Getting cold and seasickness lead our complaint department. We recommend that IF YOU EVEN THINK you might become ill, take something ahead of time. Sea sick medication is not a cure, it is a preventative. We recommend taking Meclizine rather than dramamine as it is less drowsy. We recommend taking one pill the night before your trip, and then another pill the day of your trip about an hour prior to departure. CAMERAS: There are limited outlets to charge batteries located on the lower deck, but they should be charged ahead of time. Waterproof covers/cases are recommended to have on hand in case of heavy fog or sea spray during a windy trip. AND REMEMBER: Every trip is it's own treasure! THIS IS NOT SEAWORLD! The animals provide the entertainment on their own timetable. The show begins when they want and ends when they want. We cannot predict what trip is going to be "the one". One thing we can predict is that if you don't go you will not see anything! Visit our website gowhales.com or call us at 831-375-4658 for more information.
