The Boat

High Spirits is a luxurious 60ft U.S. Coast Guard certified and inspected vessel that can hold 49 passengers plus crew. There is a lot of space on the bow and plenty of room indoors if you need a break from the weather. It is the only vessel the bay with an upper deck that is accessible to passengers—the perfect vantage point for spotting wildlife and taking great pictures. We have a snack bar on board which serves hot and cold items, and a “Kid’s Corner” with books and toys for the little ones. It is non-smoking.

Limiting Our Effects on the Ocean

High Spirits now runs on a cleaner-burning biodiesel blend: more enviornmentally friendly and it smells great! Not only that, our engine's noise is muffled below deck. So little noise, you can hear the whales breathe!

Our Mission

Blue Ocean Whale Watch was designed to provide a unique experience for whale enthusiasts. We have a great respect for wildlife and do everything we can to accommodate our passengers. As owners and operators of our business, we create an upbeat environment for everyone who steps on board. We don’t talk at you but with you, because we are all about involving our passengers in the experience. We always keep in mind that the ocean belongs to it’s creatures, we are there to observe and appreciate-- not interfere.

jim davis photo capatin of high spirits

Backstory

Captain Jim Davis and Kate Cummings decided to team up and launch Blue Ocean Whale Watch after working together in the summer of 2010. It was an amazing summer, drawing people from around the world to witness the stunning number of blue and humpback whales feeding in Monterey Bay! Jim and Kate proved to be a phenomenal team. Passengers were impressed with Jim's ability to navigate carefully around the whales, and were moved by Kate's knowledge and passion for these amazing mammals of the sea. We are sure you’ll feel the same when you meet them on our luxurious vessel High Spirits. We are waiting for you on board!

kate cummings, naturalist at blue ocean whale watch

Jim Davis, Captain

Captain Jim Davis sailed and cruised most of the oceans of the world for the last 32 years. His life on the seas began when he joined the Naval Academy and then spent years in active service as a Navy Officer for the NATO forces and then as a Coast Guard Commander. A certified diver, Capt. Davis' resume also includes 2 Atlantic crossings, a solo sailing trip from California to Costa Rica, semi-submersible operations at Catalina Island and finally a whale watch boat captain in the Monterey Bay area of California.

Kate Cummings, Naturalist

Kate completed her degree at UC Santa Cruz while volunteering with marine centers and researchers. Through experience, she quickly became an expert on the Monterey Bay and began narrating whale watching tours. She still enjoys volunteering and often helps researchers out on the water and on land helping with after school programs teaching kids the importance of studying marine life and keeping the oceans clean. She has a passion for learning and staying informed, so passengers receive the most up-to-date knowledge on the tours.

Kate takes pictures on each cruise to document sightings and also gets ID photos to track individual whales. Whale watches are a perfect venue for photographers, especially on our boat with our observation deck. Kate took this photo and it’s featured on National Geographic’s daily dozen page! Follow this link (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/daily-dozen) and click on “June-- Week 5”.

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