Blue Ocean Whale Watching

Whale Watching Monterey

'As usual, at the end
of the trip our faces
hurt from smiling'

'They have a fan in me for life'

'I never knew there was such
a rich abundance of marine life
just minutes offshore'

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Blue Ocean Whale Watch

The Best Whale Watching in Monterey Bay

The Monterey Bay attracts thousands of tourists each year with many of them wildlife lovers. Whether visiting for a day trip or in the area on vacation, whale watching is one of the best activities to choose when looking for things to do in Monterey, CA.

A Monterey Bay whale watching trip with Blue Ocean Whale Watch is the perfect activity for families, ecotourists, and photographers. We’re the company to choose if you’re looking for a tourist activity in Monterey Bay that isn’t too “touristy”. Our high-quality tours depart from Moss Landing Harbor, which is halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey – at the heart of the Monterey Bay and the closest port to the nutrient-rich Monterey Submarine Canyon.

Monterey Bay whale watching tours are becoming more and more popular, so make sure you book your trip in advance; or you can always opt for a chartered whale watching cruise around the Monterey Bay area and enjoy some of the best whale watching in the world.

A California sea lion enjoys a rockfish in Monterey bay

Monterey Bay Whale Watching Trips

What Wildlife am I likely to see?

It’s June 2021 here in Monterey Bay! Humpback whales are being observed daily (lots of mom & calf pairs!) as well as dolphin sightings on the majority of trips. Giant ocean sunfish as well as several jelly species are a common sight these days! We also have the chance of seeing killer whales, blue whales, and fin whales this time of year.

ALL YEAR-ROUND:

Killer Whales, Risso’s Dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Northern right-whale dolphins, Dall’s porpoise, harbor porpoise, bottlenose dolphins, Mola molas (giant ocean sunfish), jellies, sea otters, California sea lions, harbor seals, and local and migratory birds.

SPRING:

Humpback Whales and Gray Whales

SUMMER:

Humpback Whales and Blue Whales

FALL:

Humpback Whales and Blue Whales

WINTER:

Gray Whales and Common Dolphins

Why choose Blue Ocean?

Whale Watching in Monterey Bay at its Best

We know you have a choice when arranging your whale watching trip in Monterey Bay. Here are some of the main reasons to choose Blue Ocean:

A knowledgeable and skilled crew who love what they do
Owner-operated
Excellent wildlife spotters
Deep respect for ocean and its inhabitants
Doesn’t feel “touristy” – we’re the boat locals choose
Reduced capacity for better viewing and a more intimate experience
Comfortable outdoor and indoor space for breaks from the elements
Quiet and smooth ride due to our boat’s design

OUR ADVANTAGE

Beginning our whale watching tours from Moss Landing Harbor is a huge advantage compared to other ports in the bay because we’re closest to the start of the Monterey Submarine Canyon.

Monterey Bay attracts such a great quantity and variety of marine life because of the upwelling that draws the cold, nutrient-rich waters up from the submarine canyon.

DON'T MISS OUT! BOOK A MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCHING TRIP WITH BLUE OCEAN

Be sure to reserve your tickets in advance as most trips sell out

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Trusted Reviews

Check out our independent real reviews on Trip Advisor, Google places & Yelp.

Our Trip Advisor rating is 5 out of 5!

We also have loads of testimonials from clients who have been on the Monterey whale watching trips.

Still not convinced? How about having a read through our blog posts where we list the days events and you can see all the photos of the days action: -)

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Real Testimonials

‘My husband, 2.5 year old and I went on their 2.19.2011 Maiden Voyage. The owners are amicable, personable, warm and knowledgeable people that made us as comfortable as they could. Our son has not stopped talking about the “big boat” since we came home and it was fun to see the orcas so up close! We will take a trip with them again in the future.’

SarahMarina, CA

‘Great trip! Very nice boat. Captain Jim and Kate were terrific as well as the volunteer crew! Guaranteed whale sightings or your next trip is free. Fun trip all around. We only saw dolphins on our trip, no whales, so as advertised, Captain Jim and Kate invited us to come back for another trip at no charge. You won’t find this level of customer service anywhere else! We highly recomend Blue Ocean Whale Watch!’

May 2011

‘I’ve been on many whale watching trips on other boats on Monterey Bay over the years. I liked this one the best by far. The staff were really genuinely nice and knowledgable, without the “we’re so cool attitude” I’ve experienced with other companies. And this boat was the most comfortable. And unlike the companies running out of Monterey, you get to park right in front of the boat. Very easy, especially with kids.’

PatSanta Cruz, CA

‘My first official whale watching experience and could not have asked for anything better…weather was perfect, boat was a sweet sturdy 60′ Chris Craft with plenty of space and vantages. Very friendly, experienced and accommodating crew. Saw some Gray whales, lots of otters, jellies, sea lions, kelp forests and various fish. Highly recommend Blue Ocean and definitely plan on doing another venture with them in the future.’

CorySan Fransisco, CA

‘We saw much more than we expected. In the 80s we saw no whales and no dolphins either. We saw many gray whales and tons of dolphins of a few varieties. I’m glad I went with this company. We had a variety of places to go–the wheelhouse, up on the upper deck with seating, the bow, with seating, or the rear deck, or you could go below. The boat was really comfortable and the captain and naturalist were really nice. We will use Blue Ocean again this summer–our parents want to go out. Great company.’

March 2011

Excellent for Photographers

Photograph Whale watching Trips

Our trips are ideal for getting that perfect photograph or video of whales in action. Our boat has very high observation deck helping you to get the best photos of whales in Monterey bay and beyond!

Many people only take photos using their mobile phone or tablet and get stunning results.