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Monterey Bay Whale Watch - whale watching off Monterey, Moss Landing, Carmel

Monterey Bay
Whale Watch
is named the
BEST WHALE
WATCH TOUR
IN CALIFORNIA

by Orange
County Outdoors


Hotel Packages
are available

Click for details

Pelagic seabird Trips off Monterey and Moss Landing - click to learn more

Read about
Monterey Bay Whale
Watch in the News


Check out our
Killer Whale
Photo Gallery
Click for Killer Whale Photo Gallery

Click for Killer Whale Photo Gallery

DOG FRIENDLY
Well-behaved dogs are
welcome on our trips.

Dog watching a whale on Monterey Bay Whale Watch trip


Click to
find out about
School Trips

If you have mobility issues,
please contact our shop
prior to making a reservation
to go over your options.

Please also note that we will
be at least an hour away
from medical care.


Monterey Bay Whale Watch listed in
"Top 5 American Whale-Watching Tours"

by Joshua Horwitz!

"There are many whale-watching operations in Monterey Bay, but few can claim to be owned by marine biologists. The tours at Monterey Bay Whale Watch focus on learning about the whales and their environment, as well as conserving their habitat and being respectful towards them as living beings — the same of which cannot be said for many other local companies. Monterey Bay Whale Watch leaves you with an intensely deep respect and love for the animals you (almost certainly) observe".

Joshua Horwitz is the author of War Of The Whales, which narrates the battle between conservationists and the U.S. military over the use of high-intensity sonar in whale habitats. This wonderful compliment makes us very proud!



Monterey Bay Whale Watch is Observation Post #9 on Journey North, which tracks the northward migration of gray whales and other species.

This website features sightings and news provided by observers at observation posts along the entire gray whale migration route from Baja California to northern Alaska.

MONTEREY BAY
WHALE WATCH

831-375-4658

 

Whale Watching Tours led by Marine Biologists,
focusing on data collection, education, and
conservation of the wildlife in Monterey Bay.
 
We have been studying killer whales for over 30 years and have worked with
Netflix, NatGeo, BBC, and AppleTV on multiple documentaries.

 
 
Click to learn about whale watching trips
Winter/early spring whale watching trip featuring Gray Whales and Dolphins Summer/fall whale watching trip featuring Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Orcas and Dolphins Click to learn about whale watching trips

 

 


4-hour 9 a.m. and 3-hour 1:30 p.m. trips
are available every day.
4-hour 10 a.m. & 3-hour 2:30 p.m. trips and
8-hour 8 a.m. trips are available on some days.

For best viewing conditions we recommend the
eight-hour or four-hour morning tours, which
provide more time to spend with the whales
and dolphins, in addition to increasing chances
of encountering rarer wildlife such as orcas and
blue whales.

Masks are no longer required when getting on and
off the boat and in the galley. We have returned to
normal capacity and procedures, but we are
still sanitizing the boat frequently.

 


Read
Customer
Comments

 
 
Monterey Bay Whale Watch Center, photo by Sebastian Gorgol




November 3, 2024 - Daily Mail: Mysterious clicking sounds reveal rare apex predator lurking in California: 'Sounded like a human machine'


October 11, 2024 - SFGATE: Killer whales spotted doing seemingly 'cruel' act by Central California coast


September 30, 2024 - The Sacramento Bee: 'Incredible’ orca invasion awes boaters as four whale pods swarm California bay


September 23, 2024 - The Sacramento Bee: Two of the oldest known orcas - a mother and son - spotted off California. See them



August 2024 feature stories about Killer Whales:

August 26, 2024 - KSBW8 Action News: Video: Group of orcas spotted in Monterey Bay

August 26, 2024 - The Sacramento Bee: Massive sea creatures hunting prey put on show for onlookers off CA, photos show



Aug. 7, 2024 - A Fox26News interview with Colleen Talty - Monterey Bay is a whale watching hotspot this summer



April 2024 feature stories about Killer Whales hunting Minke Whale:

April 3, 2024 - KTLA 5 News: 'Extremely Rare': Orcas seen hunting minke whale off California coast

April 3, 2024 - The Sacramento Bee: Orca pods combine to hunt sea creature off California. See ‘once in a lifetime’ video



Jan. 24, 2024 - The Sacramento Bee reports on Killer Whales rapidly approaching boat - Watch as four killer whales — including a baby — torpedo toward tourist boat in CA


Jan. 1, 2024 - The Sacramento Bee reports on baby Killer Whale viewed from Monterey Bay Whale Watch boat - 'Adorable’ baby killer whale plays and swims off Northern California coast


Dec. 11, 2023 - The Sacramento Bee reports on Killer Whale predation on Minke Whale - Boaters witness ‘incredible’ moment 17 predators hunt creature in rare encounter


Nov. 27, 2023 - Los Angeles Times reports on rare Killer Whale activity - Killer whale punts a sea lion 20 feet in the air to show calf how it’s done


Nov. 6, 2023 - Sacramento Bee reports on unusual behavior of Humpback Whale calf - Baby sea creature plays with sea lions as CA boaters watch in awe


Nov. 1, 2023 - The Advocate of Contra Costa College reports on Ric O'Barry's visit to Monterey Bay and the Monterey Bay Whale Watch fundraiser for The Dolphin Project - Dolphin Project activist visits Monterey Bay


rare white Killer Whale FrostyOct. 2023 feature stories about the rare white Killer Whale as seen by Monterey Bay Whale Watch crew and passengers:

Oct. 20 - The Carmel Pine Cone: Rare albino killer whale seen Sunday in bay

Oct. 19 - People: Whale Watchers Stunned by Sighting of 'Super Rare' White Orca Named Frosty

Oct. 17 - USA Today: Watch: ‘Super rare’ white orca hunts with pod off Monterey

Oct. 17 - SF Chronicle : ‘Striking white’: An unusual orca calf was seen swimming in Monterey Bay

Oct. 16 - KSBW 8 Action News: Video: Rare all-white killer whale spotted in the Monterey Bay

Oct. 16 - Fox 11 Los Angeles: White Killer Whale spotted hunting with pod in Monterey Bay


August 4, 2023 - The Sacramento Bee reports on offshore Killer Whales spotted on Monterey Bay Whale Watch trip - 'Elusive' creatures - known for hunting sharks - spotted in rare California encounter


July 9, 2023 - SFGATE reports on sighting of Cuvier's Beaked Whales on Monterey Bay Whale Watch trip - 'Incredibly rare sighting' of beaked whale in Monterey Bay


June 2023 feature stories about very large group of Killer Whales:
(Note that SF Chronicle articles may require a subscription.)

June 30, 2023 - CBS8: Rare video shows pod of 30 killer whales playing, socializing off California coast

June 15, 2023 - Business Insider: Some of the 30 killer whales captured doing flips and playing near boats in California were the same orcas that attacked a pair of gray whales and tried to eat them alive

June 13, 2023 - The Guardian: Whale of a time: pod of 30 orcas bring killer moves to a California bay

June 12, 2023 - SF Chronicle: Video shows largest group of Killer Whales yet off California Coast


June 2023 feature stories about Killer Whales attacking Sea Lions:
(Note that SF Chronicle articles may require a subscription.)

June 7, 2023 - Los Angeles Times: Two dozen killer whales spotted celebrating a hunt off the San Francisco coast

June 6, 2023 - SF Chronicle: Video shows new group of Killer whales devouring sea lions on California coast

June 1, 2023 - SF Chronicle: Unusually large group of killer whales is hunting off California's coast. Their method is 'pretty brutal'


April 2023 feature stories about survival of orphan whale Aria:

April 19, 2023 - NBC Bay Area News video: Orphan Whale Spotted in Monterey Bay

April 19, 2023 - Mercury News: A ship killed her celebrity mother. How Aria the orphan whale survived to play in Monterey Bay


April 2023 feature stories about killer whales attacking adult gray whales:

April 4, 2023 - SF Chronicle: Whale attack video: Watch dramatic footage of orcas wrestling with migrating gray whales

April 4, 2023 - NBC Bay Area: Drone Footage Captures Pod of Orcas Attacking Two Gray Whales in Monterey Bay

April 4, 2023 - Daily Mail (UK): Gruesome moment two gray whales are forced to fend off ferocious attack from THIRTY killer whales in five-hour battle off California coast

April 4, 2023 - CNN: Drone footage captures rare whale attack

April 3, 2023 - KSBW 8 Action News: Drone footage captures orcas attacking gray whales in the Monterey Bay

April 2, 2023 - SFGATE: Rare footage shows 30 orcas attacking whales in Monterey Bay


March 2023 feature stories about rare North Pacific Right Whale sighting in Monterey Bay:

March 13, 2023 - SFGATE: Critically endangered whale spotted in Monterey Bay

March 8, 2023 - The Mercury News: Rare endangered whale glimpsed in Monterey Bay

March 6, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle: Rare North Pacific Right Whale spotted in Monterey Bay Sunday morning

March 6, 2023 - KSBW Action News 8: North Pacific Right Whale spotted in Monterey Bay Sunday morning

March 5, 2023 - KION46: Rare North Pacific Right Whale sighting in Monterey Bay


Dog Skipper encountering humpback whaleNov. 2022 feature stories about the dog Skipper observing a whale from a Monterey Bay Whale Watch boat:

Nov. 8 - DailyPaws.com: Curious Aussie Meets Super-friendly Humpback Whales up Close in Viral Video

Nov. 3 - Newsweek: Watch the adorable moment dog meets a friendly humpback whale

Nov. 2 - USA Today: Watch: Curious dog enjoys close encounter with 'friendly' whale

Nov. 1 - KTLA 5 News: Dog meets friendly whale on whale watching excursion in Monterey



See a spectacular video of two pods of Killer Whales in Monterey Bay in 2019..



See Additional News items below.


One of the best things to do in Monterey is to join one of the whale watching trips offered year-round by Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
These trips allow you to observe the spectacular diversity and abundance of whales and dolphins inhabiting the Bay. Monterey is the best place in the nation to view a variety of marine mammals and seabirds. The Monterey Submarine Canyon approaches close to the shore at Moss Landing, allowing deep water species of whales, dolphins, and seabirds to occur near the coast. Shallow water species, such as the Gray Whale, are found very close to shore in the narrow shelf region.

Depending on the season, whales and dolphins that are frequently observed include Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins, Northern Right Whale Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Killer Whales, and Dall's Porpoise. We occasionally spot Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Harbor Porpoise, Bottlenose Dolphins, and Beaked Whales.

Our captains have over 20 years of experience with nature trips and offer excellent views of marine wildlife. All our trips are led by marine biologists, most with 10+ years experience, who fully narrate and answer questions during trips. Our whale watching trips are educationally oriented and our biologists collect valuable data on the marine mammals sighted during these trips, including distribution, relative abundance, and behavior of whales and dolphins. We also photo-identify individual whales and dolphins, contributing to assessments of population, residency patterns, and migration or movement patterns.

We are unique in that we are the only whale watching group that has marine biologists on all trips, offers trips in Monterey Bay on a regular basis, schedules trip lengths depending on the season to allow enough time to watch whales and other marine life, and has the most skilled captains who know where to find whales and how to approach them. There is a world of difference between our quality trips and shorter trips offered by others, providing merely a quick glimpse of a whale with no information. That's why we are considered the best of the whale watches in Monterey Bay!

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Captain/Marine
Biologist & owner
Nancy Black

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PRIVATE CHARTERS AND
EXTENDED TRIPS

In addition to our Daily Regular Whale Watch Trips, we offer
Private Charters,
8-hour All Day Trips and
12-hour Full Day trips.

The Private Charter trips
are custom trips tailored
to your interests, led by
a marine biologist.


The 8-hr and 12-hr extended trips allow plenty of time for searching a larger area to view & photograph a wide variety of marine mammals, birds & other sealife.

The trips are led by biologist, Killer Whale expert, and Captain / Naturalist Nancy Black, and/or other experienced marine biologists.
8-hour All Day whale watching trips
8-hour All Day
Whale Watch Trips
To allow more time than the
standard trips, we're offering
8-hour All Day Trips on
selected days


12-hour Full Day whale watching trips
12-hour Full Day
Whale Watch Trips
These full day trips are much longer than our normal trips, and have the most flexibility to cover more area and spend more time with wildlife. Learn about the 12-hour Full Day Trips on selected days
July through October



Killer Whales
Killer Whale Season
Whale Watch Trips

We offer special
8-hour trips during the spring (April & May) when
Killer Whale sightings are
more frequent.

These extended trips allow plenty of time for searching a larger area to view & photograph a wide variety of marine mammals, birds & other sealife. This often includes Humpback Whales, several species of dolphins and other whale types.

Most trips are led by biologist, Killer Whale expert, and Captain / Naturalist Nancy Black, and/or other experienced marine biologists.

Learn more about the Killer Whale Season Whale Watch trips.

 

Learn more about Monterey Bay Whale Watch on this video:

 

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Monterey Bay Whale Watch in the News and on TV Specials:
   
    November 2022 - Interview about Humpback Whale calf
    First ever documented newborn humpback whale calf seen off Monterey coast (KSBW Action News 8, November 21, 2022)
    November 2022 - Interview about dead Fin Whale
    Dead fin whale found on Monterey State Beach (KION News Channel 46, November 21, 2022)
   
    October 2022 - Humpback Whales interact with Killer Whales
    Humpback Whales Spotted Charging Orca Trying to Hunt in Monterey Bay (Newsweek, October 4, 2022)
   
    September 2022 - Humpback Whales interact with crew and passengers
    'Very rare' encounter with 3 humpback whales captured on video off the coast of Monterey (KTLA5 News, September 7, 2022)
    Humpback Whales Put on Show for Whale Watchers Off Monterey (NBC Bay Area, September 7, 2022)
   
    July 2022 - Nancy Black and Alisa Schulman-Janigar were involved in Radiolab podcast.
    The Humpback and the Killer (July 29, 2022)
   
    April 2022 - Monterey Bay Whale Watch and Nancy Black are featured in Part 4 of Our Great National Parks, narrated by Barack Obama and available for streaming on Netflix.
    Our Great National Parks (April 13, 2022)
   
    October 2021 - Monterey Bay Whale Watch and Nancy Black are mentioned in a Mercury News article
    Rare white dolphin – 'Casper' – spotted days before Halloween in Monterey Bay (Mercury News, October 30, 2021)
   
    August 2021 - Monterey Bay Whale Watch and Nancy Black are mentioned in travel articles
    Rare 90-foot blue whales spotted in Monterey Bay - and humpbacks are jumping, too (Tom Stienstra, August 20, 2021)
    Why Monterey is the Serengeti of marine life (National Geographic, August 12, 2021)
   
    March 2021 - Colleen Talty is quoted in a KION News feature.
    Casper Spotting: The search for the elusive white dolphin (KION, March 14, 2021)
   
    February 2021 - Nancy Black is quoted in a USA Today article about extraordinary Killer Whale behavior.
    Orcas play with stinging jellies 'like a dog plays with a ball' (USA Today, Feb. 9, 2021)
   
   

Feb. 6, 2021 - Underwater photos of Orca, by Tony Kallman.
Left and middle photos with Sea Nettle.

Killer Whale with Sea Nettls   Orca with Sea Nettle   Killer Whale
   
    January 2021 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in articles and TV news stories.
    Ross' Epic Whale Watching Adventure. (NBC Los Angeles California Live video, Jan. 29, 2021)
    Humpback Intervenes at Crime Scene, Returns Next Day with Friend - Never before witnessed: humpback whales investigate gray whale calf carcass. (Safina Center, Jan. 20, 2021)
   
    December 2020 - Nancy Black is quoted in a Mercury News article about a major wildlife success story.
    What’s behind the big increase in porpoises off Northern California? (Mercury News, Dec. 2, 2020)
   
    September 2020 - Nancy Black is quoted in a Mercury News article featuring a drone video.
    Orca whale pod frolics in kelp bed near Pebble Beach. (Mercury News, Sept. 1, 2020)
   
   

Dolphin encounterMay 2020 - See and listen to a dolphin encounter in this underwater video clip including dolphin sounds recorded using our hydrophone.

   
    May 2020 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in articles and TV news stories.
    'Frosty,' the white killer whale, pays a visit to Monterey Bay. (Monterey Herald, May 17, 2020)
    Technology allows you to have fun exploring Monterey Bay from home. (KRON TV, May 9, 2020)
   
    February 2020 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in articles and TV news stories about sightings in Monterey Bay.
    Orcas spotted early in Monterey Bay (KSBW, February 19, 2020)
    Unusual dolphins and whales team up for feeding frenzy in Monterey Bay. (Mercury News, February 13, 2020)
   
    January 2020 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in articles and TV news stories about sightings in Monterey Bay.
    Rare whale sightings surprise sightseers in Monterey Bay (SFGATE, January 27, 2020)
    VIDEO: Dolphins and whales splash around in the Monterey Bay (KSBW, January 23, 2020)
   
    September 2019 - Nancy Black was interviewed for a USA Today article about a group of older female Killer Whales.
    Orcas dubbed 'Golden Girls' grab spotlight off Monterey (USA Today, Sept. 13, 2019)
   
    June 2019 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in articles and TV news stories about Killer Whale visitors from the northwest.
    Pod of Killer Whales Makes Rare Visit to Monterey Bay (New York Times, June 22, 2019)
    A pod of killer whales — with a new calf — swims into Monterey Bay for the first time (Los Angeles Times, June 20, 2019)
    Rare killer whale pod spotted in Monterey Bay (KRON4 TV, June 20, 2019)
    Pod of 'very playful' killer whales from NW spotted in Monterey Bay — for the first time ever (San Luis Obispo Tribune, June 20, 2019)
    June 2019 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in news stories about rare Baird's Beaked Whales.
    'Most mysterious of all whales': Rare, weird-looking whales spotted off Monterey coast (SFGATE, June 4, 2019)
    Rare Sighting of Baird's Beaked Whales in Monterey Bay (KTVU, June 2, 2019)
   
    April 28, 2019 - Nancy Black is quoted in an article about Killer Whales attacking a Gray Whale calf.
    Graphic video shows killer whales attacking, killing gray whale calf in Monterey Bay (KRON4, April 28, 2019)
    April 27, 2019 - Nancy Black and a Monterey Bay Whale Watch video about Killer Whales tossing a salmon into the air and chasing seabirds were featured in a news article.
    Very rare sighting of killer whales in Monterey Bay (KRON4, April 27, 2019)
    April 2019 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in articles and TV news stories about Killer Whales from Puget Sound.
    Video: Killer Whales from Puget sound visit Monterey Bay
     Very Rare Sighting! Southern Resident Killer Whales In Monterey Bay, 35-40+ critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales - including L Pod members - a three-month-old calf (only the second encounter filmed) and several juveniles. They are most often seen in Puget Sound; we first spotted them in Monterey Bay in 2000, and last confirmed here in 2011. Fantastic to see these salmon-eaters here again! (Video taken with high zoom lenses and cropped to show detail). Filmed by FAA licensed drone pilot Mike Kauffmann.
    Endangered killer whales make an appearance in Monterey Bay (San Jose Mercury News, April 5, 2019)
    Washington-based killer whales seen in Monterey Bay appear to have left (Monterey Herald, April 4, 2019)
    Endangered pod of killer whales spotted in Monterey Bay — for the first time in 8 years (San Luis Obispo Tribune, April 2, 2019)
    Puget Sound’s southern-resident orcas wow Monterey Bay, California, in rare sighting (Seattle Times, April 1, 2019)
    Famous pod of orcas seen in Monterey Bay for first time since 2011 (SFGATE, April 1, 2019)
    'Lucky,' the newest southern resident orca calf, seen swimming off California coast (Q13Fox, April 1, 2019)
    Endangered orcas venture south in desperate hunt for salmon (USA Today, April 1, 2019)
   
    March 2019 - A Monterey Bay Whale Watch video was featured in a yahoo news article
    Lone Orca Swims With Dolphins and Humpback Whales in Monterey Bay (uk.news.yahoo.com, March 19, 2019) Title correction: The Orca and dolphins were in different areas.
   
    January 2019 - Nancy Black was quoted in an SFGATE article about a newborn gray whale
    Rare newborn gray whale seen migrating through Monterey Bay (SFGATE, January 18, 2019)
   
    August 2018 - Nancy Black was quoted in an SFGATE article about Blue Whales
    Blue whale sightings spike off California coast (SFGATE, August 16, 2018)
   
    May 2018 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in an article about Killer Whales
    Watch killer whales take body surfing to the next level in Monterey Bay (SFGATE, May 8, 2018)
   
    April 2018 - Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured in articles and TV news stories about Killer Whales.
    Record number of killer whales show up to feast in Monterey Bay (SFGATE, April 27, 2018)
    Orcas hunt gray whale calves in Monterey Bay (KSBW, April 20, 2018)
    Tourists watch stunned as killer whales hunt, eat gray whale calves in Monterey Bay (SFGATE, April 17, 2018)
    Killer whale season in the Monterey Bay (Monterey Herald, April 13, 2018)
   
    March 2018 - Monterey Bay Whale Watch drone videos feature migrating Gray Whales and Humpback Whales.
    Mesmerizing drone video shows whales playing, feeding in Monterey Bay (SFGATE, March 12, 2018)
    DRONE VIDEO: Gray whales dancing in the Monterey Bay (KSBW News, March 12, 2018)
   
    January 2018 - Nancy Black interview and drone video feature Gray Whale migration.
    Gray Whale Migration (KION TV, January 19, 2018)
    Beautiful drone video shows pod of 12 gray whales migrating through Monterey Bay (SFGATE, January 9, 2018)
   
    November 2017 - Monterey Bay Whale Watch was featured in a Mercury News article about Blue Whales.
    Blue Whales invade Monterey Bay (Mercury News, November 19, 2017)
   
    July 2017 - British Telecommunications listed Monterey Bay Whale Watch as the company to go with to see blue whales in Monterey Bay.
    Where to see blue whales in the wild: 5 places around the world (British Telecommunications (BT), July 11, 2017)
   
    June 2017 - Nancy Black was interviewed about the spectacular whale watch season.
    Why we're seeing some of the best whale watching in history (SFGATE, June 29, 2017)
   
    June 2017 - Monterey Bay Whale Watch drone videos are featured in news articles.
    Killer Whales chase down blue whale in rare drone footage (CBS News, June 8, 2017)
    Sea Lions, Humpback Whales share meal in Monterey Bay video (Sacramento Bee, June 4, 2017)
   
    May 2017 - Nancy Black was interviewed about Killer Whale activity in Monterey Bay.
    Killer Whales Attacked a Blue Whale — Here's the Surprising Reason Why (National Geographic, May 25, 2017)
    "Whale wars! 'Altruistic' Humpbacks are battling rampaging pod of Orcas off the coast of California trying to stop them killing Gray calves and seals (DailyMail.co.uk, May 3, 2017)
    Humpback Whales Interfere as Killer Whales Fed on a Gray Whale Calf (SFGATE, May 2, 2017)
   
    April 2017 - Read an article by Jodi Frediani about Killer Whales in Monterey Bay.
    A Date with Killer Whales (National Geographic Ocean Views, April 28, 2017)
   
    April 2017 - Nancy Black was interviewed for several articles about activity in Monterey Bay.
    Watch orca pack hunt yet another whale calf during 'unprecedented' killing spree (Huffington Post, April 29, 2017)
    Biologist: Orca attacks on gray whales up in California bay (Monterey Herald, April 29, 2017)
    Large number of orcas seen killing gray whales in Monterey Bay (Mercury News, April 28, 2017)
    Whales putting on rare, spectacular show in Monterey Bay (SFGATE, April 26, 2017)
    Drone films orcas feasting on a gray whale carcass (Earth Touch News, April 25, 2017)
   
    April 2017 - Nancy Black was interviewed for an article about Killer Whales, including video footage captured from a drone.
    Killer Whales feasting in Monterey Bay (NBC Bay Area, April 23, 2017)
   
    February 2017 - A Pacific white-sided dolphin did a series of spectacular backflips during our trip on Feb. 16 - caught on video/stills by Slater Thomas Moore. The article includes an interview with Nancy Black and a link to her Master's thesis paper.
    Dolphin stuns boaters with series of backflips across the water; video (grindtv.com, February 2017)
   
    January 2017 - Article about our spectacular sighting when a pod of six killer whales caught and tossed a Pacific white-sided dolphin into the air.
    Nature’s fury displayed when killer whales hunt on Monterey Bay (Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 2017)
   
    October 2016 - Suzi Eszterhas photographs a mom/pup pair of sea otters
    She's otter-ly devoted! Mother otter keeps her newborn pup dry as the pair swim together. (The Daily Mail, UK, October 37, 2016)
   
    August 2016 - Humpback whales rescuing animals from orcas.
    Humpback whales around the globe are mysteriously rescuing animals from orcas (Mother Nature Network, August 10, 2016)
   
    July 2016 - Humpback whales interfering with killer whale attacks on other species.
    Humpback whales interfering when mammal-eating killer whales attack other species: Mobbing behavior and interspecific altruism? (Marine Mammal Science, July 20, 2016)
   
    July 2016 - Large numbers of humpback and blue whales in the Bay.
    Humpback, blue whales storm Monterey Bay (Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 20, 2016)
   
    June 2016 - This is one of the best whale watching years ever.
    Whales flooding the Monterey Bay (Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 3, 2016)
   
    April 2016 - Whale watchers film orca attack in Monterey Bay.
    On April 23 whale watchers with the Monterey Bay Whale Watch boat tour observed a pod of killer whales attacking a baby gray whale right off Cannery Row. (San Francisco Chronicle, April 25, 2016)
   
    April 2016 - Picture of the Day.
    This is the moment a hungry killer whale toyed with a seal and sent it flying into the air. Photo by Jodi Frediani (The Telegraph, UK, April 25, 2016)
   
    August 2015 - BIG BLUE LIVE Television Event featured Monterey Bay marine life.
    PBS and BBC presented BIG BLUE LIVE, a Three-Part LIVE Television Event showcasing marine life along America's West Coast, including Monterey Bay. The show aired on the BBC starting August 23 and on PBS starting August 31. Learn more about Big Blue Live.
   
    October 2014 - Photographers Alisa Schulman-Janiger and Jodi Frediani featured on KSBW.
    PHOTOS: Epic humpback whale breaches in Monterey Bay - Featuring photos taken on Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips by Alisa Schulman-Janiger and Jodi Frediani (KSBW, October 16, 2014)
   
    October 2014 - Spectacular whale breach photos by Jodi Frediani featured on GrindTV.
    Whale breach a bit too close for comfort - Breaching humpback whale launches from the water in Monterey Bay and splashes down only yards from awe-struck passengers, rocking their boat Article by Pete Thomas, featuring photos by Jodi Frediani (GrindTV, October 15, 2014)
   
    September 2014 - Photographer Jodi Frediani and Monterey Bay Whale Watch featured in Monterey County Weekly.
    PHOTOS: A local photographer captures the giant world of whales in Monterey Bay - Featuring photos by Jodi Frediani taken on Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips (Monterey County Weekly, September 23, 2014)
   
    April 2014 - Monterey Bay Whale Watch featured in San Francisco Chronicle.
    Monterey Bay's bustling marine life brings trouble, too - A pack of 20 killer whales attacked a mother gray whale and its calf. (San Francisco Chronicle, April 27, 2014)
   
    November 2013 - Unprecedented numbers of whales & sea lions feeding in Monterey Bay.
    On Thanksgiving eve, a feast for whales in Monterey Bay (CBS News, November 27, 2013)
    With Extra Anchovies, Deluxe Whale Watching (The New York Times, November 25, 2013)
   
    November 2013 - Killer Whales in Monterey Bay.
    Killer whales put on 'unbelievable' show in Monterey Bay - More than a dozen killer whales... (San Jose Mercury News, November 11, 2013)
    Huge pod of orcas adds to spectacular show on Monterey Bay - More than a dozen killer whales... (Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 11, 2013)
   
Humpback Whales at Sunset, photo by Katie Dunbar   October 2013 - Killer Whales in Monterey Bay.
  Diving whale stars in amazing Monterey Bay Sunset photo - Pete Thomas Outdoors - Sunset Humpbacks! Read the story behind naturalist Katie Dunbar's capture of a lava-colored waterfall cascading off the flukes of one of the hundreds of humpback whales that have been gorging on anchovies in Monterey for nearly two months. (Pete Thomas Outdoors, October 22, 2013)
 
  July 2013 - Video of Killer Whale "Fat Fin" breaching next to the boat.
  Monterey Bay teeming with whales - Killer Whales appeared joyful as they breached near the boat (KSBW, July 5, 2013)
   
    June 2013 - Blue Whales in Monterey Bay.
    Monterey Bay seeing a lot of majestic blue whales - About 2,000 are fattening up along California's coast. (The Monterey County Herald, June 30, 2013)
   
    June 2013 - Amazing Killer Whale photos by Daniel Bianchetta.
    PHOTOS: Orca whales frolic in Monterey Bay (KSBW, June 12, 2013)
   
    May 2013 - Strong winds lead to an abundance of krill, attracting Humpbacks and other marine mammals.
    Humpbacks back in the Bay: Strong winds make food abundant (Santa Cruz Sentinel, May 8, 2013)
   
    May 2013 - Killer Whales tracking and devouring Gray Whales in Monterey Bay.
    Orca packs devouring gray whale calves in Monterey Bay (San Francisco Chronicle, May 6, 2013)
   
    February 2013 - Blue Whales in Monterey Bay (very unusual for this time of year).
    Blue Whales spotted in Monterey Bay (KSBW, February 14, 2013)
   
    January 2013 - Killer Whales hunting dolphins in Monterey Bay
    Killer whales seen attacking dolphins in Monterey Bay (Monterey County Herald, January 14, 2013)
    Killer whales on the hunt in the Monterey Bay (Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 14, 2013)
Runner up for Responsible Whale Watch Award 2012  
  October 2012 - Monterey Bay Whale Watch is runner-up for Responsible Whale Watch Award for 2012.
  At the World Whale Watch Conference, held the day before WhaleFest 2012, Monterey Bay Whale Watch placed as runner up for the Responsible Whale Watch Award for 2012!
Learn more about the awards.
Read reviews of Monterey Bay Whale Watch at PlanetWhale.com.
 
    Summer 2012 - Once again, exceptional number of Blue Whales and Humpback Whales feeding on krill in Monterey Bay.
    North state whale watchers spotting more blue whales this year (Sacramento Bee, July 29, 2012)
   
    July 2010 - Exceptional number of Blue Whales and Humpback Whales feeding on krill in Monterey Bay.
    Whales crowd Monterey Bay to feast on krill bonanza (Sacramento Bee, July 24, 2010)
    Large blue whale gathering a boon for Monterey tourism (Pete Thomas Outdoors, July 12, 2010)
    Best of times for whale watchers off Monterey (San Francisco Chronicle, July 11, 2010)
    Blue whale sightings on rise in Monterey Bay (KGO Channel 7 News, July 7, 2010)
    Blue whales visit Monterey Bay in search for food (Monterey County Herald, July 7, 2010)
    Blue whales, drawn by multitude of krill, emerge for a feeding frenzy (Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 7, 2010)
    Spotting Of 28 Blue Whales 'Once In Decade Event' (KSBW article and video, July 6, 2010)
    Rare Blue Whales in the Monterey Bay (KION article and video, July 6, 2010)
    An Extraordinary Number of Blue Whales and Humpback Whales Arrive to Monterey Bay - Monterey Bay Whale Watch feature article with photos
   
    Killer Whales from Puget Sound Resident L-Pod were spotted off Monterey on March 5, 2009.
   
   
Southern Resident Killer Whales Sighted in January and February 2008 in Monterey Bay
    On January 27, 2008 Monterey Bay Whale Watch sighted about 40 members (some identified as L Pod) of the Southern Residents best known from Puget Sound and an endangered group of whales in Monterey Bay. These Killer Whales were seen again on February 2.
    Click on small images below to see larger images.

Southern Resident Killer Whales in Monterey Bay Southern Resident Killer Whales in Monterey Bay
Above mother & calf photos taken by Nancy Black on February 2, 2008.
Southern Resident Killer Whales in Monterey Bay
Southern Resident Killer Whales in Monterey Bay
Southern Resident Killer Whales in Monterey Bay
Above photos taken by Nancy Black on January 27, 2008.
    Related News Articles
•    Endangered killer whales emerging in Monterey Bay (Santa Cruz Sentinel Feb. 26, 2008)
•    Video featuring Nancy Black: Killer whales visit Monterey Bay (Santa Cruz Sentinel, Feb. 25, 2008)
•    Puget Sound orcas feeding in California -- again (SeattlePI.com, January 28, 2008)
•    California here we come, say Washington's (hungry) orcas (SeattlePI.com, January 28, 2008)
 
•    On November 15, 2008 Nancy Black gave a presentation about Orcas in a Changing World at the ACS Conference in Monterey.
•    On May 31, 2007 Nancy Black gave a presentation about Killer Whales: Their behavior and ecology in California Waters at the ACS Monterey Bay Chapter meeting.
•    Read March 28, 2007 Seattle Times article: Orca pod shows off newest member, named L109 for now
•    Read January 30, 2007 San Francisco Chronicle article: 5 dozen killer whales believed to be hunting salmon off S.F. coast
•    Blue Planet - Seas of Life   TV special was shown on Animal Planet. Monterey Bay Whale Watch is featured in Episode 1 - Ocean World, and in Episode 9 - The Making of the Blue Planet.
•    Discovery Channel's Animal Planet featured Monterey Bay Whale Watch in the television show Caught in the Moment, Episode Seven: Monterey Bay. For details see Caught in the Moment on the Animal Planet website.
•   
The Gray Whale Obstacle Course   PBS Special originally aired on July 19, 2006, and was shown again on August 16 at 8 p.m. Part of a series of Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Adventures, this special traces the Gray Whale migration from Alaska to Baja California and back. In Monterey Jean-Michel interviews local killer whale expert and biologist Nancy Black. Local scenes include killer whales attacking a gray whale mother and calf.
•   
Killer Whale Attack Caught on Tape   KNBC-TV, Los Angeles (April 2006).
•   
Spring and Summer Sea Life in Monterey Bay   California Tour and Travel (2005).
•    Monterey Bay Whale Watch sponsored a fund-raising whale-watching boat trip for the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Cetacean Society (ACS/MB) on Sunday, August 21, 2005.
•    On August 2, 2005: Nancy Black gave a presentation entitled Orcas: Behavior and Ecology of Killer Whales at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA.
•    On May 25, 2005, a story about Monterey Bay Whale Watch, Nancy Black, and Killer Whales was featured on the CBS Evening News.
•    On May 11, 2005, Nancy Black and Monterey Bay Whale Watch were featured on the Today Show on NBC.
•    The BBC film "Killer Whale: Killer Culture" was featured on the Discovery Channel on September 14, 15 and 21, 2004. Nancy Black and Richard Ternullo of Monterey Bay Whale Watch were scientific consultants on the film project for parts filmed in Monterey Bay as well as in Alaska.
•   
Chasing the Killers: Killer whale researchers document the recent violence of Monterey Bay   Monterey County Weekly (June 2004).
•   
Orcas feast on harvest of gray whale calves   San Francisco Chronicle (May 2004).
•   
Watching's better than killing, says man who's done both   Dolphin World (Oct. 2003).
•   
Killer Whales -- Killing Other Whales   National Geographic News (March 2003).

•    Gift idea: Whale Watch Trip Gift Certificates.

•    Hotel Packages are available.

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Last updated November 6, 2024