Our experience has given us many frequently asked questions.  Here are some answers to the most asked questions.

How often do trips go out?

We offer whale watching trips daily. Please see our calendar for trip times and availability.

How long is the trip?

Our morning trip is 4 hours long and our afternoon trip is 3 hours long.

How big are your boats?

Our primary whale watch vessel is the Pacifica which measure 50ft in length and carries up to 48 passengers. We only take 35 passengers per trip to allow for more personal time with the crew and comfort while riding on board.

From time to time we may use a different vessel depending on availability such as:

The 65ft Chubasco or 55ft New Horizon. All of our vessels are annually inspected and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?

Yes, we recommend reserving in advance to ensure you get the time and date that you want. During the high season (summer) in Monterey, trips do sell out, so booking at least three to four days ahead of time is recommended. You can book online at any time by clicking the “Book Now” button at the top of the page.

Where are you located?

We are located on the Monterey Old Fishermans Wharf (Wharf #1) in Monterey California

Our address is:

66 Fisherman’s Wharf
Monterey CA 93940

What time is check-in?

Please check in at our office at least 30 minutes prior to departure time.

Where do I park?

There are many places to park near the wharf. The easiest and closest parking lot to us is the Wharf Lot #1 accessed on Figueroa Street. When you enter the parking area, drive as far left as possible until you arrive at the gated lot. Take the ticket to enter the gated lot and park as close to the main wharf as possible (rows A, B or C). Keep the parking ticket with you, as you will need it to pay and exit at the attendant booth. If you are using a GPS you can use the address, 245 Washington Street, Monterey CA 93940

Here is a link to a parking map provided by the City of Monterey.

RV parking is available in Wharf Lot #1.

What should I wear?

We always recommend warm layers. You can always take a layer off if you are too warm, but you can’t put on a layer you didn’t bring. Long pants and close toes shoes are highly recommended. It is also a good idea to bring a water proof layer; not only does it keep you dry, it also protects you from the wind. Hats or sun protection even on overcast days is recommended.

What should I bring with me on the boat?

In addition to the recommended clothing and sun protection, you may want bring a camera, binoculars, water and snacks. (up to a small cooler is permitted)

**Effective 8/6/17**

Our vessels are now licensed for beer and wine sales on board and our shop is licensed for beer sales. Therefore, guests are no longer allowed to bring their own alcoholic beverages on the trips. We do have beer for sale everyday in store and beer and wine on the vessels for sale to individuals 21years of age and older in accordance with the California Alcohol and Beverage Control regulations.

What can I expect for weather?

The weather really varies daily. We use the marine forecast and our observations on the ocean to determine the safest conditions for your trip. We strive to give you realistic expectations about weather on the day of your trip, so please call and ask a day ahead of time for the most up to date information if you are concerned. Weather in the surrounding areas is not necessarily the same as what we are experiencing on the ocean in Monterey. Typically, the calmest ocean conditions of the day are in the morning.

We do go out if it is raining, so long as sea conditions are still manageable.

Sometimes ocean conditions are deemed unsafe by the captain and we will have to cancel the trip, this decision is most often made just prior to departure, the day of a trip after careful consideration.

What about seasickness?

If you suffer from other types of motion sickness such as on a plane or in a car, you might get seasick. If you are concerned at all about potential sea sickness, please take or bring a preventative remedy with you on the trip. We would also recommend going on a morning trip when the weather is typically calmer. We carry a few remedies in the shop that you can purchase, but we also encourage you to visit a local pharmacy where there is a wider selection of motion sickness remedy options.

Are children allowed on the trips?

Yes, children of any age are allowed on our vessels. Our only passenger restriction is no pregnant women.

Why can’t pregnant women go on the trips?

Often times we are over an hour from the harbor while watching whales. Should a pregnant woman become distressed on the vessel that means they are over an hour from proper medical attention. The risk of falling and the risk of dehydration are also higher and have much larger consequences for pregnant women while on the boat.

Are there life jackets on the boat?

Yes, we have life jackets for all passengers on board as required by the US Coast Guard. Our crew will outfit all children 6 years old and younger with life jackets to wear during the trip and demonstrate how to wear a life jacket in the case of an emergency.

Are the boats safe?

Yes, our vessels are certified and inspected by the US Coast Guard every year. We are fully equipped with life rafts, emergency beacons (EPIRB), life jackets, throw rings, fire extinguishers and first aid kits. Our crew will give a full safety briefing at the beginning of the trip for all passengers.

Do you guarantee whales?

Yes we guarantee a whale or killer whale sighting on all of our whale watch trips. If we do not see a whale or killer whale, then we will issue a rain check for you to come back for free another time.

What is the best time to see whales?

We see whales year-round, and the time of day does not matter for sightings (see question about weather). There are peaks in the seasons throughout the year. During the winter time we are primarily watching Gray Whales, the spring time is best for Killer Whales, the summer and fall is when we primarily watch Humpback Whales.

How close do we get to the whales?

We abide by recommended guidelines of 100 yards (~100 meters) distance from the whales. Sometimes the animals choose to move closer to us, which is always a thrill. Generally, we are close enough that you can get nice photos even with your camera phone.

How far off shore are the whales?

That really depends on the whales. Sometimes they are very close to shore while migrating or feeding, but typically we do have to travel 30-60 min to the best sighting areas.

Is the trip narrated?

Yes, we send a marine biologist or naturalist out on every whale watch trip.

Naturalist log for Sunday, February 6th

Discovery sent out two boats in the morning into mild conditions and sunny skies. Three Grey Whales were sighted and good looks were had, but the afternoon trip stole the show. A single humpback whale was found in the middle of the bay, for which we absconded and found promptly. Halfway through the sighting, the…

Naturalist’s log for Thursday, January 3rd

With tourism slowing down again, weekday crowds run slim. Today we ran with a single trip at quarter capacity, which is actually a pleasant experience for all. Lighter loads mean more personal time with passengers (and more hot chocolate to go around). With good weather, we had little trouble finding a total of 6 southbound…

01/22/22

Naturalist Log for Saturday, January 22nd: Spectacular weather holds through the weekend, while plenty of Grey Whales abound. Our morning trip faired well, with 8 Grey Whales and 20 Risso’s Dolphin. Solid. Once again, the afternoon trip stole the show, starting with a lone, friendly Bottlenose Dolphin, who rode our bow for the first fifteen…

Naturalist’s Log for Friday, January 21st

I’ve said it before, the ocean pays off all its debts at once. When you win the whale watching lottery, you win big. Today started out great, with warm and clear skies on mellow swells. Captain Danny deftly found several groups of Grey Whales, and we settled on a group of four. Everyone had a…

The Greys Keep Coming!

More Grey Whales continued to roll through Monterey, with about 8 whales seen on each of our 4 trips yesterday.

More Greys

The Grey Whale continue their steady march south to Baja California for winter breeding. With captain Rod at the helm, the Pacifica ventured out offshore, just outside Monterey Bay to find scattered handfuls here and there. Today boasted beautiful weather, with calm winds, relatively warm and sunny, and gentle waves rolling slowly under the boat.…

Seven Greys

The 10am start to our winter whale watch season allows the crew more time in the morning to enjoy ourselves. This January in Monterey has been especially pleasant in regards to the weather and sea conditions, and as I went through my morning routine I wondered what our whale watching adventures held in store for…

Greys and Risso’s

The New Horizon pushed out into the bay with Captain John at the helm. It was sunny and mild, with a northeastern breeze starting. We made our way beyond the point, and soon after saw our first whale spouts. It turned out to be a single southbound grey whale on its way to Baja. We…

Warm Winter Sun & Grey Whales!

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful and warm winter whale watch. The sun was shinning the swell broad and comfortable and the Gray Whales were out in force. We cruised comfortably out of Monterey around the peninsula and found whales readily all around the point. With the accessibility of the whales Captain Danny…

Southbound Greys

Rockin’ ride today, as we large, steep swells made for a rollercoaster of a trip. Resolute, our tough set of passengers had little trouble with conditions and helped us spot a total of 7 Grey Whales. Unfortunately, conditions deteriorated to a point that safety trumped fun, and we had to come in a bit on…