Meet the Owner
Mathew Arcoleo
Mathew Arcoleo, who spent nearly 30 years in the high-tech industry in the Bay Area, has deep roots in Monterey, particularly on Fisherman’s Wharf. His great-grandfather started the first sport fishing enterprise there, and his grandfather and father owned Frank’s Fishing Trips.
As a child, Mathew was known as a “wharf rat,” spending time in his dad’s shop and working as a deckhand. He grew up in Monterey, attended local schools and Monterey Peninsula College, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from San Jose State and an MBA from Santa Clara University, leading to a successful career in the semiconductor industry.
However, Mathew always felt a pull back to Monterey. When Randy’s Fishing Trips & Whale Watching went up for sale, he saw it as an opportunity to realize his dream of owning a whale watch and fishing company on the iconic Fisherman’s Wharf.
Experienced Captains
Our whale watch captains have been working in the Monterey whale watching industry for years. They know the features of the bay and are able to anticipate the most likely locations for whale sightings. They are committed to ensuring passenger safety on board and strive to make the trip as comfortable as possible as well. We know that getting good views of whales and lining up the boat for photography are essential to having a good trip. Our captains love what they do and it shows!
Captain Rod
- Originally from: California (Santa Ana, Clovis, San Diego, Martinez)
- Years on the water & with Discovery: 20+ Years, w/ Discovery since May 2019
- Favorite marine animal: Sharks!
- Name a maritime superstition/myth you believe in: The Kraken
- Captains’ pet peeve: Passengers or crew standing up in front of the boat while he’s navigating
Captain Danny
- Originally from: Fort Ord, California
- Years on the water & with Discovery: 30+ years, w/Discovery since 2018
- Favorite marine animal: Baird’s Beaked Whales
- Name a maritime superstition/myth you believe in: Bananas on boats are bad luck.
- Captains’ pet peeve: Crew forgetting his personal coffee pot and passengers or crew standing up in front of the boat while he’s navigating
Captain JJ
- Originally from: Monterey, California
- Years on the water & with Discovery: 20+ years, w/ Discovery since 2017
- Favorite marine animal: the one we are watching at that moment in time
- Name a maritime superstition/myth you believe in: Doing a lucky donut (360° boat turn) in hopes it would conjure up a whale.
- Captains’ pet peeve: People asking too many questions
Captain Andrew
- Originally from: Bremerton, Washington
- Years on the water & with Discovery: 9 years, w/Discovery since September 2017
- Favorite marine animal: Humpback Whales
- Name a maritime superstition/myth you believe in: “Red sky in the morning sailors take warning, red sky at night sailors delight” – using the color of the sky to predict the weather
- Captains’ pet peeve: Crew leaving the wheelhouse doors not the way they found them
Naturalists and Deckhands
Join our passionate crew of marine biologists, naturalists, and skilled deckhands for an unforgettable whale-watching experience in Monterey Bay! Our marine experts will introduce you to the local ecosystem with engaging, hands-on demonstrations, and our deckhands are dedicated to ensuring your safety and comfort throughout the journey. Each team member is eager to share insights into marine life and boat safety, answer your questions, and help you spot incredible ocean wildlife. Plus, our crew actively contributes to essential research, collecting data for west coast collaborators. Dive into ocean science and adventure with us!
Sophie Darling
- Hometown: Occidental, California
- Experience: With Discovery Whale Watch since September 2022; specializing in marine mammals since 2006—almost 20 years!
- Favorite Marine Animals: Humpback Whales and California sea lions
- Unexpected Fun Fact: She is an amazing artist! She has illustrated pages for an environmental guidebook for the Marine Mammal Sanctuary of Estero Hondo in the Dominican Republic, and her hand-drawn stickers are sold in our shop.
- Best Advice for Passengers: Open up all your senses—you might hear a whale trumpet, spot a rare bird, or even catch your first whiff of whale breath!
Isaiah
- Hometown: Yosemite, California
- Experience: 15+ years and with Discovery since August 2017
- Favorite Marine Animal: Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Unexpected Fun Fact: Sings in a Punk Rock Band
- Best Advice for Passengers: Expect nothing, be prepared for anything
Caila
- Hometown: Alameda, California
- Experience: 15+ years on the water and with Discovery since January 2020
- Favorite Marine Animal: Blue Crab
- Unexpected Fun Fact: Takes her Irish heritage seriously – and believes a Ruben sandwich should be only made with corned beef.
- Best Advice for Passengers: Take in all the views from the boat. Monterey is a beautiful place with an amazing coastline!
Amanda
- Hometown: Southern California
- Experience: 5+ years on the watch and with Discovery since April 2021
- Favorite Marine Animals: Humpback Whales and Black-footed Albatross
- Unexpected Fun Fact: Flew over Mt. Everest on her birthday
- Best Advice for Passengers: Trade your expectations for appreciation and charge your camera battery/bring SD card.
Maddy
- Hometown: Concord, California
- Experience: With Discovery since August 2023
- Favorite Marine Animals: Killer Whales
- Unexpected Fun Fact: Ask her where to find the best drinks in town, she was a bartender!
- Best Advice for Passengers: Remember how special it is that these are wild animals that are allowing us to hang out with them. When you remember that they’re just as much apart of the interaction as we all are it’s so much cooler!
Ryan
- Hometown: San Diego, California
- Experience: 20 years on the water, w/Discovery since May 2024
- Favorite Marine Animals: Humpback Whales
- Unexpected Fun Fact: Loves Karaoke
- Best Advice for Passengers: Make sure you’re holding on: 3-points of contact while being on the boat
Alfredo
- Hometown: New England (Rhode Island)
- Experience: with Discovery since 2018
- Favorite Marine Animals: Humpback Whales
- Unexpected Fun Fact: He’s a twin!
- Best Advice for Passengers: Come out expecting a fun boat ride and take any wildlife as a bonus!
Kenny
- Hometown: Monterey, California
- Experience: 7 years on the water, w/ Discovery since April 2024
- Favorite Marine Animals: Fin Whales
- Unexpected Fun Fact: Has extensive knowledge and experience with computers and computerhardware.
- Best Advice for Passengers: Use your eyes more than your camera/phone
Corey
- Hometown: San Jose, California
- Experience: with Discovery since May 2023
- Favorite Marine Animals: Harbor Seals
- Unexpected Fun Fact: Can play Passion Fruit by Drake on the piano.
- Best Advice for Passengers: Bring layers and take Dramamine.
Matt
- Hometown: Southern California
- Experience: 10 years on the water, w/ Discovery S
- Favorite Marine Animal: Giant Pacific Octopus
- Unexpected Fun Fact: Enjoys running ultra marathons
- Best Advice for Passengers: Expect the unexpected.
Welcoming Office Staff
Our office staff is there to welcome you from the very start! If you call, email, or walk-in, our team is happy to answer your questions and help you sign up for a whale watch trip. We are dedicated to customer service and very knowledgeable about whale watching in Monterey Bay.
Kaila
- Hometown: Massachusetts
- Been with Discovery Whale Watch since: July 2022
- Favorite Marine Animals: Blobfish & Manatee
- What’s something you’ve learned about whales or marine life since working here? Humpback Whales have one of the longest migrations know to any mammal!
- What advice would you give to someone going whale watching for the first time? Please thoroughly read that confirmation email we send you.
Sam
- Hometown: Los Angeles, California
- Been with Discovery Whale Watch since: January 2025
- Favorite Marine Animals: Great White Sharks
- What’s something you’ve learned about whales or marine life since working here? White sharks have endothermy, a warm-blooded trait that lets them regulate body temperature which was key to their survival through the Ice Age, unlike megalodon!
- What advice would you give to someone going whale watching for the first time? Wildlife runs on its own schedule, so expect more whale waiting than watching. Enjoy the adventure on mother ocean!
Hannah
- Hometown: Elk Grove, California
- Been with Discovery Whale Watch since: January 2025
- Favorite Marine Animals: Harbor Seal
- What’s something you’ve learned about whales or marine life since working here? Gray Whales have different organisms living on their skin and it creates this mini ecosystem!
- What advice would you give to someone going whale watching for the first time? Go with the flow. Don’t be afraid to get wet and always look around, because you’ll never know what might pop up!