Do not miss the Gray Whale Season; the Peak of the Season is coming! Contact us about Holiday Gift Certificates they make great presents. Located along the central California coast, Monterey Bay contains the largest and deepest submarine canyon in North America and is one of the few canyons that bisects the coastline so close to shore. This allows deep water species of marine mammals and seabirds to be found relatively near shore and accessible for day whale watches. This region is extremely productive and rich biologically due to coastal upwelling and bathymetric features. Monterey Bay continental shelf and submarine canyon support a variety of habitats with one of the highest diversities of marine mammals in the world. Twenty-six species of marine mammals have been observed here, including five species of seals and sea lions, the southern sea otter and 94 species of seabirds. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the largest United States National Marine Sanctuary, encompassing 5,312 square miles extending from the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in the north to San Simeon, south of Big Sur. This extremely rich area centers around the Monterey Submarine Canyon, comparable in size and shape to the Grand Canyon. The canyon extends over 50 miles offshore, reaching depths near 12,000 feet. The central California coast is one of only five major upwelling regions in the world. Upwelling is a phenomenon where cold nutrient-rich water is driven to the surface due to wind, the angle of the coastline, and the rotation of the earth. This cold deep water is filled with nutrients, and during the spring when the northwest winds blow, this rich water is brought to the surface and with fuel from the sun creates surface plankton blooms. This plankton forms the basis of the food chain for all marine animals. Whales, dolphins, and seabirds concentrate in the waters of central California including Monterey Bay to feed on an abundance of krill, fish, and squid supported by these intense plankton blooms.
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Hours
Regular Hours
Mon - Sun:
Services/Products
Corporate Events; Sea Burials; School Trips
Brands
Sea-Doo
Payment method
amex, discover, visa, mastercard
Amenities
April 1 - Dec 16 Killer Whales, Humpbacks, Blue Whales and Dolphins; Dec 17 - March 31 Gray Whales and Dolphins; All day trips in April and May
Associations
Monterey Bay Whale Watch listed in "Top 5 American Whale-Watching Tours" by Joshua Horwitz!
Categories
Boat Rental & Charter, Boat Tours, Funeral Information & Advisory Services, Funeral Supplies & Services, Sightseeing Tours, Tourist Information & Attractions, Tours-Operators & Promoters, Travel Agencies