Picked this company because of the reviews and everyone was right! After booking they provided a detailed list of everything we need, including parking and clear directions. Because of their location in Moss Landing, we saw several whales within minutes of leaving the harbor. In addition, we saw otters, sea lions, and dolphins. Both the captain and guide were professional and checked on us during the excursion. Also very knowledgeable and shared lots of great info. The boat is not as big as some of the tours we saw, which was nice because we all got a great view without being on top of each other. Highly recommend for all those reasons. The big plus is location. Don't have to deal with traffic getting in/out of Monterrey. read more

I've tried out various whale watching tours in the Monterey Area & I always choose Blue Ocean over everyone else. Why? 1. Capt Kate is so knowledgeable about everything we are seeing 2. Capt Kate doesn't book the boat full this way everyone has a great view 3. The boat itself is more suitable for an optimal viewing experience 4. Capt Kate will seek out various viewing opportunities. 5. Capt Kate keeps a respectful distance to the whale and never chases them 6. It's out of Moss Landing which is right where the activity is. Most other whale watching companies go out of the Fisherman's Wharf which means you have to spend 30-40 minutes traveling just to spend 35 minutes with the whales and then spend another 40 minutes it's traveling back. Bottom line you get more bang for your buck with Blue Ocean and it is truly a whale watching EXPERIENCE rather than a boat ride. read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Great boat. Great trip. Appreciated the electrical wrist bands to fight sea sickness. We did great. Had so much fun. Will definitely go again. read more

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It raised your prices over 40 % Why did you do an update on the boat? It makes me sad because I have been taking Blue Ocean over 2 years read more

I love blue ocean!! We have been on whale watching trips with them three times now. Each trip has been filled with whale sightings. One trip was especially memorable and I should have yelped it earlier. We saw a super pod of dolphins. There were hundreds--maybe thousands--of dolphins surrounding our boat. Today, we saw at least 15 whales on our trip. Kate is the captain. She's excellent. Brian is the naturalist. He's great, too. Very good at explaining things and answering questions. constantly. I highly recommend Blue Ocean for your next trip! read more

This was our first time whale watching, so I don't know what to compare it to, but it was a great experience. Captain Kate and our guide Eric were so fun. We learned a lot and saw quite a few humpbacks with one even popping up about a foot from the boat. I really liked that the boat was smaller - I think we had about 22 people on board. Glad that we went out of Moss Landing instead of Monterey for many reasons, and if we ever go again with visitors from out of town, we will choose Blue Ocean again without hesitation. Parking in the harbor lot is $15, but if you get there early you can park on the street and walk in. read more

We had an epic experience with Blue Ocean Whale Watch. Our captain and biologist were great and we saw tons of humpbacks as well as other wildlife. The biologist even shared his photos with everyone at the end of the trip. Will definitely go out with them again. Highly recommend this company! read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

We really enjoyed our whale watching experience. The deckhand was very knowledgable and kind. He took some great photos and even air dropped them to anyone who wanted them which I thought was a nice touch so we could live in the moment and still get some pics! The captain was great and overall the experience was very nice! read more

I've been following these guys on Facebook for over a year. We were in Monterey and so I booked a whale watch. Captain Kate definitely had the inside track on where the best spots were and she took her time hanging out in various spots so we could really enjoy the antics of the sea life. The ride did not disappoint. Whales everywhere! Spouting. Breaching. Tail and flipper slapping. And that was "just" the humpbacks. We went out a bit farther and came upon a local pod of "transient" killer whales doing their thing and breaching with wild abandon. One of the best whale watch trips we've ever taken. I highly recommend. read more

Best whale watching experience! Captain Kate and Brian were awesome. So informative and made the trip amazing!! Thank you!

Captain Kate and the crew were so knowledgeable and friendly! We had an amazing time and learned so much. We followed a pod of orcas around for hours and got to see Frosty!!! It was a magical experience and I highly recommend this tour!! Thank you again for this unforgettable trip!!! read more

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I think this is the best boat to go out on in Monterey Bay. Captain Kate knows the area and is the best at spotting the whales and dolphins. Highly recommend going out with her. read more

Always great to go with blue ocean whale watch and captain Kate. Boat is extremely comfortable. Take less people than capacity so plenty of room. Kate is an amazing g spotter of all things whales. She is really caring and does an amazing job of finding the best whales, dolphins always a great trip with Kate at the wheel. Brian the naturalist is also wonderful. Has lots to share but stops when we are encountering whales and dolphin so we can enjoy the moment. Today we were heading back to Moss Landing and Kate spotted. 5 orca which is really rare at this time of the season. We followed them for about 15 minutes. I have been on 100's of whale watches here in Monterrey and Moss Landing and this is only the second time I was able to see Orca. . Highly recommend going with Captain Kate who also owns the boat and her company. She is a real find! Update this review was in April . I am back again and it is middle of June. Brian and Jim (Kates partner) were with us today. I went on both the morning and afternoon trip. Each was amazing. Lots of whales lots of breeching. Fabulous trips, fun times, lots of laughter, beautiful ,weather, many whale encounters some right outside the harbor, comfortable boat lots of room as they don't take to full capacity. It was such a memorable day. Its always great to be on Kate's boat as she is able to find all the animals easily with her eagle eyes. She is also very knowledgeable, kind, cares that everyone has a great experience and she is a naturalist. I used to go to Monterrey until I found Moss Landing which is at the mouth of the canyon where the whales are. There are also many sea lions and cute otters here. Don't go on a whale watch with a Groupon to save money especially if this is the only time you and your family will go to see whales. The memories will be priceless and the experience will make you smile and feel real joy which we all need more of in this time. Best experience ever. Whales and dolphins in the wild are magical. read more

We had an amazing trip on July 13! We were fortunate to see several whales, 2 that actually came out of the water, and multiple dolphins. No two trips can be compared, but the captain and the marine biologist were absolutely fabulous! I would highly recommend this company!! read more

Captain Kate and her crew were amazing! We saw at least five whales, all feeding on anchovies, several sea lions, harbor porpoises and birds. The naturalist on board was very helpful in explaining what we were seeing without being intrusive on our experience; he welcomed questions and answered every one in detail. While the ship holds over 45, Kate takes on only 27-28 passengers to ensure everyone has room to see the whales. We felt extremely safe on Kate's boat, she was an expert at finding the whales, very respectful of the animals and a super safe captain. You may find a less expensive tour, but spring for this tour, you won't regret it! Kate knows where the whales are feeding! read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Whale feeding. - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

One of the most memorable experiences we had while visiting Monterey. The crew was knowledgeable and friendly, and explained things in simple clear ways. Crew always made sure to point out where to look so nobody missed out. We were very lucky to see a teen humpback breach multiple times, and even got to see one humpback surface feeding. Unforgettable experience, highly recommend. read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Whale breaching - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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Had a fantastic trip with Capt. Kate and the crew. Highly entertaining and educational. No question goes unanswered. Who knew whale breath smells like a broken sewer pipe? I do now. Saw Humpback whales including a mom and calf, dolphins, otters, jellyfish and a variety of birds. I plan on this being a yearly event. Bring your camera. read more

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Can't say enough great things about this place! We have been whale watching two times. First time we went with one of the larger companies that go out from Monterey fishermen's wharf and our second time (went two days ago) we decided to give blue ocean a try because I saw they offer "smaller capacity" trips. When we went with the larger company the year before they filled the boat to capacity which was fine but when we spotted whales people did tend to do the whole high elbow thing to protect their spot on the railing which made it hard to get a good spot to see everything and it felt almost competitive with the other people on the boat. Blue ocean was a completely different and amazing experience in every way. The boat can hold 48 but they keep it at 28 people per trip. 20max on the bottom deck and 8max on the top deck. This alone is worth choosing them. We could see everything without getting an elbow to the ribs. It honestly felt like a private chartered trip. The captain was amazing- they did not go too fast and you could tell she was turning the boat to avoid hitting the waves super hard and I felt so much more safe on ocean blues boat than the first one. Also they had a marine biologist on board who taught us so much and who also answered everyone of my million questions and each answer was enthusiastic- you can tell the marine biologist loved what he was doing. You might pay $20 or so more for this company BUT it's well worth it for the small amount of people on the boat. I promise you it is so much better to have some room and see everything than to be squeezed in and not see it all just to save a buck. I will absolutely go again when we are back in the area. I am already starting my savings for the next trip. Also we saw a freaking killer whale!! I know that this is something all companies would have seen that day but because we only had 14 people on the bottom deck I was able to have an experience that was magical. Ironically one of the bigger companies boats was in the same area watching the killer whale and you could see everyone with their pointy elbows trying to get a peek at the amazing whale. I didn't have to worry about that at all and instead I spent the time crying over the fact that I finally saw a killer whale in person. So worth the money!! I can't say it enough!!! Hands down the best option for whale watching within The Monterey area and possibly the best in California!! read more

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This company is incredible. The crew is knowledgeable, Captain Kate is a badass who knows her business and we had a beautiful and safe wildlife viewing experience during Covid. I really appreciate the reduced capacity for viewing. It allowed us to really be present and appreciate the wildlife instead of feeling like we were packed in like sardines. TL/DR: best trip for whale watching I've ever been on. Thanks guys and see you soon! Thanks for Caspar. read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - A fatty sea lion taking over the back of someone's boat on the walk up to our departure. - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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When planning for my trip, I wanted to go on a whale watch. We bought a groupon for a different boat tour but then found out they would be doing maintenance during the time I would be visiting. So, groupon was great about refunding the money, which allowed us to book on Blue Ocean Whale Watch instead. And I think it was a great choice! There are lots of reviews and tons of info so I'll skip on that part. I will say that Kate is an amazing captain and she knows her stuff. We saw so many whales (all humpbacks) and saw many breachings that we got to the point where we were like, "Oh. Another breach. Okay." LOL That's how many we experienced that day! * I was amazed that I still had cell signal the entire time we were out. * I felt great UNTIL I decided to go below deck and use the restroom. The second I went into the small bathroom, I started to feel seasick. And I couldn't shake the queasiness until much later on land. It did help a bit when I sat on the "deck" of the boat. Something about sitting with my feet up made me forget the motion. * We went at the end of October during some really hot days. But even then, I was wearing two thick sweatshirts while we were out on the water and I was cold. Always bring layers!!! read more

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Amazing trip that our family will never forget. Captains and staff were very knowledgeable and friendly along the way. We were very lucky to see Killer Whales and 3 different types of dolphins. We drove 400 miles to take this tour and it was totally worth it. 5 stars. read more

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Great trip! Friendly knowledgeable staff. I've been on another whale watching trip and the boat was over crowded a d the captain didn't share any information. This tour was very different lots of information a big boat with plenty of room. We will definitely be back. read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Otter - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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I went on a recent trip and it was amazing. There was tons of wildlife. I saw at least 10 whales and tons of sea lions and other cool fish and jellyfish. I also got wildly seasick. Several different members of the staff were so kind and repeatedly checked on me and brought me water. I would go again because it was awesome despite being so sick. The naturalist on board knew so much cool stuff and the captain did as well and answered all questions and were super fun. I'm super glad I went. read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Whales!!! Humpback whales! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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What a day! We saw a calf with its mother, sea lions galore, one humpback was so close we could smell its breath. At the end of the excursion there was a friendly humpback that gave us the experience of lifetime when it came right up to the boat. Thank you Kate and crew! I'll definitely be back. It was definitely worth the extra price to be on the upper deck . read more

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ABSOLUTELY STELLER. I went for my birthday and could not have been more happy with the way I spent the day. I did not expect to see whales - we saw them about 25 minutes into a 3 hour trip and kept seeing them the whole time! The crew mentioned that Captain Kate is incredible at finding whales; she must be, because we saw them diving, rolling around with seals, blowing sprays, and were close enough to smell their (stinky) breath! The ocean and whales are stand-alone amazing but it was the crew that really made it worth every penny. Everyone was so knowledgeable and nice. I got seasick and they were so kind about it- even gave me a gingerale and napkins! I was a little scared to be out on the water but they made it so comfortable. They all seemed to like the jobs and still got excited by the marine life out there. I wish I got their names but it was a man who looked young but was like 30 and another gentleman with a sunglasses tan. The trip is well worth the time, the travel (we came from Sacramento), and the money. I felt like we got the best view in the house. read more

AMAZING! Wow couldn't have dreamed up a better day. We saw so much marine life. Whales, birds, some dolphins , and seals. The staff is knowledgeable and super friendly. Would highly recommend this company for your whale watching tours. They respond promptly to emails if you can't reach them by phone. read more

Captain Kate and her crew were phenomenal hosts! My husband and I had a wonderful few hours aboard their vessel and got to see some amazing sites! Whales surface feeding was the highlight for me, but we also saw lots of various birds, sea otters, sea lions, and other wonders that the CA coast has to offer. They were knowledgeable and definitely want their guests to enjoy the trip. read more

Kate, our captain, was amazing! I loved the entire experience. The info said to dress warm, but I'm from Indiana so I just wore a pullover. That was fine, but I was at the front of the boat and could have used some gloves. Also, we had to wear a mask still per the Coast Guard but ours got so wet from the boat spray. Take an extra! We saw three whales and lots of other marine life. Would do this every day if I could! read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Buoy with seals or sea lions, can't remember the difference ‍ - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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What a marvelous trip today! We arrived at about 9:30 for a 10 am departure. Be sure to stop in the office area to purchase your parking pass. I almost didn't do it because I thought there would be an attendant on duty. Cost is $8. Bring cash. We checked in and waited only a few minutes for one of our hosts to give us safety instructions. There are some good tips here so pay careful attention. Information was provided in a humorous manner so not boring at all Some recommendations for this tour- Keep a watchful eye for whales. Sometimes we spotted them before our hosts. It's fun! Be outside! Being inside sitting is so boring! Enjoy the sun and sea and of course nature. Bring some snacks and water. There are snacks onboard but kids will enjoy their favorite treats from home. Dress warm and in layers. It can get chilly but totally tolerable. Take your Dramamine about 15 minutes prior to departure. It kicks in about then. The water gets choppy. You may need it. Listen to your hosts! They are very knowledgeable and are funny too. Overall I'd highly recommend. Check for Groupons to save a bit of money. This is a great activity for locals and out of towners alike! Make memories and do it! read more

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We saw a blue whale!! Largest animal on planet! Crew was magnificent ! We had an absolutely fabulous time!! read more

The crew and staff are super friendly. They don't have a building so you check in and meet at the picnic tables on the far end of of the parking lot. Unfortunately, there were no whales to be seen on this trip or I would have given more stars. They did however give reign checks to everyone so that they can attempt to see them again. That was really nice! There is seating on the front of the boat and inside. There is a small area to stand in the back as well as an area up top. They have a small snack bar selection below including several ginger options to help those feeling seasick. read more

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Oh to the em to the gee.. BY FAR MY FAVE WATCH ... there is never a dull moment on this Whale Watch ... its docks from Moss Landing ... and what I Enjoy about this Watch is it's not too crowded and there is no dull spot on the boat. You Are guarenteed to see Whales and tons of Wildlife each time . Dress very warm ... it gets cold out in open sea... carb up before you head out especially if you get motion sickness .. she provides this oil to put behind your ears but i dont believe in oils... I took my dramamine 30 minutes prior . The seas are choppy here so hold on tight... im definitely booking ahead my next trip ... LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT I recommend early watches... more activity read more

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Review posted on 3/31/21 but I visited this place years ago. I had a coupon from travel zoo. We only got to see some grey whales from a distance. A lot of blow hole action but again it was at a distance. The closest one from us was about 50 yards away. We mostly saw its back side and tail. I really wanted to see one breach the water but no such luck. Make sure you have a camera with a nice zoom. We saw a lot of risso (sp?) dolphins that came really close to the boat. Its about an hour from the harbor to where we actually stopped to look. It's REALLY cold so definitely layer up. It was a clear sunny day and the water was calm when i went. Luckily no one on our boat threw up. Only 4 stars because we didnt see as much as i'd hope. Staff is really friendly. read more

Couldn't recommend this company more! Captain Kate, Eric, and Brian run an amazing tour. They are kind, accommodating, and have wonderful information about the wildlife that they share with you throughout the tour. During our outing, we saw many Humpback Whales, Sea Lions, and several Southern Sea Otters. Their vessel, the High Spirits, is also wonderfully comfortable and perfect for both first time whale watchers or seasoned wildlife photographers. Can't wait to return! read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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Outstanding trip and crew, great price, tons of whales and information to learn about them!!

If you go, go with Blue Ocean. That's what I tell people when they ask about whale watching in the Bay Area. I've been out in many boats in the area, and always come back to Blue Ocean. Though it is never guaranteed that one will see whales, let alone have an epic experience, I can say I have had a good percentage of epic experiences with Blue Ocean, and have never been disappointed. Captain Kate is a whale and dolphin whisperer. Risso's dolphins seem to have a particular affinity for her, and I have had the privilege of being in large pods of them on the boat. I wish I had pictures of some of the humpbacks I've seen; some were really close and/or quite acrobatic, but I was in the moment and not recording. Check the Blue Ocean website for some of the crew's amazing photos. A tip from someone who used to get seasick: onboard Dramamine the night before you go out. read more

Friends who have gone on numerous Blue Ocean whale watching tours invited us to join them on a tour in late March. I used a Groupon and Kate quickly responded to my booking request. On the tour, we saw two humpbacks feeding on anchovies soon after leaving the harbor. Then thanks to communications from a research boat nearby, our captain booked it to meet up with a rare sighting -- two dozen transient killer whales. The pod last appeared in Monterey Bay in 2000 and 2011 hunting for salmon. We got splashed (legs, face, etc.) while speeding to catch the pod but it was worth it! I believe they offer a guarantee if you don't see a whale. They can afford this because the nutrient-rich waters of the bay are excellent feeding areas. I've experienced motion sickness and hesitated on the excursion. They provide an oil to help avoid motion sickness. That along with Dramamine and focusing on the horizon kept my sickness at bay. I was exhausted after the tour, though. I'd recommend this tour group as they are very knowledgeable. Additionally, they understand photography and position the boat for the best photo. Prior to our tour, I didn't think about taking photos AND hanging onto a railing. Someone lost their iPhone (probably into the water, sadly for the owner and environment). Kate instructed us to act like a tripod -- two feet and a hand touching the boat. So, that's something to consider along with a set of warm clothes to change into if you have any plans afterwards. read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Humpback fluke - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Groupons are available for ~$35 as of January 2018! This is easily the best boat of the three offerings. The marine biologist is knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic. Do go! You'll likely see a dozen whales or more. On top of that you'll see dozens more marine creatures along the way. read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

This was my first time whale watching and it was such a great experience! Even before going, Captain Kate was so communicative and helpful in dealing with some ticket updates and reschedules and made it very easy to schedule. She was a fabulous Captain who spotted all the best areas to see humpback whales, ocean sunfish, sea lions, sea otters, cool birds, and much more! Eric was our guide on the lower deck and was so knowledgeable about the area, the marine and wildlife, and overall history. There wasn't a question he couldn't answer and was a great guide! The tour took all of the Covid precautions (masks, distancing, hand sanitizer, etc) and it was lovely only having a small group on the boat, which gave us all so much space! I would highly recommend Blue Ocean Whale Watching and look forward to going back again in the future! read more

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Sea otter mama and her pup - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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This team has no control over the number of mammals cavorting in the bay, but they shared our joy over the 8-10 humpbacks (including a mommy and baby) that crashed our bittersweet memorial celebration of life. They were respectful and kind, knowledgeable, and skilled. read more