One of the most amazing experiences of my life ! Naturalist was knowledgeable and all crew were friendly. Boat and group size was small enough to feel like you could get a good view of all animals. I would book a tour with them again! read more

Great experience, we really enjoyed the naturalist on board answering all our questions and pointing things out. They do a really good job of getting everyone on the "right" side to see whales. We saw several humpbacks breaching, and a ton of bird and dolphin activity. Really was a step beyond other whale watching trips to be able to see so many whales slowly feeding, you could even hear them breathing! Going back for a 2nd trip later this week to do it all again! read more

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Here is the updated review with the bird sighting seamlessly woven into the wildlife section: Great experience with Discovery! We went out on the morning of July 5th. It was a bit overcast, but the seas were relatively calm. Because there were quite a few guests that morning, they split us into two boats. This worked out perfectly--the boats were small enough that they didn't feel overcrowded, yet large enough that everyone had plenty of space by the railings for a good view. Even with the calm conditions, a few passengers still got a bit seasick (it is the open ocean, after all!), but the boat handled the water really well. While the overcast skies were a bit of a bummer for photo lighting, you can't control the weather--and I'd much rather have a foggy, calm day than a clear day with choppy seas! The wildlife absolutely made the trip. We had a fantastic time and saw a lot of humpback whales, including mothers with their calves. They put on quite a show for us--lunge feeding, tail slapping, diving, and at one point, even swimming right under our boat! As an incredible bonus, we encountered a massive pod of over 1,000 dolphins swimming, leaping out of the water, and racing alongside the boat. It was truly a sight to behold. To top it all off, we came across a raft of sea lions playing in the water, as well as a whole bunch of different birds--including one species that migrates all the way from New Zealand! Discovery runs a great operation. The captain clearly knew exactly where to look, taking us to two different prime locations to watch the whales. Our naturalist, Isaiah, was also fantastic--he was incredibly knowledgeable and kept the energy levels high throughout the trip. Overall, a great cruise and highly recommended! read more

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We had an amazing trip 3/28/26 We saw 400-500 pod of dolphins and 10 Humpback whales!!! Beautiful day , took a lot of pictures and videos !!! Would do it again in a minute!! read more

We met 9 orcas for that day! Amazing experience. The instructors on the boat were friendly and comfortable to talk if you have any issue on the boat. Most importantly, they have a lot of knowledges to explain about the orcas. First time to meet orcas for me. fantastic whale watching experience. read more

Discovery Whale Watch - Orca - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

Fantastic cruise highly recommended! From the friendly, competent office staff to the excellent boat captain to the great naturalist on board, trip couldn't have been better. We were very fortunate to see almost 1000 - - yes, that's 1000 - - dolphins and also several humpbacks, and although you can't count on that type of siting with certainty, this is well worth the effort. read more

Finally get to check seeing a whale breach off of my bucket list ! The crew was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. They tell everyone which side of the boat they'll face the whales on and ensure everyone gets a spot to see. They don't overcrowd, so everyone gets to be against the railing on the viewing side. It's truly magical being surrounded by so much life. We saw 1500+ dolphins, multiple humpback mothers and calves, an escort, and a 34+ year old male breaching all in the span of an hour. They also provide the photos they get on Google Drive, so you can focus on taking everything in with your own eyes if you'd like. I loved knowing the identities of the whales we saw as well. Even if nature had decided to show us nothing, I'd still very much appreciate their service. Couldn't recommend enough ! I'll come back some day in hopes of seeing a blue whale ! read more

What an amazing experience! We got to see numerous humpback whales, including a momma and baby. We also saw tons of northern right whale dolphins (they have no dorsal fin), white sided dolphins, sea lions, otters and birds like pelicans, cormorants, and terns. We went with Discovery Whale Watching and they were fantastic! Our marine biologist/guide, Maddy, was amazing! She was very knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic. Highly recommend them! read more

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We went mid/late June and saw a plethora of blue whales, fin whales, dolphins, birds, a few young sea lions, and a couple of humpbacks. The tail waves from the blue whales were the boat favorites, but all the dolphins doing their runs by the boat were a close 2nd. The crew was great and the tour guide would go around and answer any questions you might have between sightings. Tips: don't forget your sunscreen, wear a hat, as well as a waterproof jacket, pants, and shoes, especially if you stand in the front. read more

Came here with my 3 month old baby and we had a blast! Be aware they don't allow strollers or wheelchairs. The naturalists were adept and were very informative about the lovely creatures in Monterey bay. The amount of action you see on the 3 hours tour was mind blowing. From pods of dolphins to whales with their calves, what a spectacular experience. Be prepared with taking motion sickness pills because an abundance of people were throwing up overboard. Really wanted to see the Orcas which were spotted at the 8 AM tour same day, but unfortunately we weren't as lucky. I will definitely be coming back again for their extended tour next April! read more

We booked this trip to see the whales and I feel like we left with so much more. The knowledge that our captain and crew, particularly Sophie, had about the many inhabitants of the ocean was so awesome! We seen Orcas, Humpbacks, Dolphins, and of course sea lions. We look forward to doing it again! read more

The staff was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The 9am departure did not disappoint. Once spouts were spotted the Captain took us as close as safe to see the Humpback Whales, which was plenty close. I wish I had a better camera with me to do it justice. We also saw sea otters, common murres, cormorants and an incredible pod of Risso dolphins. Totally worth the money and time. read more

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Great company. awesome captain and hard working deckhand. Sign up and go get you some. read more

Discovery Whale Watch - Had an awesome time fishing with J&M. The captain put us on fish all day. - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

Amazing experience with Discovery Whale Watch yesterday. He saw multiple whales and a massive pods of dolphins. Two Humpback whales breached within 75 or so yards of our boat. The crew was amazing. They were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. read more

June 26th, 2026 we were 4 people. All 4 vomitting, so many people voimittng nauseatic @from the get go".. From the time ride atarted it was so turbulent water.. MOST IMPORTANT point = Discovery Whale SHOULD have Cancelled the tripz Instead they ignored the weathee conditions and continued and out us through the AGONY. read more

What an adventure!!!! When they say layer clothing they mean it. We did and we had the best trip! The entire staff and crew were very friendly, educated, and informed. There was a professional photographer onboard and take advantage of that! They show you all the amazing sites you can only see form sea..lol while on you journey out. The crew know what they are doing and you will see some amazing things! read more

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My good friend was visiting from the UK and, as a first-time visitor to America, he was keen on doing a whale watching cruise. Based on Yelp! reviews, I booked our trip with Discovery Whale Watch and I'm glad we did! Great communication, very personable, highly knowledgeable and absolutely professional. Naturalist Isaiah was brilliant. It was the highlight of my friend's visit. We did the 9 AM cruise and saw several humpbacks, plus a blue whale. Highly recommend! read more

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We were running a little late and they called to check in loved that . Having a naturalist on board is always great . We did the extended tour and they do an amazing job at making the 6+ hrs fly by , my 3rd time riding with them and always a great experience. read more

Discovery Whale Watch - Humpback whale - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

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First time ever going whale watching -- and I absolutely loved the experience! We only spotted one humpback whale, which was a bit disappointing since I was hoping to see more whales and maybe some dolphins too, but of course, that's out of anyone's control. My husband and I, along with a few others, got seasick from the strong waves. I've never experienced seasickness before, so we didn't take any meds in advance -- big mistake! Definitely recommend grabbing the motion sickness pills from the crew (only $1), they're totally worth it. Huge shoutout to the amazing staff -- Maddie, JJ, and Ryan -- for being so kind and helpful! read more

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We had a wonderful excursion. Dolphins, 2 varieties, jellyfish, and 5 humpback whales. We same a mom and calf breach the water. Great time. read more

Amazing trip. Took my son on his first whale trip. Maddy and Isaiah was amazing. They were so patient and very informative. The day was perfect we did not see many whales but that happens. The three that was did see was perfect. I will never use a different whale watching company again. Also, I love how they keep the ocean clean. They picked up two different balloons that were floated in the ocean. I wish I knew how many balloons they pulled out of the ocean weekly or montly. read more

From the time we walked in, it was such a great experience.The staff was very knowledgeable and super friendly!!! They sell seasickness remidies, and suggested we took the meds before we got on the boat.I have to say it worked very well because I did not feel any kind of nauseate neither did my husband or kids. When we got on the boat, the staff continue to be very knowledgeable and very friendly and made it so fun!! We got to see killer whales and humpback whales along with seals , jellyfish and other wonderful sea life as we headed out to the open sea.. Our tour guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the whales in marine life she was such a sweet funny lady!! I totally forgot her name sorry but she has sunglasses and hair in ponytail with hat ! (Your amazing thank you for the awsome tour ) We had such a kool unique experience!!! I totally recommend this wonderful company read more

Amazing experience. We got to see a huuuuuge group of dolphins. So beautiful. We hit our 3 hour time and hadn't seen any whales but just as we were heading in, we were able to see a few nearby and the team let us hang for a while over our time to enjoy them for a bit. Overall a great experience. Can't wait to go back. read more

Discovery Whale Watch - A beautiful day - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

Very professional and helpful. Especially helpful to my 90 year old dad! We'll be coming back. read more

Discovery Whale Watch - A calf humpback breached at least 12 times! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

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Had a wonderful experience with Discovery Whale Watch! We brought our 80+ year old parents with mobility issues. The Captain, crew and office staff were extremely accommodating and helpful getting them on and off the boat and situated. Extremely grateful for their caring so my parents could enjoy a once in a lifetime experience. We saw a group of Grey Whales and group of Humpbacks playing (tail flings, breach, flipper flaps and fluke slaps!) I highly recommend Discovery Whale Watch! read more

Great experience with Discovery. Isaiah the guide was very personable and kept the group informed and in the know of any whales while we were out. I did the 3 hour trip and it was definitely enough time. read more

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When I tell you, this is the BEST whale watching experience you could ever have, I mean that!! Isaiah, Kayla (probably not spelled right) and JJ was the MOST amazing team you could ever have!! They were just awesome!!! They cared so much about the passengers and went above and beyond to search for the best whale watching experience and it was hands down the best experience!! We saw so many humpbacks and they sought out my absolutely most desired, the orcas!! Again, above and beyond team. EVERYONE should book this trip over others!! I can't recommend them enough. read more

Went for an anniversary trip and had the best time. Everyone was so nice and friendly and we had a great adventure that will for sure be talked about for years to come. We saw dolphins, otters and a whale. It was a one in a lifetime experience. read more

We loved our excursion with Discovery Whale Watch! While they fully explained that there was a chance we wouldn't see anything, our trip was extremely lucky. 6 Humpbacks, 20 Grey Whales, 150-200 Dolphins, 2 Jelly Fish, Sea Lions, and birds galore! First, we had a little safety instruction meeting that was both informative and fun. Then, we loaded onto the boat and were helpfully reminded boat etiquette. Traveling out of the harbor to get to the whale crossing was more interesting than we anticipated. The crew talked to everyone and answered any and all of our questions and helped create a great atmosphere. Once, we got to the crossing or channel the crew worked as a team to help locate the whales. They were calm and that energy passed onto the rest of the passengers. I liked how our group was small, no more than 35 people and one dog which was kinda funny. We respectfully kept a distance from the whales and let another boat know our location so they could join us. As we left to see more pods all of the sudden we were surrounded! It was amazing how quiet all of us became when around these giant creatures. Did you know whales can get a cold? If you smell something kinda icky it's not the bathroom vent. Just a whale with a respiratory infection. Who knew! Honestly, we had a once in a lifetime experience and would recommend this team to everyone. read more

Discovery Whale Watch - Whale Tail - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

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Despite 2 of the 4 of us getting sea sick, this is was a great experience. The tour guide was awesome and made every effort to see Orca whales. Thankfully, we DID see Orcas which was the highlight of my trip. I was absolutely enthralled to see them (4 in the pod). Even though I got seasick, I still had the time of my life seeing these beauties in the wild. Even if we didn't see whales, the staff was great and I appreciated them very much. I'd absolutely recommend my friends to this company. read more

Mattie and Isaiah made the trip! They were both energetic, knowledgeable and entertaining. We had a great time and saw many humpback whales. Highly recommended. read more

Amazing trip! Our naturalist Maddie was very knowledgeable and the entire crew was friendly and welcoming! We were lucky enough to see an orca pod, several humpback whales and more sea lions than we could count. Would definitely recommend! read more

Excellent staff. Safe and fun tour. Maddie was the naturalist, very knowledgeable and passionate about marine science. We really enjoyed ourselves, watching a feeding event with multiple whales and also saw three sleeping. Would definitely recommend and repeat. read more

We had an amazing time with Discovery Whale Watch! The captain and crew were highly knowledgeable and we saw a truly amazing array of marine life from humpbacks to dolphins to grey whales to orcas. This is a can't miss part of any trip to the Monterey area. read more

Discovery Whale Watch - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

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I can't imagine a better whale watching experience. Every time we've gone it's been that way; and having a naturalist guide makes it a fascinating time. In this case, we had the excellent Isiah, who graduated from cal state Monterey and is clearly an expert on the marine life and biology. He was charismatic and a great explainer for both adults (from all countries) and for children. He was enthusiastic for the entire trip. read more

We saw plenty of whales. The naturalist/guide was super knowledgeable, with a high stoke level.

Discovery Whale Watch is great! Ryan was our naturalist on the boat and he did an amazing job informing guests and keeping us on our toes for whales! Great experience 10/10 Don't forget your Dramamine! read more

It was a full boat. The deckhands were very attentive. I especially appreciated the help getting me, my fish, and fishing tackle off the boat. Even the captain found my gear without having to go back onto the boat. The lingcod fishing was spectacular. Going to Pt Sur is always an excellent trip. Thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

What an amazing trip! Gorgeous day, expert, captain and crew, and five humpback whales, feeding like crazy! Not to mention the dozens of sea lions, and hundreds of sea birds. Would've gone again the next day if we hadn't had to leave town. read more

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My 2nd tour on Captain Danny's boat with Isaiah did not disappoint, and expectations were high after the 1st. These guys bring great energy and clearly love what they do. I didn't expect to learn as much I did (new info on each trip!) but it certainly increased my appreciation for these beautiful mammals. Isaiah entertains with his delivery of fascinating facts and is just as much a part of the experience as the whales. read more