Incredible. At a responsible, but relatively close distance, we saw a pack of over 100 dolphins, observed enormous humpbacks, and enjoyed several seal lions and birds. Highly recommend treating yourself to this extraordinary experience. read more

Fantastic experience, many many Humpback Whales. Got some National Geo type images of breaching whales. Kate and Don did their best to get us close to the action. With limited people on board this is the only way to watch whales. read more

Amazing experience. Guide was very skilled and knowledgeable. Being so close to the water on a speedy boat was fantastic!

Absolutely incredible experience with Fast Raft Ocean Safaris & Captain Kate! If you're anywhere near the Monterey Peninsula, local or visiting, you must experience Fast Raft Ocean Safaris. We had the privilege of heading out with Captain Kate, and what unfolded was truly beyond words. We witnessed countless humpback whale calves breaching all around us-so many that we didn't know which direction to look-left, right, behind the boat...it felt like nature's ballet on full display! The raft itself is impeccable-comfortable, smooth, and incredibly close to the water, which makes the encounters feel all the more intimate and powerful. It's small-group, thoughtfully guided, and environmentally conscious. Captain Kate's knowledge, passion, and deep respect for the ocean and its creatures created a sense of reverence and wonder that elevated the whole journey. This is not your average whale-watching tour-it's in a league of its own. A soul-stirring, jaw-dropping, life-affirming kind of outing. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Whether you're a local looking to reconnect with the majesty of your own backyard or a visitor hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this is the one to book. Truly unforgettable. read more

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I've taken Fastraft a few times. It's always an amazing experience ! The raft gives you the ability to be up close to the whales or dolphins while being completely safe. Leaving from Moss Landing allows you to be directly over the ocean trench so the wildlife is close to the harbor. It's amazing. Laura D read more

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High winds prevented us from an all day excursion but were awesome to experience on this mighty speed raft. Felt like we were on a huge jet ski! Catching sight of humpback whales, dolphins and much more delightful fauna only paled in comparison to the big smile on my 17 year old's son's face while the raft was jumping over huge waves with a few wonderfully refreshing splashes onboard. Captain Kate was super helpful; Captain Don was totally personable & highly informative. We plan to join again during peak season. Thank you! read more

Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

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Kate was amazing with her great personality and vast knowledge, and her Ranger was absolutely the best way to whale watch! Being closer to the surface of the water made such a huge difference in the experience! From the first moments only 1.5 miles out, we were witnessing so many whales feeding...even Moms and their calves! Sea lions en masse and lots of birds too really gave us a complete immersion into this wonderful world! We are already planning to whale watch with Kate again on our next trip to the Monterey area! read more

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Perfect boat if you want to get a close up view of whales and dolphins. Because the boat is low to the water you are almost at eye level. It's not a comfortable trip, as it's like you are riding a bucking bull at a bar. But it's totally worth it to get the close up eye level view. read more

Great experience. Top-notch equipment. Knowledgeable guides. Saw lots of whales! Really a great experience! Thank you!

Awesome boat and awesome captain. These people are the absolute best way to see wildlife in the Monterey Bay read more

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Fast Raft is the perfect way to see wildlife on Monterey Bay. You are close to the water and every seat has a good view.

Captain Kate is a superstar! Our adventure was perfect, and she thought of everything. We felt extremely safe with her expertise, and she struck the perfect balance between sharing information about the environment and animals, while also letting us simply enjoy the experience. Her cold-weather gear kept me, someone who gets cold easily, cozy the whole time, and her boat prevented any seasickness. I would give more than 5 stars if I could! I hope she continues sharing her amazing skills for many years to come. We saw so many whales, sea otters, porpoises, and even jellyfish - unbelievable! read more

What a great experience. We saw so much wildlife, and of course lots of whales. I've been on a lot of whale watch boats and I told Captain Kate that I think I'm only doing small boat whale watching in the future. You can book with this team with confidence that you're getting the best boat, the most knowledgeable guides, and an excellent time. They are the best. Bill R. read more

Been with fast raft a few times now over the years and it's always excellent! Went out yesterday with Brian and he was great. Didn't see as much activity as I have in the past but I've never been in the summer months. Still plenty of humpbacks around but no lunge feeding or breaches. It's always great to be out on the water in Monterey bay with such a fun and knowledgeable group! Thank again for another great ride! read more

I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful experience. The vessel is perfect for whale watching at its very best - low to the water and very stable. (Made me feel sorry for the big boat peeps..!) Super nice and knowledgeable naturalist/guide who knew just where to go and was very personable in making the day one of the best I've ever had (and I've had some pretty great days to choose from..!). Cannot wait to do it again. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone - it was magic! read more

From the kindness and professionalism of the captain, to the dozen or so multiple humpback whale sightings we experienced, (plus otters, sea lions, cormorants, common murres, and other creatures) our three hours exploring the sea life of Monterey Bay were absolutely amazing! read more

Wonderful morning seeing many many whales, rafts of sea lions, birds, otters, jellyfish. Highly recommend Fast Raft.

I have toured with fast raft 4 times. Capt. Kate and her crew are amazing- very knowledgeable, friendly and down-to-earth people. Each trip has been very different (remember they don't control the wildlife) but each one has been memorable. I've seen whales slapping their fins, a mother and a calf chin slapping, to the typical fluke. Every time, I see and learn something new. I wish Capt. Kate could take everyone on a tour so you could see how great she is. read more

Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Common dolphin - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

Pricier than the average whale watching tour but WORTH IT! We booked for a group of 4 and the trip consisted of us, a lovely couple from Texas, and Captain Kate. The raft experience was spectacular for so many reasons: 1 - It's so close to the water that you can see fish and jellyfish, and overall it's an intimate experience with nature 2 - NO SEASICKNESS! Even I had my doubts, but the raft was really so much more stable than the typical whale watching boat (which I've also done many times). I'm considering bringing my mother who traditionally gets very seasick. That's how smooth it was! 3 - Fast!! Not much more to add here. Capt. Kate herself was awesome, and she has this knowledgeable and calming vibe to her. We all felt very safe in her hands, and learned a lot about ocean wildlife and the surrounding Monterey/Santa Cruz area. It's obvious she's passionate about ocean conservation. As for what we saw, we started off seeing some huge pelicans and seals swimming right next to the harbor. Then we saw a family of orcas!! It looked like they were probably teaching their baby how to hunt birds (scary!). Humpbacks don't like orcas in this area (bc sometimes they hunt their calves!) so we watched as all the humpbacks in the area suddenly started coming together, huffing and puffing along to chase away the orcas. We smelled their stinky breath and it felt like they got very close to the boat (but Capt. Kate reassured us that they were much further than they seemed). After the commotion we watched a group of humpbacks socializing in a cluster and that was very interesting. We also saw many jellyfish along the way and even a sunfish at one point. read more

Kate & Dan were amazing! This was one of the best experiences ever! I was going to book with a different company on one of those double deckers, but I'm so glad I found Fast Raft instead. The intimacy of the small group makes for a much better experience. It was the beeesttt! read more

Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Cutie sea lion putting on a show for us! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

Had an incredible time... so glad I went with a small raft rather than a large boat. The ride in itself was exhilarating and worth the money, let alone the ability to be so close to sea life. We saw pelicans, seals, whales, AND hundreds of dolphins. read more

The BEST ocean eco tour in all of Monterey. Boats are perfect to see wildlife up close. The captains are extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife and the oceanography. read more

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Super worth it!! Even though a ton of whales weren't out, we found some and had an amazing experience because the boat is fast enough to bounce around to where the animals are. We saw amazing mats of jellyfish, a wild sunfish, whales, and dolphins (in addition to birds, sea lions, and otters). It was an incredible experience. Just zooming around in the raft was amazing. THANKS!! read more

Absolutely wonderful experience!!! Seeing the OTHER tourist boat with people crammed like sardines out there, really made me feel good about the extra money spent for a up close and personal experience. This speedboat fits 6 riders ( plus owners) so very amazing encounter with beautiful wildlife. There was soooooo many whales out there, I was mind blown. I took a whale watching tour in Hawaii and it could not compare to this adventure. So with all the breathtaking scenery, this was truly a treat. Unfortunately we had a passenger that got severely sick ( throwing up) and had to head in early. The owners were very tentative to the sick passenger . I was completely bummed to be honest, the tour was just getting really good. So with all that being said , please , even if you think you aren't sea sick start taking a motion sickness med the night before to be courteous to others. It cost over $400 for just my husband and I, so not necessarily something a family can do over and over... worth every penny , if you get to enjoy the FULL tour. The boat owners did offer to give $50 off or go back in the BEGINNING of the tour ( no where near the action) so just be aware of possible problems that may occur. It's life, I guess I was unlucky that day. I also feel like the owners should be more pushy on recommending over the counter motion sickness medication , we have to check in a hour prior , maybe even offer it . I plan to take this tour again, but if this is a extra treat for someone or a splurge, this can turn into a major let down , fast! read more

Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

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We booked this because A)obviously we wanted to see some whales, and B) we didn't want a crowded boat. Captain Kate and Don were so far beyond exceptional I can't even explain it. Their knowledge and love for marine biology were ever so present the entire adventure. The boat which held 8 including the capt/co-capt. was the most fun thing I have ever rode on. The waves were big and the boat handled it amazingly. Kate didn't get too close to the whales and dolphins to bother them but just close enough that these amazing mammals put on a great show for us. It is worth every penny and then some. We will most definitely be coming back next time we are in California. We didn't the afternoon trip but I think next time we might book out the whole adventure for ourselves to get an even more personal experience and more one on one time with these very smart and fun people. Thank you Capt. Kate and Don for an exceptional afternoon! -Brittany & Tyrus read more

We took our 2 boys (13 & 10) on the fast raft and had THE best time. After going in the fast raft, we will never go on a traditional whale watching boat, or as my husband called those boats, floating school buses. We got up close (like UP UP close) with whales, seals and dolphins as well as jelly and sun fish. Our captain knew tons of information about each species. When the whales took a deep dive for a while, our Captain sped (ie SUPER fast) across the bay to the dolphins, this was the highlight for our boys and us. We all had perma-grins from the 20 minutes of speeding across the bay. So So So fun. Total adventure. Highly Highly HIGHLY recommend. Worth every penny. read more

Fast raft is by far the best whale watching tour in Monterey Bay. You will be riding a zodiac boat watching sea life at eye level in an intimate group of 6. Captain Kate is a true whale enthusiast with a sea of knowledge. She is the best guide you could find. Everyone on board was just happy to be out there. Ticket price is higher than other whale watching tours with larger boats but there is really no comparison. If I could only do one whale watching trip in Monterey I will go with Fast Raft. read more

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Captain Kate was great! Very positive and made the experience very enjoyable. I look forward to the fast raft again. Thank you!

we loooooooooove going on the Fast Raft! We have been several times and have been lucky to have great sightings each time. The sea was rocky yesterday but we saw many humpbacks, which is always special. We also prefer leaving from Moss Landing as opposed to Monterrey, as the whales often seem to be that side of the World! read more

We loved it so much during Spring Break trip, we came back for Labor Day weekend and throughly enjoyed both times! First time was more a true ocean safari with whales, dolphins, and jelly fish etc. this time aftermath of a shark kill and whales galore including breaching ones! Our kids 10 and 14 especially loved every minute of the bouncy adventure ride too. I expected we will be back in 2022! read more

Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

FastRaft is still the only low-angle photography and discovery platform on Monterey Bay. The big boats have their own perspective, but FastRaft provides the only possibility of eye-level connection with the marine mammals in Monterey Bay. Beyond that, Kate is a great naturalist and skipper with a respectful approach to bringing you close to wildlife. Trust her intuition and have a great time on the water. There's always something to see, and her knowledge and narratives really help bring the area to life in whole new ways. read more

We had an amazing time. Even if you didn't see whales it's fun to ride the waves on the raft and see the other wildlife. Captain Kate is extremely knowledgeable and friendly and we learned a lot on our tour. We were able to closely follow a mom and calf pair of humpback whales for a while and speedily go to other areas to try to locate other whales too. I didn't feel seasick at all whereas I did on other whale watching tours on regular boats. Definitely dress warmly; she does provide the outer waterproof jacket and pants but you'll still want layers. We would definitely take her tour again! read more

Our family had a great time on THE FAST RAFT! Nice smooth ride and we felt completely safe on the small, swift boat. We saw Rissos Dolphins and Humpback whales ( moms and babies!), sea lions, otters and wide array of birds, including baby Cormorants. Capt. Kate and Dons vast knowledge of the area and the animals was impressive. Not only did we see whales up close, we also learned so much! Thank you so much for a wonderful enriching experience! Highly Recommend! read more

My husband and I went out on this tour yesterday, and although I was worried about getting seasick, we were fortunate to have terrific weather, relatively calm seas, and the expert maneuvering of Capt. Kate! We were rewarded with many sitings of whales, swimming together as well as eating, dolphins, jellies, and lovely seabirds. The raft is small enough to move around easily and follow the direction of the whales quickly. The seat allow you to sit or stand with a "bounce" that helps you "ride" the waves and feel secure and comfortable. Capt. Kate and Don were so helpful and flexible and worked to make our trip memorable and informational. I highly recommend letting them help you experience the bay! read more

Fast Raft is an outstanding way to see whales, dolphins and other marine life in Monterey Bay. The Captain and Crew were outstanding and really made the trip enjoyable. I've been on 2 other whale watching tours in Monterey and this was the best for the experience and money spent. This boat tour is more expensive, but what you gain is much more. The boat itself is quite quick, and despite it's size very stable regardless of the swells. We were able to go into some shallower coves and places that the larger ships would not be able to view. This gave us an opportunity to take in some outstanding crashing waves and lessons about the coastline. I'll be going back, and think that humpback season will be spectacular. The boat is low and provides and excellent vantage point for pictures. With only 6 passengers (max) you are never having to worry if you will get some time at the rail for pictures. Crew is knowledgeable about the whales and various seals and sea lions life, as well as birds and other creatures. This is a good boat for families, although I'm not sure what the age requirements are. Each seat is equipped with a seat belt, and each passenger is required to wear a life vest. These are low profile, and you don't even know you are wearing it. It will automatically deploy if you go overboard. I did not test the life vest. :) The only issue I had was reaching the company. They are in the process of migrating their ticketing to Zerve. Once I received a call back the process was very smooth. They also monitor their facebook page, so you can message them there as well. read more

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This experience was so much fun! This was our first time whale watching and we are so happy we went with Fast Raft! We got to see the whales from such an intimate perspective compared to the larger boats. Kate was very knowledgeable and very in tune with the whales. We felt safe and comfortable and had our smiles on the whole time! I recommend bringing cash for a tip! Thank you Kate for the wonderful afternoon at sea! read more

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Fast Raft was awesome. Professional yet fun captain and first mate! We saw tons of whales and my fiance and I had so much fun. Can't wait to be back! read more

Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Monterey, California

What a great experience! The 6-passenger Zodiak is comfortable, fast, quiet and gives an unobstructed view just inches above the water. Captain Kate is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable naturalist, and provided lots of fascinating information about the sea birds, otters and sea lions that we encountered. But the whale sightings were definitely the best. We must have seen at least 20 gray and humpback whales, some approaching very close to the boat. I was so excited to see a spectacular breach by a gray whale, coming straight up, almost entirely out of the water. Be sure and take her advice about how to dress, and take dramamine if you have a tendency to get seasick. She does a great job keeping everyone safe, including strict COVID19 protocol. Highly recommend this tour. read more

I'd booked the afternoon tour as a birthday gift for my Son. He wanted me to go along, so I bit the bullet and paid $185/ea for two tickets. I'd thought that this is a bit pricey, but, in my experience, a small, fast boat is an unusual way for the average person to whale watch, so I thought that it might be worth it. I was right. In fact, given the amount of fun that my Son and I had, the price is very reasonable. While the water in the bay was rough, the ride was, while not smooth, quite comfortable. We were told to come ready for wet spray and a bouncy ride, and we were indeed not disappointed. The boat, named the "Ranger," is a Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) designed for military use and is therefore sturdy, safe, and maneuverable. We quickly and efficiently got from place to place to find and keep up with both Humpback whales and Sea Lions. Once we returned to Moss Landing, we sailed the waters offshore, where we saw many shore and seabirds, Sea Otters, and Sea Lions feeding and resting. Captain Kate and First Mate Don saw to it that we understood the rules of the boat, how to use our safety equipment, and how to best enjoy our experience on the waters of Monterey Bay. They explained what we were seeing and spoke with much authority on most everything that we saw. They, as much as the whales, birds, otters, and other marine life made the afternoon a most memorable experience. read more

We had a great time on FastRaft! The small group made it a very personal trip. The small, open boat allowed viewing from our seats regardless of which side of the boat the whales were on. Being low to the water gave a great view of the whales and some awesome pictures. The captain did a great job aligning the boat for viewing and to keep us from rolling side to side on the swells. Definitely a fun trip. read more