BLUE & HUMPBACK WHALES
 The Farallon Islands, just 27 miles off San Francisco, lie amid the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, a food-rich marine ecosystem which attracts whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds each summer and fall, to feed and to breed. Researchers have catalogued hundreds of individual humpbacks and blue whales as seasonal feeding residents. Twenty three species of marine mammals, including 18 species of whales and dolphins, can be found here.
 The Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is the largest seabird rookery in the contiguous United States with nesting Tufted Puffins, Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets, Shearwaters, and ther species. Island beaches are covered with sea lions, including massive Steller's sea lions, now on the Endangered Species List.
Each trip is led by an expert naturalist who assists with locating whales, identifying seabirds and other marine life, and who provide informative presentations throughout the trip on the islands and marine ecology of the area.
TRIP INFORMATION
Full-day whale watching cruises depart from San Francisco at 8:00am, and from Sausalito at 7:15 aboard the 56-foot Salty Lady Coast Guard certified vessel on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-May through November.Â
Free parking from both departure points.
Farallon Islands whale watching participants will
receive a free DVD, Farallon Islands: Past, Present and Future.
Produced by the Oceanic Society in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service , and award-winning Earthviews productions, the 40-minute film provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Farallon
National Wildlife Refuge. A virtual walking tour of the islands, this
production introduces the viewer to the islands' researchers, refuge
staff and former residents as they provide first-hand insights about
the wildlife, history , and current conservation
efforts. The DVD will be distributed aboard the vessel.
Departure:
San Francisco Yacht Harbor/Marina Green, just outside the Harbormaster's office (please do not enter the building or disturb the harbormaster). Reminder: Check-in time is 7:30 am, boat leaves 8:00 a.m.
OR
Sausalito Clipper Yacht Harbor on Harbor Drive.Reminder check-in time is at 7:00am, boat leaves at 7:15am.
Free parking at both sites.Â
Duration: Approximately 8 hours. Inclues the Continental Shelf a known hot spot for dolphins and whales
Itinerary:
Under the Golden Gate Bridge and west to the Farallon Islands. Weather permitting, we visit the Continental Shelf to search for deep water whales and dolphins.
Vessel:
Certified 56-foot Salty Lady. Our whale watching vessel offers an observation deck, indoor seating salon (limited indoor seating) and bathroom. Our captains have worked on Oceanic Society nature cruises for 20 years.
Passenger maximum: 48.
Clothing:
Warm, layered with water-proof outerwear for sea spray recommended.
Parking: Free off-street parking.
Food & Refreshments: Bring lunch and beverages.
Age Restrictions:
Age minimum 10; an adult must accompany youths under 15.
TRIPS GO RAIN OR SHINE!
Most trips will benefit from the participation of a Cascadia Research Collective researcher
who will be on board to collect data on humpback and blue
distribution. Cascadia's work on blue whales was recently  featured in National Geographic Society's Magazine. See their website: http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/Dome.htm
The Oceanic Society, a nonprofit organization, was
commended by the California State Senate for its public education
service through Whale Watch and Farallon Islands programs. In
cooperation with Cascadia Research, the Oceanic Society sponsors
long-term humpack whale research in the Gulf of the Farallones. Since
1972, Oceanic Society has sponsored educational natural history
encounters for over 140,000 people. Program revenues benefit the
environmental education and conservation research.Â
For recorded information on Oceanic Society's current sightings of wildlife please call the sightings hotline: 415 474-0488.
Factoids About Local WHALE WATCHING Programs
RELATED LINKS
HALF MOON BAY WHALE WATCHING
SAN FRANCISCO WHALE WATCHING
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2010 FARALLON ISLANDS and
the Continental Shelf
Sign Up Here
Humpback and Blue whales migrate to the Gulf of the Farallones from May through November.
Gray Whales migrate along the California coast from December - April. Click here for Gray Whales
Watch our video of an amazing trip on October 11, 2009
"BLUE WHALE SIGHTINGS -- One of the single-most spectacular wildlife events of the year off the coast."
San Francisco Chronicle - 10/19/2008
Farallon Islands Whale Watching
including the Continental Shelf:
hot spot for Whales
San Francisco Departures-
Saturdays & Sundays:
2010 RATES: $120.00/person
(includes free Farallon DVD)
MAY 2010
Saturday, May 22-register
Saturday, May 29-register
Sunday, May 23-register
Sunday, May 30-register
JUNE 2010
Saturday, June 5-register
Saturday, June 12-register
Saturday, June 19-register
Saturday, June 26-register
Sunday, June 6-register
Sunday, June 13-register
Sunday, June 20-register
Sunday, June 27-register
JULY 2010
Saturday, July 3-register
Saturday, July 10-register
Saturday, July 17-register
Saturday, July 24-register
Sunday, July 4-register
Sunday, July 11-register
Sunday, July 18-register
Sunday, July 25-register
Sunday, July 31-register
AUGUST 2010
Saturday, August 7-register
Saturday, August 14-register
Saturday, August 21-register
Saturday, August 28-register
Sunday, August 1-register
Sunday, August 8-register
Sunday, August 15-register
Sunday, August 22-register
Sunday, August 29-register
SEPTEMBER 2010
Saturday, September 4-register
Saturday, September 11-register
Saturday, September 18-register
Saturday, September 25-register
Sunday, September 5-register
Sunday, September 12-register
Sunday, September 19-register
Sunday, September 26-register
OCTOBER 2010
Saturday, October 2-register
Saturday, October 9-register
Saturday, October 16-register
Saturday, October 23-register
Saturday, October 30-register
Sunday, October 3-register
Sunday, October 10-register
Sunday, October 17-register
Sunday, October 24-register
NOVEMBER 2010
Saturday, November 6-register
Saturday, November 13-register
Saturday, November 20-register
Saturday, November 27-register
Sunday, November 7-register
Sunday, November 14-register
Sunday, November 21-register
Sunday, November 28-register
2010 RATES: $120.00/person
(includes free Farallon DVD)
We reserve the right to increase trip fees if there are exceptional cost increases for fuel.
RESERVATIONS
Online, Phone, Mail
Reservations recommended - call our office for availability (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm PST (415) 474-3385 )or 800 326-7491.
Whale Watching Gift Certificates
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases draft of the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge for public review.
