About This Trip
Departures: Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay | Every Saturday & Sunday | January 4th - March 30th | 2:00pm Departure | 5:00pm Return | Click here to book now!
Trip Details: Every year, over 20,000 gray whales migrate past Half Moon Bay on their way from Alaska to Mexico. Join us for a sunset whale watching cruise to witness them! See and learn more with Oceanic Society due to our reduced passenger capacity and 50+ years of Bay Area whale-watching expertise. After the trip, you'll also receive free wildlife photos from our professional photographer. For more details, check our Detailed Trip Itinerary.
About Us: Oceanic Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that has been leading whale watching tours in the Bay Area since 1972. Proceeds from ticket sales support our conservation programs, such as whale and sea turtle research, plastic pollution removal, and ocean-based field trips for under-resourced student groups. Thank you for your support!
Our Boat: The 60-foot classic, New Captain Pete is an exceptionally stable boat with ample viewing deck space and comfortable indoor amenities. Perfect for offshore adventures.
Private Trips Available: We also offer private whale watch charters for your social or business event. Inquire with whales@oceanicsociety.org to start planning today.
Trip Capacity: 33 passengers (Only 67% of our boat's legal limit of 48 passengers. We keep plenty of space to move around and see whales!)
Whale Sightings Likelihood: There is an 86% chance of seeing migrating whales on our trips January-March (based on the past 40 years of Oceanic Society sightings data)
Age Limit: Must be 8 years or older to participate
Parking: Free all day in Lot C | For Parking Diagram & Additional Trip Details Click Here
Any Questions?: Email whales@oceanicsociety.org and get a fast response!
Clothing: Due to the potential for fog, wind, and spray, please wear waterproof shoes and an outer layer. A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also recommended.
Food & Beverages: Coffee and tea are available on board the boat. Please bring your own food if you wish. Alcohol is discouraged but not prohibited. Backpacks are allowed, but due to space limitations, please refrain from bringing coolers.
Weather Cancellations: Trips will proceed rain or shine but may be canceled due to high winds or rough seas. If a cancellation occurs, all passengers will be notified via email and text. You will have the option to either reschedule your trip or receive a full refund.
Policies: Please read our comprehensive Terms and Conditions for details on our cancellation, refund, and reschedule policies.
Half Moon Bay Whale Watching Reviews
Conservation Impact
Oceanic Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on ocean conservation. Your whale watch participation supports initiatives like our Conservation Scholars Program, which provides educational ocean experiences to underserved students in the San Francisco Bay Area. We also collect data on marine mammals during our cruises, sharing it with researchers in the eastern Pacific. Discover our identified whales on Happywhale and learn about whale tail photo identification here.
Dates & Pricing
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Itinerary
Your Oceanic Society guides will welcome you for check-in at 1:30 p.m. at the entrance to Johnson Pier at Pillar Point Harbor. Following a wildlife introduction, we will proceed to our vessel and depart at 2:00 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from whale and seabird experts, and we are also accompanied by a skilled photographer who will document noteworthy moments throughout the day, sharing these images with you afterward, free of charge.
As we depart from Pillar Point Harbor, we encourage you to remain vigilant, as it is common to observe playful sea lions, harbor porpoises, and even whales shortly after departure. The waters in this area are also populated with a diverse array of seabirds and migratory species to keep an eye out for.
In our quest for whales, we typically navigate several miles into deeper waters. Our search is informed by reports from local fishermen and other boats in the area. The first southbound migrating whales traverse through Half Moon Bay as early as December, and there are still whales in the area through April and May.
Depending on the whales' locations, our expedition may extend as far south as the stunning Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay or as far north as the renowned Mavericks surf competition site along the beautiful central coast.
As the trip concludes around sunset, our wildlife experts will provide insights into our observations together and you will receive a link to our photographer’s best shots of the day. We will return to the dock promptly at 5:00 p.m.
Ship
New Captain Pete
The New Captain Pete is a 60-foot U.S. Coast Guard certified vessel with a maximum capacity of 48 passengers. She is a remarkably stable vessel, well-suited to the demands of open ocean operation with ample observation deck space as well. Comfortable d…
Naturalist(s)
Your expedition will be led by one or more of the following expert naturalist guides:
