Farallon Islands Whale Watching Original

• Educational Whale Watching operator in Bay Area since 1984
• Only nonprofit organization offering year-round whale watching
• Official partner of the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge
• Sponsor of Humpback  and Blue Whale Research in cooperation with Cascadia Research Collective (see below)
• Most experienced naturalists
• FREE DVD of Oceanic Society's new Farallon Islands film (with trip registration)

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. Bird and Marine Mammal Calendar  Spring- Summer (May-Aug):  Western Grebes; Black-footed Albatrosses; Northern Fulmars; Pink-footed, Buller’s, Sooty Shearwaters; Ashy Storm-Petrels; Brown Pelicans; Double-crested, Brandt’s, Pelagic Cormorants; Black Oystercatchers; Red-necked, Red Phalaropes; Pomarine, Parasitic Jaegers; South Polar Skuas; Heermann’s, Herring, Western, Sabine’s Gulls; Caspian, Elegant, Common, Arctic, Forster’s Terns; Common Murres; Pigeon Guillemots; Xantus’s, Craveri’s, Marbled (rare) Murrelets; Cassin’s, Rhinoceros Auklets; Tufted Puffins.   Tufted Puffins and general bird diversity  better in May/June/early July. Fall (Sep-Nov):  Red-throated, Pacific, Common Loons; Eared, Western, Clark’s Grebes; Black-footed Albatrosses; Northern Fulmars; Pink-footed, Buller’s, Sooty, Black-vented Shearwaters; Ashy, Wilson’s (rare) Storm-Petrels; Brown Pelicans; Double-crested, Brandt’s, Pelagic Cormorants; Black, Surf, White-winged Scoters; Black Oystercatchers; Red-necked, Red Phalaropes; Ruddy Turnstones; Pomarine, Parasitic Jaegars; South Polar Skuas; Bonaparte’s, Heermann’s, Mew, Ring-billed, California, Herring, Western, Glaucous-winged, Sabine’s Gulls; Caspian, Elegant, Arctic, Forster’s Terns; Cassin’s, Rhinoceros Auklets; Peregrin Falcon.   Marine mammals are found both in the summer and fall.  Blue, Humpback, Minke Whales; Risso’s Dolphin, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Northern Right Whale Dolphin; Harbor and Dall’s Porpoises.   California and Steller Sea Lions; Northern Elephant Seal, Northern Fur Seal, Harbor Seal, Sea Otter also possible.  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.  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 , the film provides a virtual walking tour of the islands, introducing 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.  Duration: Approximately 8 hours.  In order to visit the whale "hot spots," including the Continental, and have enough time to observe the wildlife at the islands, an 8 hour trip is required.   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. Vessel: Certified 56-foot Salty Lady. Our whale watching vessel offers an observation deck, indoor seating salon (limited indoor seating) and bathroom. Our captains are experienced in nature cruises. 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.  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 Watch our Video  2010-2011 FARALLON ISLANDS and the Continental Shelf Sign Up Here Humpback and Blue whales migrate to the  Farallones from May through November. Gray Whales migrate along the California coast from December - April. Click here for Gray Whales. CURRENT SIGHTINGS FARALLON ISLANDS WHALE WATCH  Farallon Islands Whale Watching San Francisco Departures-Saturdays & Sundays: 2010 -2011 RATES: $120.00/person (includes free Farallon DVD) MAY 2011 Saturday, May 21    -register Sunday,   May 22    -register Saturday, May 28    -register Sunday,   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 Saturday, July 31    -register Sunday, July 4        -register Sunday, July 11      -register Sunday, July 18      -register Sunday, July 25      -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 1 1-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) 474-3395 )or 800 326-7491. Whale Watching Gift Certificates "BLUE WHALE SIGHTINGS -- One of the single-most spectacular wildlife events of the year off the coast."San Francisco Chronicle - 10/19/2008