A marine mammal cruise is scheduled for Saturday, July 30, 2011. Nancy Black and Richard Ternullo of Monterey Bay Whale Watch are offering this trip as a benefit to ACS/MB's educational programs and research grants to local graduate students. Local distinguished naturalists will be on board to offer explanations and background information concerning the marine mammals, birds and other creatures encountered.

Highlights of recent summer/fall whale watching trips include sightings of blue whales, humpback whales, Dall's porpoises riding the bow wave, Pacific white-sided dolphins, minke whales, and numerous common dolphins. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters are among the other marine mammals frequently spotted.

Birds observed on these trips include pelicans, gulls, cormorants, common murres, black-footed albatross, sooty and pink-footed shearwaters, phalaropes and terns. Leatherback turtles have also been seen, as well as close-up views of ocean sunfish (mola mola).

The cost of the trip is $50 per person. Please send checks to ACS, Post Office Box HE, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950. For additional details phone 831-901-7259.

The cruise will last from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with boarding at 8:30 a.m. at the Monterey Bay Whale Watch Center on Fisherman's Wharf. See the Monterey Bay Whale Watch website for directions.

Read accounts of previous Summer Whale Watching Trips:
     2005   2004   2000   1999

Also see the August 2007 issue of Soundings for information about that year's trip, including background information about whales and dolphins seen on summer whale watch cruises (pdf file, opens in new window).

See a list of marine mammals recently observed in Monterey Bay.

Make your reservation early, since space is limited.

Click on images below to see full-size photographs taken on earlier summer whale-watching cruises in Monterey Bay.

Humpback whale	Humpback whale	Blue whale
Pelicans and gulls	Sea otter	Sea lions