Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer



Oceanic Expeditions

Whale Watching Tours
Monterey, CA
















Book Your Whale Watching Expedition!

Choose your date to see all available expeditions!

Welcome to Oceanic Expeditions in Monterey, CA!

Humpback whale tail breaching the ocean surface against a clear sky.

Mission

Oceanic Expeditions is a high-end, peaceful Whale Watching and Wildlife charter. Avoid the crowds of people on our boat as our capacity is up to 6 passengers. You will feel one with nature as we provide premium, eye level views of the whales. The best photographers get as low to the water as possible to capture incredible images and you can experience the thrill of low angle viewing aboard our new, quiet, safe Stabicraft boat. These Safe boats are used, trusted, and certified by the Coast Guard. Trips depart daily from Moss Landing CA, perfectly located between Monterey & Santa Cruz. We strive to offer the best Wildlife Whale Watching Tours in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for locals & tourists as we cruise to various whale locations.

Whale breaches water with a bird on top at sunset.

History

We provide a more relaxing, calmer, nature-focused whale watching experience for smaller groups of people. The Challenge was created with the idea of offering premium trips while providing the best possible views of the wildlife. Our team has been leading whale watching trips in Monterey Bay for the past 10 years. Another perk of choosing a smaller boat is less seasickness. You feel more connected to the water and can establish a rhythm with the sea and therefore, less chances of getting seasick. Our approach helps you connect more deeply with the wildlife. We engage in genuine conversation rather than talking at you, avoiding the use of loud PA systems so the natural sounds take center stage.

Our Captain’s footage has been featured in several documentaries including Netflix, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, Fox, KSBW, SF Golden Gate, etc.

Close-up of a dolphin swimming just below the water's surface, creating a reflection in the calm sea.

Seal the deal

Daily Departures:

Morning Trips: 9:30 AM ~ 12:30 PM
Afternoon Trips: 12:30 PM ~ 3:30 PM
Sunset Trips: 4:00 PM ~ 7:00 PM
Extended Private Charters: 8:00 AM ~ 2:00 PM

Whale Watching and Wildlife Photography Tours Monterey CA

We’re looking forward to whale watching with you!

Recent Trips

View More Videos on Youtube

See What Our Guests Say About Us!
★★★★★

Amazing Experience!

This was an amazing experience!! Crew was so nice and friendly and made this trip just perfect. We have seen lots of Dolphins and Humpbacks. Unfortunately no Orcas, but it was a bit early in the season. I can highly recommend Oceanic Expeditions. With the small boat and only 6 passengers next to the crew, you get the perfect experience. You are way more agile to get to the best places and the crew has the chance to explain everything to you. Big thanks again for this great day!

– heisan74, TripAdvisor
Fun and Amazing Few days!

What an amazing few days with Mike and Mary from Oceanic Expeditions. Orcas, Humpbacks, Risso's dolphins, Harbor Porpoises, Sea lions and even a Mola Mola. Mike and Mary were knowledgable about the species and conservation of these beautiful animals, and most importantly they were very respectful with each encounter, giving the animal the space it needed while we watched in awe. I will definitely be booking with Oceanic Expeditions again soon.

– Stephanie H, GoogleReviews
Unforgettable

Mike and Mary gave us an unforgettable day. We saw a large group of orcas trying to kill 2 grey whales, and ultimately giving up. Very unusual. Mike & Mary were great hosts and were as excited about what we were seeing as we were. Going out in a small boat may cost a bit more, but it was totally worth it. We were able to get closer and there was no jostling for good camera spots. We felt like guests, more than customers. I will always be glad I did this.

– PhilipCSC, TripAdvisor
Incredible Trip

Had an incredible AM whale watching trip with Oceanic Expeditions. A spectacular humpback whale encounter, 3-4 very large adults coming right up to the boat and showing off their flukes and looking directly at us. It was soul shaking! I was extremely comfortable on the boat, I had my own space and was very comfortably seated with my bag in arms reach. For me, this setup is much better than the vessels that take on a ton of people as they aren’t as comfortable. I highly recommend Oceanic Expeditions for a super comfortable and intimate whale watching experience out on the bay, I will definitely be back for more trips! 🐋🐬

– Alicia T, GoogleReviews
I would recommend this to everybody!!

Today my husband and I went whale watching with Oceanic Expeditions. From the start Mike was very enthusiastic and hospitable, we were received on a beautiful boat. After leaving the harbor, Mike immediately started telling about the marine life in the region. After about 10 minutes we were lucky enough to spot the first whale, followed by an encounter with 2 other whales. Mike clearly knew how to get close to the animals in a respectful way, this made for an unforgettable experience where we got to see the two whales very close. Mike's interest and enthusiasm were beautiful to see and made for a unique experience for us. We would recommend this tour to anyone

– Robin B, TripAdvisor