The sun beats down on clear blue waters, waves rock your boat gently as you keep your eyes peeled for humpback, gray and blue whales. You don't need to take a field trip with an elementary school class to experience whale watching in Central California's Monterey Bay. Whether it's on an organized expedition or a self-guided tour, visitors can observe a variety of marine life off the Monterey coast.
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, encompassing 276 miles of shoreline and 6,094 square miles of ocean, is one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world. Overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Monterey Bay is one of 13 national marine sanctuaries and a marine national monument. The bay was designated a sanctuary in 1992. Among Monterey Bay's 33 species of marine mammals are gray, blue, humpback, beaked, fin, killer and minke whales.
Humpback whales are the most frequently observed large baleen whale in Monterey Bay. These whales show up mostly in the fall. Humpbacks are black on their upper side and mottled black and white on their underside. Its distinctive black and white pattern is exposed when a humpback dives deeply into the ocean and throws its fluke, or tail, upward. Humpbacks have irregularly shaped dorsal fins about two-thirds down their backs.
Nearly the entire population of gray whales, recorded at 21,000 to 23,000 in 1988 by the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, passes through the Monterey Bay sanctuary. They feed off the coast of Alaska during the summer and are rarely seen eating in Central California. During the winter, gray whales migrate to Baja California to breed and prepare their calves. Gray whales often fall prey to killer whales. Instead of dorsal fins, gray whales have a dorsal hump about two-thirds of the way down their top.
Over the fall months, blue whales travel along the California coast in search of krill, or small shrimplike crustaceans, to consume. A blue whale's dorsal fin is small, about one-foot at its tallest, and triangular or curved. Often, blue whales are blue-gray with a mottled lighter gray on top of a darker background.
Minke whales are seen around Monterey Bay year-round, but are less common in the winter. A minke whale's coloring is darker gray to a faded white toward its underside. Its dorsal fin, found two-thirds down its back, is tall and curved. Beaked whales are deep water species rarely found along the Monterey Bay National Sanctuary. One of the most notable features of a beaked whale is its rounded snout, which looks much like a dolphin's. Two-thirds down its back is a small, triangular dorsal fin.
The black-and-white or cream-colored killer whale may be the most recognizable cetacean. Somewhat uncommon in Monterey Bay, killer whales are transient and attack other marine mammals. Gray whales and sea lions top killer whales' list of food. Male dorsal fins can reach 6 feet in height and are shaped like an isosceles triangle. Females have curved dorsal fins up to 3 feet tall.
For a chance to see one of the many species of whales that frequent Monterey Bay, tourists can hitch a ride with one of about a dozen guided tours. The greatest variety of whales are spotted from June to October. Tours usually run about 2 1/2 hours and can be booked online in advance or on the same day of the trip depending on availability.
