San Francisco Bay Whale Watching- Farallon Island and Eco Tours

Great White Shark season at the Farallon Islands is September through November. During these months, there is a higher possibility of spotting a "great" white shark from our Farallon Island expeditions. The possiblity of seeing a white shark is also increased if you visit the Islands at Full Tide. The full tide allows the sharks to grab a seal or sea lion of the rocks easier. The full tides are indicated on our schedules. This photo of a "Great" White Shark was taken near the Farallon Islands from one of our expeditions. The birds flying away in the picture is what alerted us to the fact that the shark would surface. On this particular day we had two expert naturalists on board who were able to identify the shark and teach us more about sharks. This Great White Shark was about 25 feet long as you can scale from the sailboat in the picture below. The shark was eatting a seal and surfaced a few times while doing so. We were able to observe him for about 15-20 mintues. It was very exciting. The Farallon Islands are home to many types of sharks including the great white shark.

White Sharks are currently at a near extinction level and are being lobbied to be put on the endangered species list. The studies at the Farallon Islands have revealed much about these creatures, while I have referred to the shark as "Great White Sharks" in this description, they are more officially or scientifically being called "White Sharks" rather then "Great White Sharks".

The Farallon Islands are 27 miles off the coast of San Francisco, California in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The Farallon Islands is a haven for Northern fur seals, harbor seals, elephant seals, California Sea Lions, stellar sea lions and a breeding ground for more sea birds then any other spont in the Continental US.

We provide "Nature Expeditions" to the Farallon Islands. The trips are narrated by local marine biology experts, pointing out seabird species, local history, sea mammals and their activites, sharks, geology, and the wide diversity of wildlife. We have seen many types whales, many types of sharks including great white sharks, portuguese man of war Jellyfish, seabirds, and sea lions. Our trips are naratted by expert Naturalists who will describe what we see. Our trips highly regard the marine sanctuary with respect, we take photography and leave nothing behind. Our trips are strictly "watching" and observing nature as we find it. Please do not bring anything to throw in the water.

For recent white shark attacks as recorded by surfers visit http://www.surfpulse.com/shark_page.shtml

Great White Adventures Provides Scuba Divers with the opportunity to observe Great White Sharks up close in their natural environment. They have trips running Wednesday through Sunday in the Shark Season.
Great White Adventures
875 A Island Dr. #338
Alameda, CA 94502-6768
510-814-8256
dive@greatwhiteadventures.com
Great White Adventures

Near by is the Cordell Bank National Marine Santuary. This Sanctuary was set aside in 1981. It protects an underwater mountain range and one of the richest marine habitats on the West Coast. The Cordell Banks marks the edge of the Continental Shelf.

For More Information on the Farallon Islands:
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Sanctuary Visitor Center at Crissy Field in San Francisco.
The Presidio, Building 991
San Francisco, CA 94129
phone: 415-561-6622
fax: 415-561-6616
web: http://farallones.nos.noaa.gov
email:farallones@noaa.gov
or their main web site at: Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association The Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association (FMSA) is a non-profit, cooperating association that helps protect the resources managed by the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary through collaborative education, interpretation, outreach, and research.

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NEW White Shark
Monterey Bay Aquirium
For more information on the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the New White Shark Visit Their Website:
Monterey Bay Aquarium
www.montereybayaquarium.org
New White Shark

Check the schedule for trip dates. You can make safe, secure, reservations online at www.sfbaytickets.com
Great White Shark being scaled by 4o foot Sailboat in bacground.

Great White Shark being scaled by 4o foot Sailboat in bacground.

Great White Shark size being scaled by 40 foot Sailboat in background. We estimated this shark to be about 25 feet long. The dots indicate the dorsal fin and the tail fin. This was a seal feeding event that we witnessed for about 20 minutes. We DO NOT chum or in any other way attrack white sharks on these trips. We are merely a natural history tour in the Gulf of the Farallones, but during the fall, the possibility exists to see white sharks feeding in their natural habitat. This possibity is even higher on the day were we will be there during a high tide. This is marked on the schedule.