Ocean Safaris, Santa Cruz

About Ocean Safaris

Ocean Safaris operates whale watching and marine wildlife tours on Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz, California. Visitors board the SAFARI, a 33-foot Zodiac vessel designed for the U.S. Navy SEALs, which accommodates up to six passengers. Tours focus on spotting humpback whales, blue whales, dolphins, sea lions, and otters in their natural habitat. The company offers specialized expeditions targeting great white sharks at Año Nuevo Island and Southeast Farallon Islands using NOAA Marine Sanctuary permits, wildlife photography tours where guests photograph whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, seals, and seabirds, and swimming expeditions with mobula rays and orcas using a high-speed 32-foot boat. Tours are led by James Moskito, a California native with over 6,000 hours of underwater experience and extensive shark and whale expertise. Tickets are sold online through the venue's website.