Great White Shark Tours with Ocean Safaris in Monterey Bay

Located along California's iconic Central Coast, Monterey Bay is a distinctive marine environment where cold Pacific currents foster rich biodiversity. Ocean Safaris, based in Santa Cruz, offers immersive wildlife tours that highlight this unique underwater world, focusing on encounters with great white sharks alongside other captivating marine species. These small-group outings deliver an authentic, close-up experience of the region’s top predators and broader ocean life, guided by Captain James, whose two decades of local knowledge ensure a safe, informative journey.

The hallmark of Ocean Safaris’ offerings is their Great White Shark tours in Monterey Bay and Año Nuevo Island. From the comfort and safety of a well-appointed vessel, guests watch as these apex predators patrol the coastal waters just offshore—a rare and thrilling spectacle. Beyond sharks, trips often reveal sea otters, seals, humpback whales, dolphins, and even elusive killer whales. The company’s expertise at spotting wildlife maximizes every outing’s potential for sightings, making it a prime option for marine enthusiasts and photographers alike.

Ocean Safaris also arranges more adventurous experiences such as cage diving with great whites and swimming with whale sharks and mobula rays, including expeditions to Socorro Island, Bimini, and Fiji. These diverse offerings position them as a specialist in pelagic wildlife encounters on the West Coast and beyond.

Monterey Bay itself features a diverse underwater topography, with deep canyons close to shore and expansive kelp forests that support numerous species. Año Nuevo Island, a nearby rookery, is critical habitat for elephant seals and their predators. Trips in this region give insight into an ecosystem where shark populations play a pivotal role in the food chain.

With small boat groups and a captain deeply invested in sustainable practices and marine education, Ocean Safaris provides an outstanding gateway to California’s coastal wilderness. Whether you come seeking the thrill of spotting great whites or to photograph marine mammals, the company’s knowledgeable guides and comfortable boats make each trip approachable and memorable.