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LATEST SIGHTINGS

MARINE MAMMAL SIGHTINGS IN THE MONTEREY BAY

Monterey Bay Whale Watch
List of Most Recent Marine Mammal Sightings
in the Monterey Bay Region

Since October 1, 2025 
compiled by Monterey Bay Whale Watch
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This list, updated every few days, includes reported sightings from Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips. Unusual sightings of other marine animals such as Leatherback Sea Turtles and Basking Sharks are also listed, in addition to unusual seabirds such as Albatross and Brown Boobies. California Sea Lions are mentioned only if numbers or behavior are of interest. Harbor Seals and Southern Sea Otters, which are seen on most if not all whale watching trips, are not included in the list. Each month the sightings from the previous month are moved to a monthly summary list.

These sightings are copyright protected and may not be used without permission from Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of this information is a violation of federal copyright law, and is subject to prosecution to the full extent of the law.

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   Killer Whale identifications by the California Killer Whale Project
Date # Type of Animal(s)
10/7 2 p.m. 11 Humpback whales

10/7 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
2 Humpback whales
60 Risso’s dolphin

10/6 1:30 p.m. 10 Humpback whales

10/6 9 a.m. 8 Humpback whales
200 Risso’s dolphin
30 Pacific white-sided dolphin
10 Northern right whale dolphin

10/6 8 Hour All Day 9 Humpback whales
150 Risso’s dolphin
40 Pacific white-sided dolphin
15 Northern right whale dolphin

10/5 2:30 p.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
4 Humpback whales
6 Bottlenose dolphin

10/5 1:30 p.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
15 Humpback whales

10/5 10 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)

10/5 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
13 Humpback whales

10/4 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback whales

10/4 10 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
6 Humpback whales
100 Risso’s dolphin

10/4 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
8 Humpback whales
100 Risso’s dolphin

10/4 8 Hour All Day 6 Orcas (CA51As)
21 Humpback whales

10/3 9 a.m. 6 Orcas (CA51As)
6 Humpback whales

10/2 1:30 p.m. 4 Orcas
16 Humpback whales

10/2 9 a.m. 4 Orcas
22 Humpback whales

10/1 1:30 p.m. 6 Humpback whales

10/1 9 a.m. 1 Orca (CA50B Jimmy)
11 Humpback whales
Photos © 2025 Daniel Bianchetta and Morgan Quimby

 

Orca breaching water with splash.

Orca calf breaching through afternoon swell (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca leaping vertically from the water in a blue ocean.

Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca breaching water surface with head and dorsal fin visible against the blue ocean background.

Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca swimming with head above ocean surface, water splashing around.

Orca matriarch CA51A Aurora breaching towards the boat (October 5, 2025)

 

Whales surfacing in ocean with birds flying above, water spray visible.

Humpback whales intervening on an orca hunt (October 5, 2025)

 

Orca swimming in blue ocean, partially above water with visible dorsal fin.

Celebratory orca belly flop breach after a successful sea lion hunt (October 5, 2025)

 

Close-up of a whale's tail fin above the ocean surface.

Orca calf fluke waving while celebrating a sea lion hunt (October 5, 2025)  

 

A dolphin leaping out of the ocean near a sandy beach with hills in the background.

Amazing high leap from a Bottlenose dolphin (October 5, 2025)

 

Two orcas swimming near the ocean surface under a clear sky.

Female orca pod members surfacing in beautiful sea conditions (October 4, 2025)

 

Whale tail emerging from water splash against mountain backdrop.

Powerful tail lob in beautiful morning light from mother Humpback Little Dimple (October 4, 2025)

 

A whale's tail splashes water as it dives in the ocean.

Powerful tail lob in beautiful morning light from mother Humpback Little Dimple (October 4, 2025)

 

Orca breaching ocean surface with a bird flying nearby.

Female killer whale launching from the swell on a windy day (October 3, 2025)

 

Orca breaching in ocean near shore, cloudy sky and hills in background.

Killer whale calf breaches on its side with the beach of Marina in the background (October 2, 2025)

 

A whale breaching water, surrounded by seabirds, under a cloudy sky in the ocean.

Massive Humpback whale breaching on a cloudy moody day (October 2, 2025)

 

Copyright © 2025 Monterey Bay Whale Watch, LLC. No use of the sightings information is permitted without prior approval.