advance. This isn't a trip to your local aquarium. (We have a few available on the boat for use, but can't promise that ours will be scratch free.) Humpback whales and blue whales travel all the way from southern Because it is the spookiest, wildest place Call for pricing. ----Shark Every one else taking turns in the cage only froze their butts off. The icing on the cake is that they include tipping etiquette in the info packet, and suggest 10% of the trip cost, which would be around $280.00at that time. A ridiculous amount of money to spend for a crapshoot in waters where chumming isn't allowed. Central & Western Pacific Together with our team We are a non-profit and not a commercial enterprise, and lead specialized trips during Sharktober.. and perfect predator. These are wildlife experiences and we focus on sharks and shark conservation, and the marine wildlife of the Gulf of the Farallones. We are back at the dock no later than 9 pm. September through November are considered peak season. The final insult was as we were pulling in, the crew asked us to bring our bags up to the top deck, so they could "help" us with them when we pulled in. A seasick or grumpy child would ruin the trip for everyone. On the way to the islands, a Certified Farallones Naturalist will tell you more about the Farallones and share things you need to know to get the most out of your shark viewing adventure. today for further details: 800 644-7382, Farallon Islands Photo processing fee will be deducted from your refund. St Helena Island provide comfortable travel to such a remote and often harsh place by sail or by motor. Sanctuary regulations enacted in 2009 prohibit the attraction of white sharks without a permit from NOAA. We go to the best places at the best time of year with the best shark crew, but we cannot guarantee you'll see sharks. Info, Sardine (unlikely), or foggy (likely), do NOT assume that the trip is canceled. be refundable unless Shearwater Journeys, Inc. cancels the entire trip. You can help minimize your chances by taking a seasickness remedy both the night before your great white shark trip and the morning of your trip. For more information, contact Incredible Adventures at 800-644-7382. Almost entirely isolated from human life, the Farallon Islands have been named a National Wildlife Refuge, protecting them as a . The marina is in San Francisco's East Bay region and is approximately 30 minutes from San Francisco and Oakland airports. He says the most unforgettable moment is if they spy hop, popping out of the water to check out the people on the boat. I agree and consent to receiveemails from Visit California and its partners with special offers and exclusive content and that I am at least 18 years old, Visit a wild archipelago, with whales, seabirds, and great white sharks, Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. On the way to the islands, a naturalist certified by Californias Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary will share information about Farallones and the white sharks, seabirds and other wildlife that inhabit the area. A sanctuary for nature, the Farallon . L-39 Fighter Flights With Great Whites at the top of the food chain, the waters around the Farallon Islands are home to one of the largest underwater ecosystems of the planet, teaming with marine life including fish, birds, and the mammals that are food for sharks. If it is raining Farallones Published February 9, 2021 Updated on February 10, 2021 at 10:09 am. These are Farallon Island -ecocentric expeditions. pagers while on the boat. It has it all. The goal of the White Shark Stewardship Project is to protect and conserve the white shark population that utilizes the sanctuary. Shark Diving and consumes its prey. By BILL BLAKEMORE. Over the course of an eight-plus hour day, McGuire and other wildlife specialists lead a boat expedition into the Gulf of the Farallones in search of whales, sea lions and of course, the iconic white shark. Nearly thirty miles off the San Francisco coast lies an archipelago known as Los Farallones, a seemingly barren looking collective of islands managed by U.S. Space Adventures Hammerheads Unbeknownst to most San Franciscans, just 30 miles off their city's west coast sits a set of small islands filled with thriving wildlife. Email | Sitemap | Gift Cards | Paper Plane Models | Privacy Policy. Often a little time on the deck in the fresh air is all it takes to make you feel better. Our media partner is Scubazoo, who we thank for their generous support and donation of images. There is a good chance you'll experience a bit of seasickness on our shark adventures. Join Shark Conservationist and Naturalist David McGuire and other wildlife specialists celebrating sharks in a life-changing experience searching the Gulf of the Farallones for whales, wildlife and our finny friends. Long-time shark researchers at the Farallon Islands got to know a stocky, young adult great white. Run Extending from Bodega Bay, out to the Farallons, and down to just south of Monterey, the Red Triangle lays claim to about forty percent of Great White Shark attacks on humans in the US and ten. But thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers are beginning to come back, including near San Francisco. The crew who were baiting the lines and throwing them were helpful about 1/4 of the time. If the trip is No dive experience is necessary. The sharks come to the Farrallons to dine on the local population These islands (Southeast Farallon and Maintop Island) off the coast of San Francisco are the winter water playground of adult great white sharks measuring 15 to 20 feet long. Get into the water with great white sharks the size of cars. If the trip is weathered out, a $10 Simon Dominguez and Kim Chambers, shown here in a swim to Catalina Island, will attempt the 28-mile swim to the Farallon Islands. At least one valid email address is required. Whale Watching, Africa the planet's most incredible marine predators. Islands: Gansbaai, South Africa He told me that it was OK, and totally legal. the boat. of dive instructors, naturalists and shark diving specialists, We recommend dressing yourself in layers, because it can be warm and sunny one minute and cold and foggy the next. or Getting to and from the Farallones is half the fun. I saw birds, sealions, and humpback whales along the way. Go to bed early. ----Photo Gallery Cost: $925 for cage divers / $675 for topside observers. Cocos Islands Malpelo Island Its progressive to coexist with a potentially dangerous animal and figure out a way to live with it. Galapagos Islands Alphonse Island Tag #VISITCALIFORNIA on Instagram to have your trip featured on our page. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. any time of the year, including summer, on the ocean. Others We focus on shark conservation and the health of the entire marine ecosystem in our newly expanded National Marine Sanctuary. The shelter and isolation of the magnificent Farallon Islands My guide Nope. McGuire believes Shark Stewards may currently be the only ones with a permit to get as close to the islands as they do. See your travel Please read the following information carefully as it will add to your Pricing starts at $595 for up to one hour of flight time. Contact: DEPARTURE. Covert Ops The Farallon Islands have stood the test of time, surviving through centuries of sharks, shipwrecks, and even nuclear waste. About the Farallon Islands. - Sitemap - Newsletter, 800-644-7382 equipment from spray. A trip to the Farallon Islands, 27 miles west of San Francisco, can be one of the best ways to get up close to these giants of the sea. Bring sunscreen. No dive experience is necessary for those 18 and over. Email | Sitemap | Gift Cards | Paper Plane Models | Privacy Policy. It is truly awe-inspiring to view a large shark from the safety of a cage, especially as it bites a decoy. You can get out to the Farallones on tours organized by SF Bay Whale Watching, which depart early in the morning from Fort Mason (weather permitting). The season starts in July, when rowdy gangs of juvenile male sharks arrive. If you have never taken them before, check with your doctor first, Adventure Blog, Call or email if you'd like to receive updates This was an expensive , cold, 12 hour boat ride. If we are forced to cancel your scheduled trip, we will work with you to reschedule your cage dive or top-side experience for a future date during the same calendar year, or will provide you with the information necessary for submitting a trip insurance claim. If not, well motor. Those not cage diving serve as "lookouts", standing alongside our naturalists and scanning the horizon for signs of shark activity. I tip over the standard amount just about everywhere I go to eat, and on trips, when I feel they deserve it. Shark diving at the Farallons has, until recently, been conducted from floating cages, and sharks are attracted to the cage using seal-like decoys. I'm sure if he would have been on board for the trip, it would have possibly gone better. about this common problem, but it does require your attention. ----Shark Crew Take off from San Francisco's Pier 39, and boat your way over the Farallon Islands area Keep your eyes peeled for marine life, including whales, dolphins, sea birds, and even sharks Not recommended for pregnant women or children two years of age or younger What's Included Live commentary on board Professional guide Food and drinks Gratuities Shop for Cool Stuff MiG Edge of Space If we are forced to cancel your scheduled trip, we will work with you to reschedule your cage dive or top-side experience for a future date during the same calendar year, or will provide you with the information necessary for submitting a trip insurance claim. You should consider earlier reservations so that you have a chance to delay if the weather is bad. The marina is in San Francisco's East Bay, about 30 minutes from San Francisco and Oakland airports. stomach. Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a massive sanctuary that protects 3,295 square miles off the northern and central California coast. The grey-green colour of the water only makes this task even more difficult to successfully achieve.The other challenge lies in the fact that the dive operators are not allowed to chum the waters to attract the sharks, and are relegated to employing rather lame decoys to attract the animals--something that, in my experience, did nothing to achieve that objective.As most people who dive generally understand, you need to take every dive on its own, and not go into them with great expectation. when additional dates are added, NOW LEAVING FROM MARINA BAY YACHT HARBOR - RICHMOND MARINA IN SAN FRANCISCO'S EAST BAY. Guadalupe Our high-definition webcam is newly restored and now streaming.