There’s nothing I like better than being out on California’s Monterey Bay on a sunny day. So when the folks at Fast Raft asked if I wanted to join them for a Monterey Bay boat tour, I was on that RIB (rigid inflatable boat) faster than a dolphin swimming in a sea of sardines!
Most visitors to Monterey, California are not aware of our National Marine Sanctuary and how accessible this body of water is to the general public. There are plenty of things to see and do in Monterey, including a trip to our world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Visitors will hear sea lions barking from Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf, but the best way to explore Monterey Bay is with a Fast Raft Eco-Tour.
Rigid inflatable boat
I’ve had the good fortune to travel by RIB in Bodø, Norway, along the world’s strongest maelstrom, Salstraumen, in the Arctic Circle. I’ve spied green sea turtles and Spinner dolphins along Hawaii’s Napali coast on board a RIB and I have explored the waters of San Francisco bay, gliding under the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge with Bay Voyager in a rigid inflatable boat.
Fast Raft rigid inflatable boat
While RIB’s vary in size, these rigid inflatable boats carry between 12 and 6 passengers, in addition to a captain. In the case of Fast Raft, our female captain also happened to be a trained biologist. Captain Kate Spencer was able to point out abundant marine life, sea birds and even spotted several whales this particular morning in Monterey Bay.
Monterey Bay nature tours & whale watching
Due to the small group size of Fast Raft boat tours, six passengers, in addition to the captain, the Monterey-based company is able to create custom tours on the coastline of Monterey, exploring Point Lobos or Elkhorn Slough. Price start at $140. per person. Check the website for details.
If You Go:
Fast Raft Eco-Tours (800) 979-3370
32 Cannery Row, Suite F2
Monterey, California 93940
Article, photos and YouTube video by Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown. I was a guest of Fast Raft.
Wonderful post with amazing pictures.
We wanted to see Monterey Harbor, on a budget. The Little Mermaid Glass Bottom Boat Tours offered a tour of the harbor and a look into the bay waters below, all in one neat little very affordable price. The crew was great and gave us the story of all the sealife we were seeing. There were many seal lions, seals and otters out during our trip. We spent about 40 mins on the water and really had a great time. Part of the trip included stopping in the kelp forrest to look down upon these wonderful dea plants. I want to recommend this little trip and I know you will enjoy it as much as we did. $13.00 each.
@Steve
Thanks for the suggestion to discovering Monterey Bay on the cheap.
Great pictures! Thank you!