SF Bay Whale Watching - White Sharks Gulf of the Farallones

White Sharks, formerly known as Great White Sharks, are seasonal feeders at the Farallon Islands from approximately August through November. Farallon Island Sea Lions are abundant and, evidently, easy pickings. During these months, there is a possibility of spotting a White Shark feeding in the waters near the Farallon Islands. Great White Sharks are referred to White Sharks by marine biologists, naturalist and scientists in an effort to promote them in a kinder gentler way, and less Hollywood dramatic. They are very graceful creatures and need our help for protection in their natural environment.

Our trips are not shark watching expeditions, they are natural history whale watching expeditions - no promises of a shark sighting, but if nature happens to oblige you with a shark feeding, we won't charge you extra, promise.

This photo of a White Shark was taken near the Farallones during one of our whale watching expeditions. The birds in the picture alerted us to the shark. On this particular day we had two Naturalists on board who were able to identify the shark and teach us more about the behavior we were witnessing. "Our" White Shark was about 25 feet long - scale him/her to the sailboat in the picture! The shark was eating a seal and surfaced a few times in the course of a 15-20 minute feeding. It was very exciting.

The Farallones are home to many types of sharks, not just White Sharks. But it's the White Sharks who get most of the press; every time a short board surfer has the bad luck of a close encounter we start hearing the music from "Jaws" - our phones ring steady with queries "will I see Great Whites?!"

White Sharks are currently at a near extinction level, and lobbying efforts are underway to add them to the endangered species list. Scientific studies based at the Farallones have revealed much about the sharks. The Farallones provide a platform for observation and study of White Sharks in a natural habitat, and it is hoped that the research will yield understanding and protection.

Great White Adventures provides scuba divers with the opportunity to observe Great White Sharks up close in their natural environment. They have trips to the Farallones running throughout shark season. Check out their website for lots more information about White Sharks.

Great White Adventures
875 A Island Dr. #338
Alameda, CA 94502-6768
510-814-8256
dive@greatwhiteadventures.com
Great White Adventures

Near by is the Cordell Bank National Marine Santuary. This Sanctuary was set aside in 1981. It protects an underwater mountain range and one of the richest marine habitats on the West Coast. The Cordell Banks marks the edge of the Continental Shelf.

For More Information on the Farallon Islands:
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Sanctuary Visitor Center at Crissy Field in San Francisco.
The Presidio, Building 991
San Francisco, CA 94129
phone: 415-561-6622
fax: 415-561-6616
web: http://farallones.nos.noaa.gov
email:farallones@noaa.gov
or their main web site at: Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association The Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association (FMSA) is a non-profit, cooperating association that helps protect the resources managed by the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary through collaborative education, interpretation, outreach, and research.

Great White Shark being scaled by 4o foot Sailboat in bacground. White Shark being scaled by 40 foot sailboat in background. We estimated this shark to be about 25 feet long. The dots indicate the dorsal fin and the tail fin. This was a seal feeding event that we witnessed for about 20 minutes. This was a naturally occuring feeding event. Chumming is illegal and we do not condone disturbing natural conditions.