About
Observation Post #9 The entire gray whale population migrates within three miles of the Monterey coastline every winter and spring. Whales migrate north from mid February through May, peaking in mid March. Most adult and juvenile whales pass Monterey on their way to Alaska by mid April. Mother gray whales heading north with their new calves pass Monterey in April and May. Nancy Black and the sightings network of Monterey Bay Whale Watch Center monitor the migration's progress and often report to Journey North. Monterey is a great place to observe gray whales. Why? The shallow continental
shelf does not extend very far from shore off Monterey due to
the nearshore Monterey Submarine
Canyon. Comparable in size and shape
to the Grand Canyon, it extends over 50 miles offshore. In some
places this canyon is 12,000 feet deep! Dense kelp beds growing
over the rocky bottom areas nearshore create a diversity
of habitats for marine animals, and whales like it.
The Monterey Submarine Canyon is surrounded by the Monterey Bay
National Marine Sanctuary — the largest United States National
Marine Sanctuary.
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