Every day, millions of tons of snowmelt from high up in the Sierras rushes hundreds of miles downstream and pours into the San Francisco Bay. There, it slams into a surge of seawater to form an ecosystem at once constant and constantly changing. It’s there that the photographers and naturalists of SF Bay Whale Watching set out to observe and capture stunning images on daily adventures.

Onboard the stalwart Kitty Kat, captain Joe Nazar skippers wildlife-seeking tours that might spy migrating whales, local sea lions, or killer whales. The spacious deck and large-windowed cabin make beautiful views bountiful. While a naturalist lectures, the ship sails past such landmarks as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.