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Exploring Marine Life with a Quiet Footprint C aptain Brian Ackerman is a Moss Landing institution. Everywhere he goes, by land or sea, he's recognized and hailed by the cast of char- acters who call this tiny Monterey Bay settlement home. His seemingly lim- itless curiosity and drive have led him to pursue several diverse careers, culminating in a dream job as ship's captain of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's 110-foot Point Lobos and 117-foot Western Flyer. These days, as the owner/operator of Whisper Charters, Ackerman has traded a life on the high seas for one on the decidedly low seas of the Elkhorn Slough. His vessel is the Selkie II, a cat's paw-quiet electric Duffy 22 that affords his clients up-close-and-personal meetings with otters, seals, sea lions and all manner of birds. The Slough's critters aren't spooked by the clatter of an internal combustion engine, so they can be observed acting naturally as they go about the business of their lives. A journey on the Selkie II begins at the dock near the Moss Landing Yacht Club, of which Captain Ackerman is a past commodore. Beverages are available for purchase, and food can be served by prior arrangement. As the boat slips its bond with terra firma, the reason for the name "Whisper Charters" is immediately apparent: the only sound the boat emits is the shhh of water parting for her passage. The competent Captain's narrative begins with a short dissertation on Moss Landing and the Slough, noting that these wetlands are a perfect nesting ground for migratory birds. The tour continues deep into the Slough and rarely a moment goes by that doesn't include an encounter with one of the myriad of creatures that inhabit this incredibly diverse bio-system. "We enjoy the highest concentration of Southern Sea Otters anywhere in the world," Ackerman says. And it's a rare tour that doesn't include sev- eral visits from these cute-as-a-puppy marine mammals. For more information and to book a trip, visit www.whispercharters.com or call 800/979-3370. —Michael Chatfield SHORTCUTS AT LARGE Captain Brian Ackerman runs Whisper Charters in Moss Landing. He takes visitors out on the Elkhorn Slough on a quiet Duffy 22, where they can get up close and personal with adorable marine critters, from migratory birds to sea otters. Photo: Kelli Uldall 88 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 4