Albatross are rare as hen's teeth in the north Atlantic generally. In CA as soon as you hit the shelf you have them. Mile deep (or two) water. So off socal it was 50-80 miles to them usually. In NorCal where shelf edge closer you can get them not too far out, 20 miles or less, heck they rarely even get seen from shore. In Monterey Bay where that deep submarine canyon comes right up to Moss Landing, you get them IN the bay all the time. Black-footed and Laysan both. The north Pacific has three breeding species, north Atlantic zero. Monterey Bay is the surest closest to shore to regularly see them. Black-footed the common one, Laysan rare. Short-tailed very rare, but at least two this summer/fall. Have had days where I saw a few Laysan and 50 Black-footed. Soooooooooo awesome. Monterey Bay Whale Watch will get you out to them quick and easy, and tell you when is best. Summer for Black-footed fall to spring for Laysan, but some Black-foots in winter too. Satellite tagged birds showed some breeding in Hawaiian Isls. are commuting to Monterey Bay to feed their young in HI! Ten days or so, right winds, not having to flap. Yeah dynamic soaring. There is a Black-browed Alby that has been showing up in a Gannet colony in the U.K. for I think nearing 10 summers now. They are a southern hemisphere breeder. A Wrongway Feldman. They got a few Yellow-nosed this year or last off the NE coast of America. It is the most-seen species in N. Atlantic.

In this vid of one of the best songs ever, the first one is Laysan, second is Black-footed.