About our Dana Point Whale Watching trips…

Our high-tech, high-speed, Catamaran Sailboat can get you up close and personal with magnificent blue whales, gray whales, fin whales, humpback whales, minke whales, orca whales, and five species of wild dolphins that can number in herds up to 10,000 and more for an educational and incredibly exciting experience. Our high-tech catamaran “Manute’a” is never crowded with a maximum of 49 passengers.

Just a few reasons why we’re so different:
Our catamaran sailboat has the world’s only Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods! See dolphins up close and BE one of the pod!

Captain Dave is THE dolphin and whale pro! His award winning film “Wild Dolphins & Whales of Southern California” and book “Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey” have drawn people worldwide to Dana Point, California. He spends more time with these animals than anyone we know! Captain Dave and his team have been recognized worldwide for their conservation and whale rescue efforts. Did we mention he’s also a really great guy?

You can stay dry in our protected and comfortable cockpit area or venture out on our three ‘Eye-Spy Dolphin Nets’ for a really close encounter!

You’ll hear the unique languages of the dolphins and whales with our research-quality hydrophone.

Your friends and family can watch you LIVE on our whale watching boat from our website!

We are a real eco-tourism company. We have never offered fishing trips and don’t do whale watching on a fishing boat.

And last, but not least, Mrs. Capt. Dave’s famous triple fudge brownies are served as a special treat on the ride back to the harbor!

Call us at 949-488-2828

2 and 1/2-Hour Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari Adventures
Prices: $55 per adult, $35 (3-12 years). 2 and under are free!

Departure Times:
Daily trips are available. Departure times vary. For whale watching schedule and reservations please call us at 949-488-2828 or email us!

Reservations are strongly recommended. Please note, once reservations are made, we do not accept cancellations.

Book a private charter at a time of your choice!
Come alone, bring a friend, or plan a party! We can accommodate groups up to 49 persons or more upon request. To reserve a Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Charter please call 949-488-2828.
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GRAY WHALE SEASON  December through April
BLUE WHALE SEASON  May through October
YEAR ROUND WHALES  Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Orca Whales
YEAR ROUND DOLPHINS  Short-beaked and Long-beaked Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Rissso’s Dolphin, Pacific White-sided Dolphin

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Blue Whale Watching in Dana Point
*** May through October ***
The Blue whale is, and always has been, the largest animal ever to exist on earth. This whale can grow to a length of 33m (110ft) and weigh 200 tons, about a ton per foot, but on the average it is much smaller. The Blue whale is called a “rorqual” a Norwegian word for “furrow” and refers to the pleated grooves running from its chin to its navel. The throat grooves, in addition to streamlining the shape of the whale, allow the throat area to expand tremendously during feeding, and can hold 1,000 tons or more of food and water when fully expanded. By taking tons of water into its mouth and filtering out the fish or krill with its baleen plates a medium-sized Blue whale can eat over four tons of krill a day.
Before man’s intervention there were 228,000 Blue whales.  Between 1904 and 1978, whalers hunted the seas for this huge cetacean; most were taken in the southern hemisphere, many against the law. Current figures suggest that less than 12,000 animals are left.  Now on the endangered list, the Blue Whale has been protected since 1967 worldwide by international law. It is not to be hunted by anyone for any reason at all. It is believed that some populations may never recover.

Gray Whale Watching in Dana Point
*** December through April ***
Gray whales make one of the longest migrations of any mammal and are seen every winter off Orange County. The whales travel 10,000 to 12,000 miles from the Chukchi and Bering Seas to the lagoons of Baja, California, where they mate and have their calves.

Dana Point whale watchers often see gray whales within a mile or two of the shoreline. Many believe they use Dana Point’s headlands as a landmark on their journey, making them a popular whale to watch.  In early March, we celebrate the annual Dana Point Festival of Whales with ocean-themed events and activities that have an emphasis on education and environmental responsibility.

Throughout their migration gray whales face many challenges and hazards one of which takes the lives of nearly 1,000 whales and dolphins every day. Scientists estimate that 308,000 dolphins and whales die because of fishing gear entanglement every year worldwide. Captain Dave organized Orange County's first whale disentanglement group in 2008 and has successfully disentangled several gray whales, including Lily, whose disentanglement made national headlines. To help raise awareness Capt. Dave authored the book, “Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey”, a magnificent photographic journey of a gray whale’s migration.

• 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629, USA
• (949) 488-2828
• Contact: captdave@cox.net

• Cost Range: $35-$55
• Categories: Dolphin Watching, Whale Watching
• Tags: Day Trips, Dolphins, Family-Friendly, Orange County, Southern California, Tours, Water, Whale Watching, Whales

• 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629, USA
• Contact: captdave@cox.net
• (949) 488-2828