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Dana Point Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Eco-Safari

Dana Point Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Eco-Safari

Overview

Gather the family, kids, and friends to join Orange County's highest rated whale watching activity, featuring exclusive Underwater Viewing Pods. For over 20 years we have provided the most unique and eco-friendly dolphin and whale watching trips to view magnificent Blue Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, and occasionally Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales, False Killer Whales, and more. Five species of wild dolphins are also seen throughout the year, including mega-pods with up to 10,000 dolphins! Plus sea lions, marine birds, and even sharks. You'll depart from Dana Point, home to one of the most diverse marine eco-systems in the world. Aboard our uncrowded high-tech catamaran you will enjoy up close and personal dolphin and whale watching with expert narration, complimentary triple fudge brownies, and more.

City: Dana Point

Sat 21 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $100.00

Make a reservation

Sat 21 Sep

Starting at $100.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Licensed Captain and professional crew

U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified vessel

Cetacean Declaration - Join us again for free within one calendar year if you don't see any dolphins or whales

Live commentary on board

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Entry into the Underwater Viewing Pods requires the use of ladder-like steps. Persons with a disability or limited mobility may have difficulty.
Trip times may vary by date.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (376)

Burbanista

Aug 2013

We had a wonderful and unforgettable trip with Captain Dave's crew in mid-July. It was well worth the 75 minute drive from Santa Monica! This was the first whale watch for our kids, and the second for my husband and I. Believe you me, this beat our Montauk excursion hands down! The two-man crew were friendly, funny and knowledgeable about the marine life we were tracking. They also seemed to love their jobs, given the conservation-oriented speech they gave. We saw many dolphins, a blue whale, seals and sun fish. Captain Dave's vessel is a catamaran which has one pontoon that is see through. (Most of the other whale watching vessels we saw were traditional boats.) Passengers were allowed down in the "glass" bottomed hold of the pontoon one-at-a-time. While the initial line-up for this attraction was long, it was SO worth the wait. Once down there, I felt like I was in some beautiful, surreal technicolor dream, slicing through turquoise water, with dolphins swimming at high speed alongside my head. That was an unforgettable visual and feeling. If you look at some of the reviewer photos for Captain Dave's, you'll see what I'm talking about. When we disembarked, one of the crew was there handing out delicious homemade brownies. It was a sweet finish to a great ride. The tour starts off in Dana Point, which I had never heard of before. It is one town south of Laguna Niguel and it is gorgeous!! There is a lovely horsehoe-shaped beach area, protected by cliffs, atop which sits some spectacular real estate. My husband and kids loved this attraction. It was a wonderful way to kick off Day 1 of our Southern California adventure. We highly recommend Captain Dave's!

Response from Host

Aug 2013

Thank you very much for taking the time to write a review! I'm glad you had fun and enjoyed seeing the dolphins in our Eye to Eye Underwater Viewing Pods. Is there anything we can do on your next visit to receive a 5 star rating?

Doc_Brower

Apr 2013

We decided to take a dolphin tour with Capt. Dave's in Dana Point based on the recommendation of the Marriott's Newport Coast Villas staff. We've been on several other dolphin/whale watching trips and Captain Dave's was one of the best operations I've encountered. The boat is exceptional, with the unique underwater viewing pods providing an UNREAL underwater perspective, and their staff is outstanding with their impressive knowledge and concern for wildlife and conservation issues being obvious in everything they do. We arrived at the dock and followed the signs to go upstairs and sign in. The attendant was friendly and answered our questions about boarding. Note that they do not sell refreshments on the boat, so you would do well to bring a small ice chest on board with you and while there is a head (toilet) on the boat, your better off using the nearby restrooms in the marina. Upon boarding the modern vessel, we cruised out after being given a quick overview of safety rules and emergency procedures. We and found the ride to be very comfortable and smooth. In addition to dolphins, you are likely to see sea lions, sea gulls, pelicans and if the season is right, whales. On our trip we encountered huge pods of dolphins that really put on a show for us, racing alongside the boat and jumping playfully to say hello. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the obvious passion Captain Dave had about the environment and the wildlife. He has produced videos and written books (with photos) about conservation, and actively participates in conservation efforts in the area. He had a Q&A session at the end of the tour that was very informative. Some things to keep in mind: * Bring a bottle of water or soda, it gets warm out on the water! * Bring sunscreen as you will be out in the sun for a couple hours on the water. * The ocean is big and there is no way to predict whether dolphins or whales will be in the area. So just be aware that there are seasonal variations as the wildlife migrate, so if you've got a favorite species in mind, do your homework or check Capt. Dave's website for wildlife calendars. They do post sighting stats on their web site so you can get an idea of what's been seen recently. Still, there is no guarantee. Worst case, you'll have a nice boat ride, learn a bit about the local eco-system and get some great views of the California coastline. Overall, I highly recommend this tour! You should have a wonderful time, no matter what time of year you go.

Classiccartraveler

Aug 2012

I know whale watching is always about 90% luck--sometimes the whales just aren't there, but this trip was the best. The weather was perfect, Captain Peter is enthusiastic and kind, and the whole trip was just wonderful. Dana Point is the place to go whale watching as there is a steep drop-off just off shore. We saw 5 or 6 blue whales (on 8/19/2012), a bunch of dolphins and a few Sun Fish. The boat was the smaller catamaran, the Dolphin Safari, which is the best boat because you are right on the water. You could look down and see animals swimming under the boat! The water was so clear, too. We saw baby dolphins swimming with the mothers! The boat takes just 20 people, so it is pretty small, but everyone gets the same view, and you never miss anything because it's on he "other side of the boat." The bow waves splash into the boat over the netting a little bit (which is great when the weather's warm) and the quieter engines of the Dolphin Safari mean the animals aren't spooked as much. I've done lots of whale watching is this is the best!

Response from Host

Aug 2012

Hello, Thanks for taking the time to write your review. We all love Dolphin Safari.com, our smaller boat...it can't be beat for that really up-close encounter! Hope to see you again soon! Mrs. Capt. Dave