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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

Sun 22 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $100.00

Make a reservation

Sun 22 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)

sharonhS6667UM

May 2022

The good: we saw tons of dolphins, very close to the boat. Jumping out of the water, swimming right by the boat, etc. My 7 year old son claims he counted 421. It was pretty incredible. :) The bad: we didn't see any whales. The ugly: the waves were big and the boat was so rocky, my four year old daughter was scared and crying for the first half hour of the ride (didn't help that it was super windy and loud on the boat). My two year old got motion sickness and vomited twice. I tried to walk to the front of the boat to go into the underwater viewing pods but was too queasy and had to go back to our bench on the back of the boat. My husband and son made it into the pods - said it was a cool view with dolphins right by the windows, but getting to the pods required crawling through a small space and to look under the water had to basically lie down on their bellies (because the water level was halfway up the window). The movement of the boat was felt very strong there so would not be good for anyone with motion sickness. It was not what I imagined / hoped for - a gentle boat ride, a few steps down to the viewing pods and looking out the windows at dolphins. I just wanted the entire ride to be over. Just a warning / reality check for anyone else who had visions similar to mine and might also be prone to motion sickness. The annoying: they take your photo and print it during the ride, if you want to keep it, it's $15. Then days later I got an email with a link with an option to order the digital version (for an additional $18). For such an expensive ride, it feels annoying to be nickel and dimed, to feel like a company is trying to extract every dollar. I already purchased the printed version, couldn't they just give me the digital? In conclusion: a once in a lifetime experience because I don't want to do that again. My 7 year old wants to go again but it won't be with me. A woman sitting next to me (also with daughters who were feeling nauseous) said she was glad she could check this off her list. FYI - it's very windy and cold when the boat is moving fast, I actually brought our winter jackets and was glad we had them

Response from Host

Jun 2022

Hi Sharon, thanks for taking the time to provide your detailed feedback. I’m so sorry that you felt the trip rated only 2 stars, because here at Capt. Dave’s we take pride in our 5-star experiences! It’s so unfortunate that the conditions did not agree with you. Usually in this area the ocean conditions are mild, and the twin hulls of our catamaran provide more stability overall as compared to a monohull boat. Our captains also didn’t note unusual conditions for the day of your trip. Normally for guests who may be concerned about seasickness, we recommend our early-morning safaris when the ocean is the calmest. We also sell different remedies like Dramamine at our check in area. I’m very sorry that you and your children felt unwell! I’m so glad that you enjoyed viewing the beautiful wild dolphins during your safari. We wish we could have shown you some of Dana Point’s year-round whales too, but nature is unpredictable and so the sightings on each trip varies. The Underwater Viewing Pods are special compartments built into the underside of each of the hulls on our catamaran Manute’a; about 2 adults or 3 kids can fit at a time. There is cushioned padding on the bottom, and windows on both sides – each pod with 36 square feet of bullet-proof glass from which to view the animals! Once the trip encounters wildlife, our crew opens the hatches to these pods and our guests take turns descending the ladder to enjoy the eye-to-eye perspective of the dolphins and whales. It’s even possible to hear the dolphins’ clicks and whistles! This feature is exclusive to Capt. Dave’s. Since ocean conditions and animal encounters vary, this part of the experience is different for each guest. I’m sorry you weren’t able to check them out. Regarding the photo, please rest assured that we are not trying to nickel and dime our guests. We do offer the different portrait options, but there is never any pressure to purchase either, just a notification. Once again, thank you for your review. We hope you will consider joining us in the future, perhaps on an earlier trip for a smoother ride. We would love another opportunity to show you why we have a reputation for 5-star dolphin and whale watching trips!

47brookem

May 2022

Fantastic trip!! Hope to do again. Didn’t see a whale but those are hard to find. Hearing the dolphins underwater was amazing!

Response from Host

Jun 2022

Hi Brooke, thanks for the review and high rating! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed viewing and hearing the lovely wild dolphins during your recent safari with Capt. Dave’s. We hope you can come out with us for another adventure soon!

DennisG11

May 2022

Captain Dave's is awesome. We have been MANY times and will continue to do so. Their staff is great---friendly, knowledgeable, fun to be around, AND Mrs. Dave's brownies at the end of the trip (everybody gets one) are yummy. Whether you live in the area or here on vacation, I highly recommend you take a trip with them.

Response from Host

Jun 2022

Hi Dennis, thanks for the wonderful review! We always enjoy having you on board for our unforgettable dolphin and whale watching trips. We appreciate that you continue to choose us for top-notch service, up-close wildlife sightings, and of course, Mrs. Capt. Dave’s complimentary triple-fudge brownies! Thank you for the strong recommendation. We look forward to seeing you again soon!