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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

Tue 12 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $100.00

Make a reservation

Tue 12 Nov

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)

robinn685

Feb 2022

Great fun with a knowledgeable and friendly crew. We had the joy of finding an enormous pod of dolphins and then were able to spot a fin whale. This was a terrific way to get a different perspective on the ecosystem, enjoy being on the water, and learn some things about the marine life. Well worth it.

Response from Host

Feb 2022

Hi Robin, thanks for your review. I’m so glad you had the chance to spend time with an awe-inspiring Fin Whale, as well as a large pod of playful wild dolphins. I love the great feedback about our crew too! We hope to see you again soon for another unforgettable trip!

Samta J

Feb 2022

We took our 6yo niece whale watching for the 1st time yesterday. We did the safari with the glass viewing pods. It’s a really nice vessel for little kids - I usually prefer zodiacs when I go whale watching, but not for little ones. This was perfect. There’s plenty of comfortable seating and standing room as well as restrooms on board. We saw some other whale watching boats that were huge - we liked the more personalized experience. Capt. Chuck, Hannah and Stacy were very welcoming and knowledgeable. They share lots of interesting facts about the species of whale based on the season (it’s Feb. so mostly gray) but they also talked about other species. I had many whale questions running through my mind, which they answered throughout the commentary, which I really appreciated as I couldn’t step away from my niece to ask. The added touches throughout the experience were impressive and you can tell that this company thinks things through. When you arrive for check-in your first experience is a personalized welcome sign - that acknowledged that we were not 1st time visitors. For my 6yo niece who is learning how to read, seeing her name posted (at her height) was a moment of delight. After we boarded, they welcomed everyone and pointed out parties that were celebrating (V-Day, birthdays, anniversaries, repeat visitors etc.). It was a really nice way to make it special. And the chocolate brownie at the end, was another moment of delight for my niece - so thank you! Hannah was so friendly to our niece and I was very impressed that she remembered her unique name and made a point of asking her a couple times if she wanted to go down to the viewing pods. This was not my first time whale watching with Captain Dave’s and though it had been several years I had great experiences both times and will definitely be back again.

Response from Host

Feb 2022

Thank you very much for your review and for being a valued returning guest of Capt. Dave’s! It’s wonderful that you had a great time, and found our crew to be friendly and knowledgeable. I’m glad we were able to make it special for you and your niece, including personalized touches and amazing wildlife sightings. We definitely look forward to seeing you for another trip soon!

653sallyn

Feb 2022

We felt welcomed, safe, and very cared for doing this journey. The brownies at the end were a special touch and we also loved the custom photos of us and the animals we saw today.

Response from Host

Feb 2022

Hi Sally, thank you for your review, and for posting the lovely photos. I’m so pleased that our crew helped you feel welcome and comfortable during your safari aboard Manute’a with the Underwater Viewing Pods. I’m also glad you liked Mrs. Capt. Dave’s complimentary brownies, as well as the souvenir photo collage. It was fun for us to provide a 5-star trip, and we’d love to see you again soon!