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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

Mon 18 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $100.00

Make a reservation

Mon 18 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)

Cairoteacher

Apr 2021

From sign-in to departure, Captain Dave's provides amazing customer service and exciting times on the water. Today's weather was cloudy and a bit foggy, but Captain Chuck and Caitlyn managed to find a pod of 500-600 dolphins feeding on a bait ball. They were able to open the viewing pods to give passengers a look under the water at the dolphins, as well as giving plenty of time to enjoy the dolphins swimming all around and under the boat. Their knowledge of the marine animals is amazing and their love for what they do is evident! Strongly recommend booking a trip (or 10) with Captain Dave's. They truly are the best in the business.

Response from Host

Apr 2021

Hi, thank you so much for the stellar review and recommendation! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed viewing hundreds of wild dolphins during your recent safari with us, and that you took advantage of the unique Underwater Viewing Pods to get a super up-close view. We appreciate the positive feedback about our crew. I hope you’ll be able to join us for another adventure soon!

707Brisa

Apr 2021

We enjoyed the entire Whale and Dolphin Watching excursion. It was a beautiful day and the crew took full advantage of that to show us two kinds of dolphins, At different points in the trip each group playfully followed along our boat seeming to enjoy riding the alongside the bow of the catamaran. It was amazing to view them from the vantage point of the viewing pods. We also saw a pair of Gray Whales and their tale flukes above the ocean water as they dove deeper below. The crew was very friendly and knowledgeable and happy to share information and answer questions . And it was especially wonderful to have an all female crew with captain Marie and Stacie and Hannah, who are naturalists and well versed in marine biology. Great job crew!

Response from Host

Apr 2021

Hi Stacy, thank you for your review. It’s wonderful that you had an overall great experience on the dolphin and whale watching safari with Capt. Dave’s. I’m so glad you were satisfied with the service and expertise of our Captain and crew – they were so happy to help you get up-close and personal with the beautiful wild dolphins. We appreciate the high rating and hope you can join us again soon!

HeyCath2602

Mar 2021

My sister has lived in the area for 20 years and I’ve been visiting for 8 weeks, and we wanted to do something new. We decided to try the whale watching excursion. First of all, my sister inadvertently booked for the wrong date. She called the company and someone was actually in the office at 5:00 pm and graciously changed the reservation to the correct date. We arrived early as instructed and checked in. The number of patrons allowed for adequate social distancing. The crew was fantastic. We saw whales, dolphins and sea lions. It was a wonderful 2-hour trip. The boat sold snacks and beverages. Had a bathroom. Offered shard for those who don’t want to sit on the front of the boat. Great trip and I’d highly recommend it.