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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 17 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $100.00

Make a reservation

Sun 17 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)

Zeta09

Oct 2019

We are from Arizona but I personally have had many small boat outings (sailing to sunset cruises) so I have a relative idea of what a good experience can be. I brought my two tweenage daughters and my wife. Booked my reservation through the Cpt Dave website not TA. Directions are accurate and they have their own parking lot (free) thus it's fairly straight forward getting there as we were coming from Anaheim. They call 30 mins prior to verify. Check in was a breeze since we pre-paid but they have a waiver to sign for EACH individual in your party. Once on the boat the Cpt will greet everyone and while heading out from dock speak on the safety rules and instructions. There ARE NO snacks on the boat and thus you can bring some or buy some from the "shop" on the upper floor during check in. The majority of the time is actually spent heading out to a good spot to sea. It's not a bad thing as your getting acclimated with the boat and anticipating the potential sights. The boat is rated for 25 passengers but we did not have full capacity on our tour so there was a more intimate (I suppose). We had maybe 12-15 people on our tour. The passengers were not that friendly on our tour (I mean it is Dana Point; not sure if they were natives or not but there were two groups from AZ as well) but were fine for what it was. Once we found a huge group of dolphins the excitement and wonder began. There were probably 30-40 pods of dolphins (that we could see) all frolicking, some jumping and it was very very kool to see them almost close up and in their natural habitat. There is a photographer on board and he takes pics of the groups as well as another person that manages the drone shot(s) both of which are for sale. The bottom view window allows for 1 person to view the sea life as it passes by the boat. For our tour the group elected to search for something else after we spent a good 30 mins around the pods of dolphins but we did not see any other wildlife and thus our 2.5 hours ended and we headed back to the dock. All in all it was a good experience. Cons? -pics and drone shot is a bit lackluster and overpriced for what we had actually received. If I was to do it again I would just bring my own legit camera and take as much video from different areas of the boat as possible. (or bring your own drone if you have one) -The Captain(s) were fine and friendly but would imagine some could be more entertaining than others -The Capt discusses the types of animals they have encountered once the group is headed back to the dock and the trip is almost completed. Would have been better to hear and learn about that on the way out.

Response from Host

Oct 2019

Hi, Thank you so much for sharing your insights about your recent excursion with Capt. Dave’s. It’s so good to read that you and your family enjoyed the unforgettable experience of encountering hundreds of dolphins in the wild! We can take up to 49 passengers on our unique catamaran Manute’a, and we do limit it so that no trip is ever overcrowded. It’s wonderful that you were comfortable on our boat with the smaller group size. And I’m glad you took advantage of our exclusive Underwater Viewing Pods, which in general can each accommodate up to two adults or three children at one time. We appreciate your feedback about our crew’s style and narration, and will try to improve that for future safaris. Guests are welcome to bring their own cameras, including DSLRs and GoPros. For several safety reasons including that of the animals, other guests, and the drones themselves, we do not allow passengers on a public trip to fly drones from our boats. However, some of our vessels are drone-friendly for those who wish to arrange a private charter. And occasionally throughout the year we offer a special public trip for a very limited number of drone pilots and a few guests. I’m sorry you were not satisfied with the photos and drone video offered. We will certainly address that concern with our crew and continue to strive for the best quality possible. Is there anything else we could do to improve and earn a 5-star review from you next time? We’d love for you to join us again soon!

Camper509297

Sep 2019

Dana Point and Captain Dave’s Whale watching has been an amazing experience, we didn’t see any whales this time, though the dolphins have always been one of our must sees and to actually see these beautiful creatures close up was magnificent. We found the best way was to video them and our advise is go down the underwater pods for the ultimate close up view and definitely stand up front you will not regret this, though on upfront deck you may get wet, all part of the fun. Even the sea lions like a good pose! The crew and their knowledge from start to finish was outstanding and they made our day very enjoyable with many a laugh while we were cruising with the wildlife. We loved every minute and hope to return one day and maybe see a whale next time. Thank you

Response from Host

Oct 2019

Hi, Thanks very much for the 5-star review. We enjoyed viewing your lovely photos, and we appreciate the kind words about our crew. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed all the special features of our catamaran Manute’a to get the most exciting, up-close dolphin watching experience. We’d love for you to visit us again soon!

BlessedPartyof5

Sep 2019

The boat ride out was very nice and enjoyable. Our Captain and crew were hospitable. The check-in ladies were less than friendly. It was a slow day for seeing dolphins and zero whales. The sea lions were fabulous. We saw a head bobbing in the far distance of an elusive elephant seal. After the ride you are given a Mrs. Dave’s brownie. Disappointed in the lack of wildlife - but a risk you take when looking for wildlife in the Pacific Ocean.

Response from Host

Oct 2019

Hi, Thank you for your review, and for posting your lovely photos. I’m so sorry that we did not meet our goal to exceed your expectations. We pride ourselves on top-notch customer service, from before you check in to after you've disembarked the boat. And it seems we failed to live up to our standards during your visit. We would love to learn more about your experience and interactions with our team so that we can continue to improve for all of our guests. Would you please contact us at your convenience? We can be reached via phone at 949-488-2828. I’m happy to read that you enjoyed the boat ride as well as viewing the sea lions and wild dolphins! I wish we could have shown you more wildlife, especially whales, and we appreciate your understanding that the animals are inherently unpredictable. Every day is different, each trip is unique, and I hope you'll use your returning guest discount to join us again in the future because you never know what you'll see! Thanks again for your feedback, as we always strive to be better.