Afisha Life Homepage
Dana Point
Explore
Walking Tours
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

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

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)

Lisa M

Aug 2019

The crew were knowledgeable and friendly. Although we were unable to see any whales, the dolphins were wonderful. Was a beautiful and peaceful two and a half hours.

Response from Host

Aug 2019

Hi, Thanks so much for your review and for posting the lovely photo! We appreciate the kind words about our crew, and I’m so happy that you enjoyed spending time with the beautiful wild dolphins! Sounds like you had a great day out on the ocean and we are so pleased that you chose Capt. Dave’s. I hope we’ll see you again soon.

6564a

Aug 2019

Did this as a surprise present for my mom's birthday. It exceeded my expectations from start to finish! The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming. They even acknowledged the birthday before starting which was thoughtful. It was not one of those crowded tours with too many people; not too crowded at all and I never felt like I couldn't catch a glimpse or have my own space for viewing. Boat itself is very comfortable. Bathrooms on board. We did not get to see whales, but we did see several pods of dolphins. I did not mind because the staff cannot control what we see. The unique underwater viewing pod and the net for viewing dolphins below your feet are nice touches that add to the experience. The best part is how many animals you see and what a great job the staff does explaining their natural behaviors, finding the pods and following them. I appreciated their piece on conservation and the non-invasive method of viewing. Felt very natural, like we were visitors in their habitat, which we were! I found the staff so helpful; I was a little afraid of going up to the best viewing up front, but the staff was very encouraging and helped me up there. Even came back a few minutes later to ask how I was doing. Super great customer service! The brownies at the end was a nice touch! Will definitely be back! A wonderful day!

Response from Host

Aug 2019

Hi, Thank you for your detailed review, and for choosing Capt. Dave’s to help celebrate your mom’s birthday! I’m glad you both had fun viewing the wild dolphins at the surface and also below, via our unique Underwater Viewing Pods. It’s so great to read how satisfied you were with our crew’s service, and I’m happy they helped you feel comfortable enough to enjoy the sightings from the bow. We love making each trip comfortable, fun, educational, and memorable! We appreciate your feedback and I hope you can come out with us again soon.

782ruthj

Aug 2019

This excursion was fabulous! The captain was so patient and didn’t give up looking until every person on the boat got the experience they were hoping for. The captain communicates with other boats out searching and they all help each other out trying to spot whales. It took nearly 2 hours and we really thought we weren’t going to see anything but finally we saw an epic blue whale.....just amazing. The boat stayed out an extra hour just so that we could follow it and see it more than once. On returning back to the harbour a pod of dolphins arrived and played right next to us. A perfect end to a perfect trip. We would’ve been disappointed if we hadn’t seen anything but we wouldn’t of blamed the organisers for it, nature is out of their control, we were just very very lucky. The boat is clean and comfortable and captain Craig kept us all very well informed on the species of whales and dolphins we saw, great for the kids and we also learned a lot. A brilliant and very well organised excursion, will definitely return if we visit Dana Point again.

Response from Host

Aug 2019

Hi, Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I’m so pleased that you had a wonderful time on your dolphin and whale watching safari with Capt. Dave’s. It’s fabulous that you encountered a massive, impressive Blue Whale, and a large pod of wild dolphins! I’m glad we were able to extend the trip this time so everyone could continue enjoying the sightings. I’m happy that you liked our boat and crew too. We appreciate the 5 stars, and hope to see you again soon.