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High Speed Zodiac Whale Watching Safari from Dana Point

High Speed Zodiac Whale Watching Safari from Dana Point

Overview

A fast and fun wildlife adventure awaits your family aboard our zodiac-style vessels (rigid inflatable boats). This cruise of up to 20 passengers gives you a thrilling 2-hour look at Southern California’s year-round whales and dolphins. With speeds of 30 knots or more, you’ll spend less time looking for animals and more time enjoying them! Your zodiac adventure will have you incredibly close to the ocean’s surface and within arm’s reach of wildlife. At the conclusion of your cruise, you'll receive one of Mrs. Capt. Dave's famously delicious Triple Fudge Brownies. (Some folks love the brownies more than the whales!)

We are a certified Responsible Whale Watching partner with the World Cetacean Alliance located in Dana Point, CA, the Dolphin and Whale Capital of the World®, and the first Whale Heritage Site in the Americas.

City: Dana Point

Sat 05 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $89.00

Make a reservation

Sat 05 Apr

Starting at $89.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

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

Licensed Captain and professional crew member

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Minimum age is 6 years
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
You may encounter occasional ocean spray
No over-sized bags or coolers please.

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (284)

Inspire792823

Mar 2025

I hate to give just an average review, but that is purely due to the weather conditions and unfortunately not seeing any whales (dolphins don't count for us). Captain Stacy and First mate Hannah were both awesome and made the experience as good as possible, considering the weather conditions which caused us to be soaked and cold during most of the trip. We eventually saw a pod of dolphins, which were cool, but no whales. Seems early March is risky, as most days we were in town had rough weather and we had booked a few weeks earlier.

Response from Host

Mar 2025

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm sorry you felt the trip was just average. It's unfortunate that the weather was not ideal, and we wish we could have shown you the wildlife you were hoping to see, along with the dolphins that were encountered. We hold dolphins (which are toothed whales, and include animals such as orcas/killer whales and pilot whales) in the same esteem as baleen whales. All of our trips are focused on showing our guests as much as we can, and are not limited to one type of animal or another. I'm sorry the conditions and sightings did not meet your expectations, but I am thrilled that you were happy with the service of our Captain and crew, and we appreciate your recognition of their efforts. We hope to see you again when conditions are better, for another chance to show you a wider variety of Dana Point's amazing marine mammals!

Griffin M

Mar 2025

Captain Stacy and First Mate Hannah were excellent hosts and were energetic, personable, and knowledgeable the entire ride! Even though it was rainy, cold, and rough, the great crew, the sights ( we saw dolphins), and experience made it worth the trip and an excellent overall experience. We will make sure to come back on our next trip to Cali.

Response from Host

Mar 2025

Hi Griffin, thanks for recommending Capt. Dave's! I'm thrilled that our crew was able to show you the beautiful wild dolphins and it's fantastic that you had a great time despite the conditions. We appreciate the 5-star rating and look forward to seeing you next time!

Celeste H

Mar 2025

Captain Marie and first mate Lauren were excellent. They provided amazing insight about the wildlife around us and put us in wonderful positions to see the animals. The check in process was painless and simple. We were so lucky to see a pod of common dolphins, a couple sea lions, and 4 gray whales. We absolutely adored our experience and would go back again anytime!

Response from Host

Mar 2025

Hi Celeste, thanks for letting us know how much you enjoyed your Capt. Dave's experience overall, from check in, to our crew, and of course the up-close marine wildlife sightings! I'm thrilled you felt our service and knowledge was worth 5 stars. We would love to see you back for another tour!