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San Diego Dolphin & whale watching

Our most recommended San Diego Dolphin & whale watching

San Diego: Whale Watching Tour

1. San Diego: Whale Watching Tour

Marvel at the amazing views of San Diego Bay as you look out for sightings of marine wildlife including dolphins, sea lions, gray whales, and more. Your tour will be led by ocean experts as you get a deeper understanding of the ocean ecosystem and the sea creatures that live in it. Discover the San Diego coast on a two-story whale watching yacht, featuring 360-degree views from the main level and upper sundeck, multiple restrooms, and free guest WiFi. You will follow the whale migration path to bring you up close for the best sighting spots, which change every day. Early in the season, whales swim closer to the coast, so the maximum distance is about 3-5 miles. On their return trip, northbound whales swim further out, up to 9-12 miles off the coast. Make sure to wear layers as it can get pretty cool on the bay and don't forget to wear your sunscreen and hat while on this excursion. Bring your camera to capture all the memories you'll make on this exciting adventure.

San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise

2. San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise

Embark on a marine life adventure on a dolphin and whale watching tour off the coast of San Diego. Keep a lookout for gray whales, blue whales, common dolphins, and more as you glide over the Pacific Ocean's dark blue waters. San Diego is one of the best locations to watch whales year-round. Gray Whales migrate winter-spring from feeding grounds in Alaskan waters to calving lagoons in Baja California and back. In summer, the legendary Blue Whales, the largest animals on Earth, commonly feed off-shore of the San Diego coast.  You may also spot Fin, Blue, Humpback, and Minke whales during the summer whale watching season. Additionally, you'll often see pods of Dolphins including Risso’s, Common, Pacific White-Sided, and Bottlenose Dolphins. Your captain will also highlight other wildlife such as Sea Lions, various fish like Mola Mola (Sunfish), and a variety of marine birds such as Herons, Terns, Pelicans, and Gulls.  View these extraordinary mammals in the wild on this spectacular cruise. The expert crew will help you locate these creatures and additional marine wildlife, such as dolphins and sea lions. Learn about marine life and local environmental efforts from professional captains and whalers who work at the San Diego Natural History Museum.  You may even spot a whale calf traveling with its mother as they return from the Arctic. This is a fantastic and exhilarating journey for all age groups. Guaranteed whale or dolphin sighting. If you don't sight some type of whale or dolphin during the cruise, you'll be issued a pass that's good for another San Diego whale watching or harbor cruise. San Diego is quickly becoming one of the world’s best whale watching locations. The city is home to whales, dolphins, and sea birds, and features one of the world's most beautiful coastlines.  Enjoy live educational narration from captains and trained naturalists employed by the Natural History Museum.  Watch blue whales and dolphins in comfort on a large, fast, and stable boat!

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What people are saying about San Diego

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 35 reviews

What an amazing tour of the ocean wild life! Captain Brendan and his crew were top notch. There was education along with pure enjoyment. We saw four whales and dozens of dolphin—many swimming right alongside the boat. We were able to move throughout the boat to get the best views. The crew was great about directing the passengers to the ocean activity and amenities of the boat. It was good to have beverages and some snack/food options for purchase. I felt the ticket price was very fair for the value of the tour. Thanks for a great experience!

Excellent experience. We went on the 3.5-4 hour tour as a family, with my three kids (10, 6, 4 years old). We saw 9 whales and a huge pod of dolphins…a very memorable experience for all of us. The boat guide did a great job moderating and explaining what to look out for. Additionally, the boat was very spacious and clean

Fantastic trip out to sea! Saw hundreds of dolphins and a handful of grey whales! Including a 2 day old baby!

We were able to see pods of dolphins and 2 different whales. So awesome.

A great experience for everyone who likes to be on the water.