Dana Point Dolphin and Whale Watching with Underwater Viewing
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Dana Point, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Maximize your chances of seeing dolphins, and other sea creatures in Dana Point on this whale and dolphin watching eco-safari. Cruise aboard a catamaran to some of the area’s best places to spot out different kinds of whales and dolphins. An on-board naturalist also provides on-going commentary the whole way to keep you educated and in the know about these sea creatures and their natural habitat.
- Cetacean viewing guaranteed or receive another tour for free
- Enjoy expert insights from an on-board naturalist
- Check out the underwater viewing pods for a closer look at ocean life without disturbing the habitat
- Get sent off with a complimentary triple-fudge brownie
What's Included
- U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified vessel
- Licensed Captain and professional crew
- Live commentary on board
- Cetacean Declaration - Join us again for free within one calendar year if you don't see any dolphins or whales
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- DVD (available to purchase)
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 24440 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629, USA
Please arrive 45 minutes in advance. Check-in upstairs at our waterfront Dolphin Deck building. We're located next to Baby Beach and OC Sailing & Events Center.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Meet your group at Dana Point Harbor. For your convenience, there’s free parking by your meeting spot on the harbor. Your departure time may vary by the date you choose, so please take note the service provider contacts you after booking to confirm available times for the date you’ve picked. Meet at the Dolphin Deck before the departure time of your whale and dolphin watching eco-safari.
Board one of three catamarans—either Manute’a, DolphinSafari, or Lily. Keep your eyes open for sea lions, marine birds, and other creatures, as this is a great place to spot them.
As your captain takes you further out, your group spots dolphins, whales, and sometimes sharks. Some whales you might see on your journey include Blue Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, and occasionally Orcas (Killer Whales). Also, keep in mind, there are various species of wild dolphins that might cross your path, too.
As you cruise, enjoy commentary from a naturalist who fills you in on the sea creatures, their lifestyles, their natural habitats, and what’s being done to protect them. If you’d like, you can head down to the underwater viewing pods on your catamaran to catch sight of the ocean life from an underwater vantage point.
After your adventure, your boat docks back at the harbor, and you’re sent on your way with a complimentary triple-fudge brownie.
Board one of three catamarans—either Manute’a, DolphinSafari, or Lily. Keep your eyes open for sea lions, marine birds, and other creatures, as this is a great place to spot them.
As your captain takes you further out, your group spots dolphins, whales, and sometimes sharks. Some whales you might see on your journey include Blue Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, and occasionally Orcas (Killer Whales). Also, keep in mind, there are various species of wild dolphins that might cross your path, too.
As you cruise, enjoy commentary from a naturalist who fills you in on the sea creatures, their lifestyles, their natural habitats, and what’s being done to protect them. If you’d like, you can head down to the underwater viewing pods on your catamaran to catch sight of the ocean life from an underwater vantage point.
After your adventure, your boat docks back at the harbor, and you’re sent on your way with a complimentary triple-fudge brownie.
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- 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.
- Only Manute'a has underwater viewing. Boats are subject to change without notice and changes are not a determinant for cancellation or refund.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 49 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Talon_T
It was amazing! The girls, Marie, Hannah ane Daelyn, who took us out were very knowledgeable and just all-around nice and fun to talk to! Would highly recommend to anybody and would taste six stars if I could. ++++++
Reviews
4.9
based on 866 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Connie_R, Jul 2026
The crew were absolutely fantastic. We saw many dolphins swimming around the boat plus, we saw a very large whale many times. Matt the ship’s captain did a great job getting us close to the whale as it would pop up.
I had my 12 and 13 year-old grandson’s with me. They enjoyed the trip and have many stories to talk about from the boat ride.
I believe Hanna was our guide, she was full of information and made sure the boys were able to go down below and look through the glass under the ocean.
Jerome_W, Jul 2026
Easy check in and very friendly and helpful staff. The crew was great and tried very hard to find whales and dolphins. Today was a good day for dolphins. We saw hundreds very close to the boat.
felicity_T, Jun 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding Whale Watching Experience
We had an absolutely fantastic experience.
From start to finish, the trip was professional, well organised, and exceeded our expectations. The crew were knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about marine life. A special thank you to Alex, Hannah, and Daelyn, who made the experience even more enjoyable with their enthusiasm, knowledge, and willingness to answer questions throughout the trip.
The highlight was seeing whales in their natural habitat, something that was truly unforgettable for our family. The crew did an excellent job of helping everyone spot wildlife and sharing interesting information about the animals and the local area.
The boat was comfortable, well maintained, and the atmosphere on board was relaxed and welcoming. You could tell the team genuinely cared about making sure every guest had a great experience.
This was one of the highlights of our California trip and something we will remember for a long time. We would highly recommend Dana Wharf Whale Watching to anyone visiting the area and would happily book again on our next visit.
Thank you to the entire team for an amazing day on the water.
William_O, Jun 2026
The captain and crew were very friendly and provided entertaining information about the sea animals that we expected to see.
Faeeza_J, Jun 2026
The crew were amazing on the boat! They seemed quite experienced and had a wealth of knowledge about marine life. I felt quite safe in the crew's hands and had a great experience seeing lots and lots of dolphins!
Gregory_S, Jun 2026
It is enjoyable and thrilling. No whales but whales are probably very boring. Such lumbering beasts with no sense of fun. We saw hundreds of dolphins in 3 major pods and these creatures have a contagious energy and joy.
Dorene_H, Jun 2026
The captain and co captain were amazing and so knowledgeable and brought us out to where all the whale and dolphin action was. We all had a great time.
David_E, Apr 2026
We enjoyed the crew Capt Matt and his crew were very knowledgeable. Lots of dolphins and an amazing time with a Fin Whale.
brian_n, Apr 2026
Easy check-in, good communicators, great crew, ❤️Dana Point! Saw a blue whale for the first time Bam! And much, much more!
Marc_L, Apr 2026
The entire crew was amazing. We saw so many whales, dolphins and even some sea lions. I’d recommend this tour for anyone. Captain Dave’s was worth it.
Akop_V, Apr 2026
Absolutely amazing journey! From our great captain and his lovely crew, to the 20 something Finn whales we witnessed… such a privilege to share the sacred beauty that is our California coast!
We will definitely be back in time to see the next big Migration!!
Jennifer_D, Mar 2026
Great experience. The crew were so friendly and knowledgable. We had such a great time, seeing whales, dolphins and sea lions. I know it is not guaranteed to see whales on this trip, but they make every effort they can to try and find them!
Ryan_P, Mar 2026
Fantastic adventure, but no whales—but lots of dolphins! I definitely would do it again. Highly recommend.
Ric_R, Feb 2026
The experience was everything I imagined it could be. The staff from check in to off boarding were awesome. We caught sightings of grey whales and hung out with a chill pod of dolphins.
Shannon_B, Feb 2026
We went as a family in January with a 90 year old, two 30-somethings, and a 2 year old, and everyone had a wonderful time! The staff were incredibly friendly, helpful, accommodating, experienced, and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about whales and dolphins. We spotted a humpback whale, two species of dolphins, and sea lions. The staff made it a priority to make sure that everyone saw the animals and were knowledgeable about how to find them. The underwater viewing area was a tiny room that 1-2 people can crawl into at a time, but it was very cool to see and pretend you were a dolphin swimming in the ocean with water blasting by you as the boat moved. The 2 year old especially liked the underwater viewing area. We also enjoyed delicious free brownies at the end.
Salina_B, Nov 2025
Tour to our left promptly at the correct time. The crew and staff were helpful and friendly. Unfortunately, we didn't see any whales, but we did see a massive pod of dolphins that were very, very fun.
Tara_T, Sep 2025
We had a magical experience! Was definitely the highlight of our vacay! We are allll obsessed with dolphins now!
Linda_P, Aug 2025
It was easy. The dolphins were so playful chasing the boat, I’ve never seen so many!!
Crew was so knowledgeable. It was a fun and fantastic day all the way around! They even cased the whale so we could get a better look!💗
Anna_L, Aug 2025
We saw so many dolphins. My kids loved standing at the bow of the boat and seeing all the dolphins swimming and jumping in front of them.
The staff was really knowledgeable and provided so much information about the marine life.
Talon_T, Jul 2025
It was amazing! The girls, Marie, Hannah ane Daelyn, who took us out were very knowledgeable and just all-around nice and fun to talk to! Would highly recommend to anybody and would taste six stars if I could. ++++++
Jim_G, Apr 2025
Crew was fun and knowledgeable. Did everything they could to make the trip exciting. Alex the captain maneuvered into great positions to see the dolphins and the whale. Hannah the first mate was just a gem!
Shelley_N, Mar 2025
I had a fabulous time on the whale watch tour! The staff and crew of Captain Dave’s were amazing! It was a beautiful day; and although we didn’t see any whales, we saw hundreds of dolphins!! I highly recommend this tour!!
John_R, Feb 2025
It was a great experience we saw 2 whales and a large pod of bottle nose dolphins. The boat is clean and the crew is incredible. The explain everything
Emily_B, Feb 2024
We were able to see hundreds of dolphins and Captain Dave drove the boat around them so they rode our wake. We weren't able to see any whales this time, but it happens. The small catamaran was very fun and we only had about 12 other people on the boat with us so we were all able to take a spot on the front of the boat to see the dolphins, sea lions and beautiful scenery.
Aileen_P, Oct 2023
Unfortunately only one minke whale at a distance and very fleeting. Disappointed because the advertising makes it seem like there are always whales seen. And despite knowing that it’s not peak season I do think my expectations were higher. Lots of dolphins and lovely day for cruise. Would recommend at height of season otherwise just expect a pleasant couple of hours on the water with bonus if whales seen!
SueAllison_S, Oct 2023
The 2 different types of dolphins were beyond amazing as were our hots onboard our boat! The sea lions and lobster traps were amazing too! I’ll definitely be back!
Jill_L, Sep 2023
Great crew! I got rally nauseated halfway through the tour and they moved me to the back of the boat and brought me a ginger chew to ease the nausea. I loved the information they provided and some fun facts they shared. If I ever make it back to California, I will happily do this again.
Catherine_T, Jun 2023
We missed seeing a breaching humpback whale by about 30 minutes but we had a great time seeing three different species of dolphins!
Wendy_D, May 2023
We loved watching the bottlenose dolphins under water. Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly crew. They found the fin whales and gave plenty of time to watch.
Heather_R, Jan 2023
Beautiful day! Great crew and we saw hundreds of Dolphins and a gray whale! Excellent experience! Captain Marie was great!
Likely to Sell Out
From $105.99
per person-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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