Orange county whale watching join guided cruises in the o. Check the whale migration season california calendar and schedule your cruise. View giant blue whales in the summer and fall months and the annual gray whale migration in the winter and. Any time of year, you might also see a fin whale, a humpback, a minke whale, or a pod of orcas. Chuck gathers and craig dewitt while on a private whale watch charter for capt daves dolphin and whale safari. As i mentioned previously, we booked our whale watching experience with daveys locker on groupon. Cruise off the coast of orange county in search of whales on this excursion from newport beach. Orange county offers cruises out of newport harbor and dana point, that is home to large pods of whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Blue whales average 100 feet in length and 100 tons, this is the size of a boeing 737 jet. Newport landing whale watching offers tours three times per day. According to experts, gray whales breachthats the spectacular jumpoutofthewater and make a big splash movemore often near dana point and. According to dana wharf, one of the most popular whale watching tour companies in orange county, this has been a record season for spotting whales with more than 549 sightings of gray whales alone.
Dana point a blue whale found feeding about eight miles outside of dana point harbor is the season s first to be seen off orange county waters. The real housewives of orange county season 14 episodes 2 3 s14e12. Whale watchers report thousands of dolphins in superpod. Starting in 1971, dana wharf whale watching was the first whale watching company in orange county. Take your students whale and dolphin watching with dana wharf.
Species exotic to california andor north america, yellow background. One whale watching and dolphin cruise for one junior or one or two adults from daveys locker up to 68% off. Whale watchers report thousands of dolphins in superpod off laguna beach a superpod of at least one thousand common dolphins convened off the coast of laguna beach, california, on may 16. Aug 08, 2017 the whale was first spotted at around 6. Gray whale season kicks off and southern california whale. I also recommend for parking to download and use the parkmobile app its. If you are coming to whale watch you want to do it from dana point with dana wharf the pioneers of the industry.
Whale and dolphin watching cruises with daveys locker orange. Best whale watching in southern california condor express. If you are coming to whale watch, you want to do it from dana point with dana wharf, the pioneers of the industry. Dec 01, 2016 5080 offshore type killer whales visited the coast of orange county, dana point whale watching vessels first spotted them as they headed up the coast, newport coastal adventure stayed with them. Orange county register whale spotted in seal beach. Laguna beach whale watching deals in laguna beach, ca groupon. If you dont see any whales on your journey with the company, they let you cruise again for free. Mar 28, 2018 gray whales playing with dolphins off oc coast laguna nigueldana point, ca it was a beautiful day as two gray whales stopped to play with a pod of dolphins off the orange county coastline. Its one of the most amazing wildlife migrations on the planet. Each year, about 20,000 gray whales make an epic 6,000mile journey between alaska and mexicoand then back again. Newport landing whale watching offers whale watching cruises open to the general public viewing california grey whales, blue whales, all types of dolphins. Whale watching california coast gray whale blue humpback. The dana point headlands is undeveloped and there is a public trail on top of the headlands that takes you out to the promontory.
The juveniles are often found playing in the soft sands off the shores of orange county. Newport beach, ca whale watching is popular among visitors and locals. Some fishermen out of orange beach have a whale of a tale. Bryant, mainly from the photographs of john avise, university of california, irvine click on images or names to open. Buy tickets online or call 949 6731434 to schedule a cruise. Dana wharf whale watching began in 1971 and was the first whale watching company in orange county. Baby gray whale coaxed back to sea from dana point photos.
On an ecofriendly catamaran, glide through san francisco bay and under the golden gate bridge to reach the open pacific, where youll keep your eyes peeled for humpback and gray whales, as well as marine life like dolphins and seals. Southern california whale watching tips travel caffeine. November through april, gray whales pass along the california coast, and theres no better place to watch them than in southern californias beach cities of dana point, long beach, and newport beach. There are five overlooks with comfortable bench seating. Its whale season, and these volunteers are counting each one. Join guided cruises out of newport beach s newport harbor and dana point, which has been dubbed the dolphin and whale watching capital of the world, to explore remarkable marine habitat thats home to huge numbers of whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Dana wharf whale watching dana point whale watching. Finback whales, minke whales, humpback whales, and even killer whales make this the other best month for large variety of. For a closer look, book a whale watching cruise with san diego whale watch. Southern california whalewatching tours depart from most harbors along the coast. Photo courtesy of carla mitroff gray whales frolic in a pod off dana point in 2015. Orange county, california, is one of the best spots in the state for whale watching. Basking shark scotland top things to do in san diego february 24 march 1, 2015. Blue whale viewings become more frequent and multiple viewings of the largest of all whales are possible.
Daveys locker whale watching offers whale watching cruises daily year round. Long beach, newport beach, dana point, oceanside, and san diego all offer whale watching. With just a few weeks left in the prime whale watching season, here are a few of the top orange county whale watching tours. Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. Whale watching at dana point and coastal orange county. The best time for whale watching in california reserve your trip online or call 949 6731434 to schedule. Get discount whale and dolphin watching cruises with daveys locker tickets for daveys locker ships orange county. We are the premier yearround whale watching facility in southern california.
Dana point a blue whale found feeding about eight miles outside of dana point harbor is the seasons first to be seen off orange county. Orange county register august 20, 2018 a baby gray whale playfully swimming just a few feet from shore drew hundreds of spectators to the shoreline at seal beach on sunday. Around 20,000 grays are moving up and down the coast during this time of year, which makes it a great time for whale watching. After a record number of whale sightings last spring, whale watchers are anticipating another good gray whale watching season, according to officials at the cabrillo marine aquarium. Enjoy stops in laguna beach for a photo on the cliffs, newport beach for a 2. A study prepared for international fund for animal welfare in 2009 estimated that million people went whale. The big pods of dolphins often seen at dana point are around all year long. Visit the whale watching sites below to find tours.
Sharks, on the other hand, are drawn by warmer ocean waters, this year particularly off orange county. California is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. There are several great places in orange county to spot whales. Free gray whale cliparts, download free clip art, free. Our company offers whale watching trips throughout the year and often times we are asked when the best time is to see the animals.
Blue whale blue whales average 100 feet in length and 100 tons, this is the size of a boeing 737 jet. Southern california whale watchers can view these giants during the summer months. Whale watching in orange co unty its whale watching season again and orange county has plenty of options available for you to catch a glimpse of one of these magnificent creatures. The graywhalewatching season in california varies along the coast during winter and spring as the grays migrate south to the mating and calving lagoons of mexico, then return north to feed mainly off alaska. A prime location for whale watching, orange county, california, offers yearround options to view several whale species from land, sea and air. Whale watching in dana point orange county whale watching. Mar 02, 2017 orange county whale watching is year round. The real housewives of orange county season 2 wikipedia. See whales and dolphins in newport beachs huge marine sanctuary with daveys locker tours.
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whale watching in orange co unty is a year round event. The orange county register reports that the migration season for these whales will last until april. Long beach, newport beach, dana point, oceanside, and san diego all offer whalewatching. Dana point located in south orange county dana point is an excellent place to spot passing whales. Get up close and personal with blue whales, gray whales, fin whales, humpback whales, minke whales, killer whales, and five species of wild dolphins that can number in herds of up to 10,000. Whalewatching and orange county beaches tour from anaheim. The height of the southern california whale watching season is the annual california gray whale migration, from december through april. First blue whale of the season spotted off orange county coast. Best time of year for whale watching by seasons daveys. The warm waters right out of dana point harbor are flourishing with sea life including. Paddleboarders float directly over a whale in the dana point harbor. Jun 05, 2017 the reasons for orange countys lively whale scene are varied, and not always fully understood, says jessica roame, marine education specialist at newport landing whale watching.
The largest animal on the planet, the blue whale, swims and feeds right off newport beach coast. One of the largest the blue whale, can reach over one hundred feet and 100 tons, yet they eat some of the smallest animals called krill, shrimp like creatures that are barely visible to. Located in newport beach, just minutes away from most cities in orange county, daveys locker has been providing whale watching cruises for over 40 years to both residents and visitors of orange county and. The whales travel 10,000 to 12,000 miles from the cooler waters of. Where to go whale watching in california socal field trips.
Providing whale watching in orange county for over 20 years. Visit san jose del cabo on a trip to mexico audley travel vocal repertoires oceansounds e. First gray whale of season spouted in south orange county the migration begins. Humpbacks are best identified by their fluke tail which is like a fingerprint as each one has a. Whale species in southern california and surrounding waters. At around 26 feet long, its the smallest baleen whale off orange county.
In areas like dana point, you dont have to go further than local parks to hike to a viewpoint and catch spouts, flukes. Best time for whale watching in california condor express. Unlike gray whales which migrate past orange county, humpbacks do not migrate past here, instead they come here to feed and sometimes we see an individual humpback whale here for more than a month while others show up one day and are gone the next. How to go whale watching in orange county orange county. Whale and dolphin watching from dana point orange county. Whale watching tours pricing newport beach cruises. Dana wharf whale watching offers yearround whale watching in dana point. During the winter and spring months witness the grey whale migration and during the summer and fall months the giant blue whales. Whale watching in orange county is a year round event. Gray whale mothers and calves continue heading north. Depart anaheim in the morning and head south to explore the beautiful orange county beaches. Dana point whale watching tours introduce you to magnificent wildlife and extraordinary views.
Not only is orange county right along the gray whale migration route which takes place december through may, but in the summer we see blue and humpback whales that come here to feed, as well as minke and fin whale sightings yearround. A juvenile gray whale off the coast of laguna beach this week is the season s first spotted off orange county. Whale watching cruises are a great experience for families, churches, and companies in orange county with a universal appeal to all ages. In addition, during summer, blue, humpback and other whales can be seen. Southern california whale watching tours depart from most harbors along the coast.
Its so great for the mind and soul to hop on a boat and enjoy an abundance of marine life that is not trapped in a tank. Whale watching off orange county from newport harbororange. Captain daves dana point dolphin and whale watching safari is the first tour in dana point to offer yearround dolphin and whale sightings. Whale and dolphin watching from dana point, mar 12th 9. The original whale watching company in orange county. Join newport landing on one of our open to the public whale watching cruises or rent a whale watching boat charter a whale watching boat for just your groupcompany.
With just a few weeks left in the prime whale watching season, here are a few of the top orange county whale. Watch the rugged, beautiful scenery of the pacific coast glide by as you listen to interesting commentary from your crew about the native california marine life. Blue whale the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale, swims and feeds right here off newport beach coast. The real housewives of orange county season 14 download. Whale watching on the california coast california beaches. Gray whales can be seen off southern california from december through may. Whale species viewed while whale watching in orange county. Download the ios app download the android app about us api.
Ocean temperatures are warmer from may through november and feature more blue whales, finback whales and humpback whales, along with killer whales, huge pods of dolphins, seals, sea lions, sea otters and many other marine mammals. These massive, itinerant mammals travel from feeding grounds in the bering sea to mating and breeding lagoons along baja california in mexico. For a sighting of massive, blue whales, head to newport beach in the peak of summer. Providing whale watching in orange county for over 20. First blue whale of the season spotted off southern. Captain dave founded and organized orange countys first whale rescue group in the worlds whale watching. According to wyland, dana wharfs tours are californias best for whale watching and when you see the whales, dolphins and sea lions frolicking in the surf. You will see blue whales all the way from may through november but the most gorgeous sightings start happening in from the end of.
First blue whale of the season spotted off orange county. Gray whale watching season school group special novapril. With two prime ports nearby, it is easy to hop on a boat, get offshore, and witness natures majestic giants making their migrations. You can see them seasonally along the orange county oc coast, along with migrating gray whales. Best places for whale watching from shore in southern california. Gray whales make one of the longest migrations of any mammal. If you want to whale watch, do it from dana point with dana wharf, the industry pioneers.
Whale watching in orange county, california usa today. Whale watching and dolphin cruise for one, two, four, or. Discover the best year round whale watching in the world best year round whale watching in the world. The best time for whale watching in california usa today. The whales travel 10,000 to 12,000 miles from the cooler waters of the chukchi and bering seas to the warm. Guide to whale watching in orange county oc mom blog. Whale sightings experience whale and dolphin sightings. Endorsed by the orange county cetacean society, daveys locker provides year round whale watching cruises daily. You can also book through their website, but their groupon deal is a steal search daveys locker in orange county, ca. Starting early summer to mid fall a wide variety of baleen whales are viewed, like the humpback, finback, minke and blue whales. I also recommend for parking to download and use the parkmobile app its easy to use and if you. The northbound gray whale migration is peaking off southern california, where a recent sightings spike has astounded scientists and landing operators.
Gray whale season has officially kicked off, with some already seen in the past few days near the shores of manhattan beach, palos verdes, long beach, newport beach and dana point. Orange county residents and tourists from all over the world come whale watching in orange county to see these giants. Gray whales, the animal that started the whale watching phenomenon in dana point, can be seen migrating along our coast now through may. Along with this migration comes a surge of whale watchers in southern california. Whale watching trips depart daily from several different spots along the coast. We helped put dana point whale watching tours on the map by delivering breathtaking whale and dolphin watching in a warm and welcoming environment. It aired from january 16, 2007 until march 20, 2007, and was primarily filmed in orange county, california. Whale watching in orange county an adventure is calling. The second season of the real housewives of orange county, an american reality television series, was broadcast on bravo.