At Captain Dave’s Dana Point Dolphin and Whale Watching, we have a fabulous fleet consisting of five vessels, all of which are available for private charters. Manute’a is the primary boat used for our daily 2.5-hour dolphin and whale watching safaris. Our rigid hull inflatable (Zodiac-style) boat is also available for public whale watching boat tours every day throughout the year. Book a catamaran whale watching cruise online and try one of Mrs. Captain Dave’s famously delicious Triple Fudge Brownies—included free on every trip!
| Features | ORCA | DolphinSafari.com | AllsWell | Manute’a | Hoku Nai’a |
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| Maximum Passengers | 6 | 20 | 24 | 49 | 149 |
| Length | 38 Feet | 32 Feet | 31 Feet | 50 Feet | 65 Feet |
| Boat Type | Motor Yacht | Sailboat Catamaran | Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat | Sailboat Catamaran | Power Catamaran |
| What’s the Adventure Like? | Fun, fast, perfect-for-all-ages, photography-seeking cruise. | An intimate, immersive, family friendly, wildlife-at-your-finger-tips adventure. | A zippy zodiac adventure that puts wildlife at your fingertips. | Above the water or below in the Underwater Pods, an up-close, eye-to-eye, better than Disneyland, unforgettable experience. | A relaxing in the lap of luxury, while sipping a cold drink, pampered wildlife voyage. |
| What Everyone Loves, in a Nutshell | Luxury, fast, filming friendly, upscale, intimate. | The first, the best, the one, the only. | Super fast, super fun, super close to the animals. | Fast, fun, world’s only Underwater Viewing Pods. | Upscale comfort, high & dry, alcohol served, 2 viewing decks. |
| Virtual Tour | View ORCA virtual tour | View DolphinSafari virtual tour | No virtual tour available | No virtual tour available | View Hoku Nai’a virtual tour |
| Wet Factor (Ocean conditions play a large factor in the degree of ocean spray.) |
Close, but not likely to get wet. | Very close. Leave your shoes in the cabin and introduce those toes to daylight because there’s a good chance you’ll get wet if you go up on the bow. | Any closer and the dolphins will think you’re one of the pod. Could get splashed. | Close. Depending on conditions, possibly your feet and/or lower legs if you visit the bow while boat is going fast. | Not too close. Very unlikely to be splashed. But you can wet your whistle at our upscale bar! |
| Upscale Galley (Food & drinks available to purchase at check in.) |
Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Quantity of Restrooms | 2 restrooms | 1 restroom | 1 RV-style restroom available if boat is stopped | 2 restrooms | 2 restrooms |
| Made in the Shade | Fully enclosed cabin plus covered aft deck | Covered cabin area | Large T-top | Covered cabin area | Deck 1 is fully enclosed, Deck 2 is covered |
| Eye-Spy Dolphin Tram Nets | No | Yes, 2 tram nets | No | Yes, 3 tram nets | No |
| Cushioned Bow Seating | No | No, all cushioned seating is in the cockpit | No | No, all cushioned seating is in the cockpit | No |
| Interior Cushioned Seating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods | No | So close boat doesn’t need them. | So close boat doesn’t need them. | Yes | No |
| Mrs. Capt. Dave’s Triple Fudge Brownies | For sure! | Definitely! | Of course! | Absolutely! | Without a doubt! |
| Micro-Museum of Artifacts | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Feel the Need for Speed? | Fast | Leisurely, but still fast enough to see wildlife | Our fastest boat | Fast | Very fast |
| Age restrictions? | None | None, especially fun for kids. | 6 or older, unless a private charter. | None, especially fun for kids. | None |
| The More You Know… Is it educational? | Yes, marine wildlife naturalist on board. | Yes, marine wildlife naturalist on board. | Yes, marine wildlife naturalist on board. | Yes, marine wildlife naturalist on board. | Yes, marine wildlife naturalist on board. |
| Say Cheese!
How photo friendly are the boats? |
Perfect for media productions looking for a fast yacht with experienced wildlife naturalists. | Great for wildlife photography, though be careful with expensive electronics on the bow. A telephoto zoom lens for wildlife both close and farther away is a best bet. | Great for GoPros! Drone allowed on private charters only. | Great for wildlife photography, though be careful with expensive electronics on the bow. A telephoto zoom lens for wildlife both close and farther away is a best bet. | Great for wildlife photography, though be careful with expensive electronics on the bow. A telephoto zoom lens for wildlife both close and farther away is a best bet. |
| Eco Friendly? | Yes, vessel does only dolphin and whale watching. No fishing. | Yes, vessel does only dolphin and whale watching. No fishing. | Yes, vessel does only dolphin and whale watching. No fishing. | Yes, vessel does only dolphin and whale watching. No fishing. | Yes, vessel does only dolphin and whale watching. No fishing. |
| Safety First! | U.S. Coast Guard certified. | U.S. Coast Guard certified. | U.S. Coast Guard certified. | U.S. Coast Guard certified. | U.S. Coast Guard certified. |
| Learn more & reserve | More about ORCA | Discover DolphinSafari | Dive Deeper into AllsWell | Explore Manute’a | Learn about Hoku Nai’a |
Hop aboard one of our whale watching boat tours and get ready for the ride of your life! You can rest assured you’ll be taking in the sites safely and in style. We ensure our tours are never overcrowded and you’ll be riding in comfort. Our vessels are able to accommodate small or large groups as well as people with special needs. Just give us a call in advance to make those arrangements for your catamaran dolphin cruise!