At Captain Dave’s Dana Point Dolphin and Whale Watching, we have a fabulous fleet consisting of six 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 Zodiac-style boats are also available for public whale watching boat tours on most days throughout the year. Book a catamaran dolphin cruise online and try one of Mrs. Captain Dave’s homemade brownies—included free on every trip!
| Features | ORCA | Fast Cat | DolphinSafari.com | AllsWell | Manute’a | Lily |
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| Maximum Passenger Capacity | 6 | 12 | 24 | 26 | 49 | 49 |
| Length | 38 Feet | 24 Feet | 35 Feet | 31 Feet | 50 Feet | 62 Feet |
| Boat Type | Motor Yacht | Rigid Inflatable Catamaran | Sailboat Catamaran | Rigid Inflatable Boat | Sailboat Catamaran | Power Catamaran |
| What’s the Adventure Like? | Fun, fast, perfect-for-all-ages, photography-seeking cruise. | High speed, smile-plastered-to-your-face, exhilarating thrill ride. | 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 beer, pampered wildlife voyage. |
| What Everyone Loves, in a Nutshell | Luxury, fast, filming friendly, upscale, intimate. | Turbo-charged, intimate, exhilarating, wet. | The first, the best, the one, the only. | Super fast, super fun, super close to the animals. | Fast, fun, hi-tech, world’s only Underwater Pods. | Luxury, high & dry, upscale comfort, alcohol served. |
| 3D Tour | Yes, view 3D tour. | No 3D tour available. | Yes, view 3D tour. | No 3D tour available. | No 3D tour available. | Yes, view 3D tour. |
| Wet Factor
(Ocean conditions play a large factor in the degree of ocean spray.) |
Close, but not likely to get wet. | Any closer and the dolphins will think you’re one of the pod. Likely to get splashed. | 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 to 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. Unlikely to get wet at all. But you can wet your whistle in our upscale galley! |
| Upscale Galley
(Regardless of galley, food & drinks available to purchase when checking in.) |
Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Pondering a 2nd Cup of Coffee?
Consider the Quantity of Bathrooms |
2 | 0 (We do carry a porta-potty, but you probably don’t want to use it while other passengers look the other way!) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Made in the Shade | Fully enclosed cabin plus covered aft deck. | Custom sunshade “T” top. | Covered cabin area. | Large sunshade | Covered cabin area. | Fully enclosed cabin, pilothouse, and covered upper sundeck. |
| Eye-Spy Dolphin Tram Nets | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Cushioned Bow Seating | No | Yes | No, all cushioned seating is in the cockpit | No | No, all cushioned seating is in the cockpit | Yes |
| Interior Cushioned Seating | Absolutely! | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Absolutely! |
| Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods | No | So close boat doesn’t need them. | 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! | Yes! | Definitely! | Of course! | Absolutely! | Without a doubt! |
| Micro-Museum of Artifacts | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Feel the Need for Speed? | Fast | One of our fastest boats. | Leisurely, but still fast enough to see wildlife. | Our fastest boat. | Fast | Very fast. |
| Family Matters… Are there age restrictions? | None | 8 years old and up, unless a private charter. | None, especially fun for kids. | 6 years 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. | 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 GoPro fans! (Yes, selfie sticks are allowed). 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 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. Ideal for whale disentanglement. | 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. Ideal for whale disentanglement. |
| 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. | U.S. Coast Guard certified. |
| More about ORCA | Find out about Fast Cat | Discover DolphinSafari | Dive Deeper into AllsWell | Explore Manute’a | Learn about Lily |
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!