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Welcome Aboard "ORCA"

Capt. Dave's Whale Watching Yacht for Charter

Reserve ORCA online

ORCA, Capt. Dave’s whale watching luxury yacht, is available for year-round private yacht charter, Southern California adventures, and ash scatterings at sea. She’s Coast Guard-approved to carry up to 6 passengers comfortably, and she’s operated by our friendly and professional captain and crew.

Capt. Dave’s ORCA charters offer all the amenities for a family or small group of friends to enjoy a fun day of whale watching, sightseeing, or celebrating a special occasion. It’s also an excellent choice for media productions looking for a fast yacht with experienced wildlife naturalists. ORCA charters are also available for intimate burials at sea off the coast of Southern California.

Cruise in Comfort and Luxury with Capt. Dave’s Whale Watching Safaris

Our private ORCA charters are truly something special. This luxury yacht features a fast cruising speed, a beautiful interior with ample seating, two staterooms, two bathrooms, and a fully appointed galley. You’ll enjoy panoramic views while comfortably seated in the fully enclosed bridge or the refreshing ocean air on the aft deck.

Film Your Next Nature Production with an ORCA Charter

This private yacht charter in Southern California is an excellent choice for television and movie productions. We have hosted many cast and crew members, including Animal Planet, MTV, Condé Nast, various reality shows, and more. For an additional fee, ORCA charters can be operated by Captain Dave, an experienced marine naturalist, award-winning filmmaker, author, photographer, and conservationist!

Take a 3D Tour of ORCA

Take a 3D Tour of ORCA

Explore California’s Wildlife and Scenery with Capt. Dave’s Whale Watching Cruises

Adventures on our private ORCA charters are always unique. While whales and dolphins are abundant nearly every day of the year, we often see marine birds, sea lions, sharks, and other aquatic creatures. And when Mother Nature smiles on Capt. Dave’s whale watching cruises, we also get to see rare ocean wildlife such as jellies and sea turtles! Of course, from the comfortable seats of your ORCA charter, you’ll also enjoy a breathtaking view of Southern California’s immaculate white-sanded beaches and palm trees, as well as our snow-covered mountains in the distance!

Reserve Your ORCA Charter Today

Capt. Dave’s whale watching cruises have a luxury boat for every occasion and every budget. Are you looking for a fast, high-octane adventure? You’ll love our Fast Cat Zodiac catamaran. Have a large group to accommodate? Our DolphinSafari fits up to 22 people, and our largest vessel, Lily, fits up to 49!

If you have any questions about Capt. Dave’s whale watching cruises or our ORCA charters, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll help you plan a private charter tour that you’ll remember for a lifetime. Join us for a thrilling and educational trip through beautiful Dana Point, the World’s Whale Capital®!

 

FAQs About Capt. Dave’s Whale Watching Tours

Where is the best whale watching in Southern CA?

Dana Point is the home of more dolphins than anywhere else in the world, and Dana Point Harbor offers easy access to the open ocean where the whales and dolphins are! It also provides a stunning coastline, calm ocean waters, and no large ships, imposing skyscrapers, or oil rigs that would ruin your view.

When is the best time of the year for a Capt. Dave’s whale watching tour?

As Dana Point is home to the largest number of dolphins in the world, the answer is simple: every day is an excellent day for dolphin and whale watching! Several species of whales are seen throughout the year, including playful humpback whales, fin whales (the 2nd largest whale species), and minke whales. Blue whales (the largest whale and biggest animal on earth) also visit Dana Point in the spring and summer!

How do I arrange a private ORCA charter tour?

To book a private whale watching tour with Captain Dave aboard ORCA, simply fill out our online form or give us a call. We’ll get in touch with you to make all of the arrangements. With Capt. Dave’s whale watching tours, you can charter boats for as many, or as few, people as you like. You can also customize your private charter with delicious lunches and snacks, sunset suppers, and refreshing beverages, including water, soft drinks, beer, wine, or champagne. Just let us know what you need to make your private ORCA charter a memorable adventure!

Contact Us for More Info

ORCA Reviews

If you want an excellent chance to see marine life and get the shots you need, I recommend chartering ORCA. ORCA was the perfect fit for our film crew of 5… our only issue was where to point the camera because there were too many blue whales. Great boat, great captain, Big blues. THANKS DAVE!

– Matt C., Email
TripAdvisor logo

A nice morning out with Captain Quinn. Lots of sea life including seals, sea lions, sun fish and Dolphins. Was able to see a California grey whale towards the end. Chartered the Orca for a small outing of 5. Great customer focus, nice boat and a great family outing.

– wood7indiana, TripAdvisor