Quick Details
Additional information:
- Our whale watching safaris in Orange County are safe and never crowded.
- Entry into the Underwater Viewing Pods requires the use of ladder-like steps. Persons with a disability or limited mobility may have difficulty.
SPECIAL CRUISE: New Year’s Eve Sunset Safari With 1 Free Serving of Champagne or Sparkling Cider to Toast
Sunset Safari Prices: $76.53 per adult (age 13+), $51.56 per child (age 1-12)
Book Now for Instant Discount!
Discount Applied at Checkout
Adult (13 & up)
$95
$ 76.53
Child (1-12)
$64
$ 51.56
Infants (up to 12 months)
$ 6
“…this tour offers the best whale watching
Capt. Dave’s Dana Point Whale Watching Tour
Manute’a (pronounced mah-noo-tay-ah) is our high-tech, high-speed catamaran sailboat offering the world’s most unique dolphin and whale watching experience in Orange County.
Manute’a features Capt. Dave’s exclusive Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods. These amazing viewing pods give you the extraordinary experience of feeling what it’s like to swim with dolphins and whales, underwater, without getting wet, making it an unforgettable whale watching tour you’ll talk about for years to come!
This vessel also features three Eye-Spy Dolphin Tram Nets on the bow for an up-close and immersive Dana Point whale watching adventure, a micro dolphin and whale museum, and live narration from expert marine naturalists for a whale watching experience in Orange County that is both fun and educational.
At the end of the Super-Safe Safari, Mrs. Capt. Dave’s legendary, delicious Triple Fudge Brownies are served complimentary!
Does the thought of being elbow-to-elbow with people terrify you? It terrifies us, too! That’s why Capt. Dave’s trips have always practiced social distancing with plenty of room, comfortable seating, and fewer guests.
Manute’a is the primary vessel used for our daily Dana Point whale watching tours in Orange County.
Additional Vessels
On select dates, we make available our other catamarans for the 2.5-Hour Signature Safari.
When purchasing tickets for this cruise, your booking will be for our 2.5-hour Dolphin & Whale Signature Safari. Although our primary vessel for the Signature Safari is Manute’a, there may be times when other vessels are used. These unique vessels offer a special dolphin and whale watching experience that is equal to Manute’a.
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This vessel is available for public cruises on select dates and for private boat charters year-round.
DolphinSafari is the original pride of our fleet and remains a crew and passenger favorite. She was the first vessel in Southern California to offer year-round dolphin watching. And it was aboard this catamaran sailboat that Captain Dave filmed his award-winning documentary, Wild Dolphins & Whales of Southern California.
She is Coast Guard certified to carry up to 26 passengers, however, for optimal comfort we usually reduce guest capacity to less than 20.
DolphinSafari Special Features
DolphinSafari provides an intimate dolphin and whale watching experience. Cushioned seating and panoramic views are available in the enclosed cockpit but returning guests know the best place to be is on the bow!
Her specially designed bow with Eye-Spy Dolphin Nets is so close to the water that you feel as though you can touch the animals! You’re also close enough to hear the dolphins vocalize as they swim right under your feet. It’s almost like being in a kayak! There is a restroom available on the boat.
Take a virtual tour of DolphinSafari.
DolphinSafari is not equipped with Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods.
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This vessel is available for public cruises on select dates and for private boat charters year-round.
Hoku Nai’a is our newest double-deck, upscale, power catamaran. This fast and stable catamaran has two restrooms on board.
Hoku Nai’a Special Features
- Spacious observation deck is perfect for whale watching by giving you an elevated look at the animals.
- On the second deck, for your comfort, there is ample cushioned bench seating and it’s covered for protection from the elements.
- The main deck is fully enclosed for climate control while large windows on both sides provide plenty of viewing angles.
- Bench seats with surfboard tables and a lounge area are perfect for those wanting to enjoy refreshments.
- Beautifully appointed with upscale décor.
What do our guests say about our Dana Point whale watching tours in Orange County?
Wildlife We’re Seeing
Dana Point is the World’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital® and is blessed to have moderate weather all year long, and this includes mild winter weather and ocean conditions.
Great Grays: During the winter and spring months, the animal that started the whale watching industry in Dana Point can be seen migrating along the coast. Now through May, thousands of gray whales are migrating past Orange County and locals know Dana Point to be one of the best places to view the migration. Gray whales often travel within a mile or two of the coast and are believed to use Dana Point’s headlands as a landmark on their route.
Dana Point has a few year-round baleen whale species including playful humpback whales, large and friendly fin whales, and curious minke whales, too. These majestic creatures can be seen on our Dana Point whale watching tours anytime from January through December. All three species are known to be curious about boats, and will sometimes come over and check you out! That’s called whale mugging.
You also have the possibility of seeing orcas (killer whales) throughout the year while on a whale watching tour in Dana Point. They can appear at any time, without warning, so have your camera ready! Or you might have a rare encounter with pilot whales, false killer whales, or even sperm whales. Other special sightings could include basking sharks, the second-largest shark in the world, and huge elephant seals.
Hold on to your safari hats because we’re not done yet! Several species of wild dolphins are seen throughout the year while whale watching in Orange County —some in pods that can number up to 10,000. Imagine nothing but dolphins in every direction as far as the eye can see! It’s during these cooler months that we see one of our favorite dolphins, the beautiful black and white pacific white-sided dolphin. And that’s not all. Over 50 species of pelagic birds, sea lions, seals, and sharks, including the great white, mako, hammerhead, thresher, and more could be encountered.
Cetacean Declaration – Sightings Guarantee
You might be wondering, “What if I don’t see anything?” Although we locate whales or dolphins on over 95% of our trips, there are rare occasions when we don’t see any marine mammals during our whale watching tours in Dana Point. And in that unlikely event—zero whales or dolphins— regular fare guests can return for FREE for another Signature Safari (daily public whale watching trip in Orange County) within one year from the date of the trip.
Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! Book your Dana Point whale watching tour now!