Watch Our Typical Monthly Dolphin & Whale Sightings
Scroll down for daily sightings log.
Captain Dave’s Dana Point Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari is the first tour in Dana Point to offer year-round dolphin and whale sightings! We helped put Dana Point whale watching tours on the map by delivering breathtaking whale and dolphin watching in a warm and welcoming environment. On the very rare occasion that you don’t have any whales or dolphin sightings, we’ll be happy to provide a free whale watching tour to be used within one year.
February 2026 Daily Whale Watching Sightings Log
| Date | No. of Trips | Sightings |
| Feb 25 | 6 | 23 Gray Whales, 5,700 Common Dolphins, 1 Mako Shark |
| Feb 24 | 5 | 5 Gray Whales, 1 Humpback Whale, 120 Bottlenose Dolphins, 70 Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| Feb 23 | 3 | 21 Gray Whales, 1,700 Common Dolphins, 25 Bottlenose Dolphins |
| Feb 22 | 7 | 19 Gray Whales, 3,100 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 21 | 7 | 8 Gray Whales, 5 Fin Whales, 2,050 Common Dolphins, 1 Blue Shark |
| Feb 20 | 0 | Inclement Weather |
| Feb 19 | 0 | Inclement Weather |
| Feb 18 | 0 | Inclement Weather |
| Feb 17 | 0 | Inclement Weather |
| Feb 16 | 0 | Inclement Weather |
| Feb 15 | 10 | 12 Gray Whales, 2,025 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 14 | 12 | 22 Gray Whales, 2,270 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 13 | 5 | 17 Gray Whales, 2 Humpback Whales, 750 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 12 | 3 | 4 Gray Whales, 100 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 11 | 0 | Inclement Weather |
| Feb 10 | 1 | 2 Gray Whales, 50 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 9 | 2 | 1 Gray Whale, 1,500 Common Dolphins, 140 Bottlenose Dolphins |
| Feb 8 | 5 | 1,200 Common Dolphins, 80 Bottlenose Dolphins, 34 Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| Feb 7 | 7 | 12 Gray Whales, 1,200 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 6 | 6 | 4,200 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 5 | 2 | 4 Gray Whales, 820 Common Dolphins |
| Feb 4 | 1 | 100 Common Dolphins, 30 Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| Feb 3 | 5 | 3 Gray Whales, 2 Humpback Whales, 1 Minke Whale, 1,325 Common Dolphins, 2 Bottlenose Dolphins |
| Feb 2 | 2 | 140 Common Dolphins, 45 Pacific White-sided Dolphins |
| Feb 1 | 6 | 7 Humpback Whales, 5,500 Common Dolphins, 55 Bottlenose Dolphins |
2026 Archive Whale Watching Sightings Log
-
Date No. of Trips Sightings Jan 31 7 6 Gray Whales, 3,800 Common Dolphins Jan 30 4 2,012 Common Dolphins, 160 Risso’s Dolphins, 75 Pacific White-sided Dolphins, 6 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 29 2 4 Gray Whales Jan 28 2 800 Common Dolphins, 7 Pacific White-sided Dolphins Jan 27 5 4 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales, 550 Common Dolphins Jan 26 1 1 Fin Whale, 10 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 25 8 9 Gray Whales, 185 Common Dolphins, 170 Pacific White-sided Dolphins Jan 24 4 2 Gray Whales, 1 Humpback Whale, 1,200 Common Dolphins Jan 23 4 9 Fin Whales, 20 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 22 2 2 Humpback Whales, 40 Common Dolphins, 20 Pacific White-sided Dolphins Jan 21 2 1,000 Common Dolphins Jan 20 2 360 Common Dolphins Jan 19 5 7 Gray Whales, 4,200 Common Dolphins Jan 18 8 5 Gray Whales, 2,115 Common Dolphins, 180 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 17 8 6 Humpback Whales, 6 Gray Whales, 5 Fin Whales, 6,000 Common Dolphins, 100 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 16 3 300 Common Dolphins, 170 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 15 3 6 Gray Whales (Including Cow/Calf), 175 Common Dolphins, 65 Pacific White-sided Dolphins Jan 14 2 1,075 Common Dolphins Jan 13 1 1 Gray Whale Jan 12 3 1,500 Common Dolphins Jan 11 3 5 Gray Whales, 2 Humpback Whales, 3 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 10 7 8 Gray Whales (Including Cow/Calf), 1,100 Common Dolphins, 19 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Steller Sea Lion Jan 9 4 1 Gray Whale, 1,100 Common Dolphins, 4 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 8 0 Inclement Weather Jan 7 3 1,100 Common Dolphins, 20 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 6 2 100 Bottlenose Dolphins, 100 Common Dolphins Jan 5 3 510 Common Dolphins, 4 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 4 3 2 Gray Whales, 200 Common Dolphins, 105 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 3 5 1 Fin Whale, 770 Common Dolphins, 60 Bottlenose Dolphins Jan 2 3 1 Humpback Whale Jan 1, 2026 0 Happy New Year!
View All Sightings Archives By Year
See an Abundance of Wildlife Up Close and Personal
Dana Point is the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World® for good reason! The gorgeous Pacific ocean is teeming with aquatic animals that are truly stunning to behold. Depending on which month you join us, you may see multiple varieties of both whales and dolphins. Every trip is special!
While dolphin and whale sightings are our bread and butter, we often run into other marine creatures, including sea lions, pelagic birds, sharks, seals, Mola mola, and more! Check out the months below to get an idea of what to expect on your visit. You can also check our daily whale and dolphin sightings log for details on the animals we saw on our latest adventures!
Create Memories that Last a Lifetime
Words and pictures simply can’t prepare you for the thrill of an up-close encounter with these majestic animals. As one of the best whale watching cruises in California, our hope is that connecting with the animals will change how you view the world and help you to form a lasting connection with nature. Your first whale sightings can truly be an eye-opening, life-changing experience. Heck, we’ve been doing this for over twenty years, and we’re still just as amazed to this day! Join us on an unforgettable adventure.
Learn More About Dana Point's Monthly Dolphin & Whale Sightings
-
Frequently Seen in January:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Fin Whales, Gray Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in January:
Whales: Humpback Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola, Sharks
-
Frequently Seen in February:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Fin Whales, Gray Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in February:
Whales: Humpback Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola, Sharks
-
Frequently Seen in March:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Fin Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in March:
Whales: Blue Whales, Gray Whales with Calves, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola, Sharks
-
Frequently Seen in April:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Fin Whales, Gray Whales with Calves, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in April:
Whales: Blue Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola, Sharks
-
Frequently Seen in May:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Gray Whales with Calves, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in May:
Whales: False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola, Sharks
-
Frequently Seen in June:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Mola Mola, Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in June:
Dolphins: Pacific White-sided Dolphins
Whales: Bryde’s Whales, False Killer Whales, Gray Whales, Orcas (Killer Whale), Pilot Whales, Sei Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Sharks
-
Frequently Seen in July:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Mola Mola, Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions, Sharks
Occasionally Seen in July:
Dolphins: Pacific White-sided Dolphins
Whales: Bryde’s Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales, Sei Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals
-
Frequently Seen in August:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Mola Mola, Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions, Sharks
Occasionally Seen in August:
Dolphins: Pacific White-sided Dolphins
Whales: Bryde’s Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales, Sei Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals
-
Frequently Seen in September:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Blue Whales, Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Mola Mola, Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions, Sharks
Occasionally Seen in September:
Dolphins: Pacific White-sided Dolphins
Whales: Bryde’s Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales, Sei Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals
-
Frequently Seen in October:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in October:
Dolphins: Pacific White-sided Dolphins
Whales: Blue Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales, Sei Whales, Sperm Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola, Sharks
-
Frequently Seen in November:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in November:
Dolphins: Pacific White-sided Dolphins
Whales: False Killer Whales, Gray Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola, Sharks
-
Frequently Seen in December:
Dolphins: Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins
Whales: Fin Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales
Other: Pelagic Birds, Sea Lions
Occasionally Seen in December:
Whales: Blue Whales, False Killer Whales, Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales
Other: Elephant Seals, Harbor Seals, Mola Mola, Sharks
2025 Whale Watching Stats
398
Gray Whales
429
Humpback Whales
203
Fin Whales
789,003
Common Dolphins
When is the best time to see whales in California?
You can see whales and dolphins off the coast of Dana Point, California, all year long!
May through November you can see blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and more. Between December and May, Dana Point whale watchers can see migrating gray whales, as well as fin whales, humpback whales, minke whales, and more. All year round several species of dolphins can be viewed, sometimes in mega-pods as large as 10,000! And throughout the year, rare species of whales and dolphins such as orcas (killer whales), Bryde’s whales, pilot whales, and sperm whales could be seen. Southern California has more dolphins and more blue whales than anywhere else in the world.
