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Capt. Dave’s Whale & Dolphin Sighting Log

Daily & Monthly Dolphin & Whale Watching Sightings Log

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Watch Our Typical Monthly Dolphin & Whale Sightings

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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.

March 2023 Daily Whale Watching Sightings Log

Date No. of Trips Sightings
March 31 6 17 Gray Whales (Including Cow/Calf), 11,000 Common Dolphins, 1 Harbor Seal
March 30 1 1 Gray Whale, 15 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 29 4 110 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 28 10 15 Gray Whales, 30,790 Common Dolphins, 125 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Mola mola
March 27 8 8 Gray Whales, 1 Fin Whale, 5,950 Common Dolphins, 125 Bottlenose Dolphins, 120 Risso’s Dolphins, 1 Mola mola , 1 Unidentified Shark
March 26 8 21 Gray Whales, 2,500 Common Dolphins, 10 Bottlenose Dolphins, 2 Mola mola
March 25 8 31 Gray Whales, 825 Common Dolphins, 15 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Mola mola
March 24 6 10 Gray Whales, 60 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 23 3 5 Gray Whales, 10 Bottlenose Dolphins, 10 Common Dolphins
March 22 0 Inclement Weather
March 21 0 Inclement Weather
March 20 2 1 Minke Whale, 100 Common Dolphins
March 19 8 21 Gray Whales, 1,900 Common Dolphins, 100 Risso’s Dolphins, 11 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 18 10 32 Gray Whales, 3 Fin Whales, 2 Minke Whales, 200 Common Dolphins, 60 Pacific White-sided Dolphins, 16 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 17 7 4 Gray Whales, 1 Fin Whale, 150 Common Dolphins, 90 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 16 8 20 Gray Whales, 3 Fin Whales, 160 Bottlenose Dolphins, 52 Pacific White-sided Dolphins
March 15 0 Inclement Weather
March 14 5 6 Gray Whales, 500 Common Dolphins, 10 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 13 7 21 Gray Whales, 1,700 Common Dolphins, 30 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 12 9 11 Gray Whales, 1 Minke Whale, 700 Common Dolphins, 50 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Mola mola
March 11 7 155 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 10 3 1,200 Common Dolphins, 60 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 9 3 13 Fin Whales
March 8 4 3 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale, 185 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Risso’s Dolphin
March 7 3 6 Gray Whales, 2,000 Common Dolphins, 80 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 6 8 5 Gray Whales, 15,000 Common Dolphins
March 5 12 20 Gray Whales, 1 Fin Whale, 4,500 Common Dolphins, 105 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Mola mola, 1 Unidentified Shark
March 4 13 10 Gray Whales, 5,700 Common Dolphins, 105 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Mola mola
March 3 4 5 Gray Whales, 600 Common Dolphins, 30 Bottlenose Dolphins
March 2 3 2 Gray Whales
March 1 0 Inclement Weather

2023 Archive Whale Watching Sightings Log

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

2022 Whale Watching Stats

809

Gray Whales

419

Blue Whales

223

Humpback Whales

705,524

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.

Sightings Guarantee Capt Dave's