Dana Wharf Whale & Dolphin Watching in Dana Point — Orange County’s First Since 1971
Dana Wharf Whale Watching began in 1971 as Orange County’s first whale watching company. Family-run for more than five decades, our highly rated whale and dolphin watching tours sail year-round from Dana Point, recognized as a Whale Heritage Area, with expert marine naturalists aboard every trip and sightings guaranteed, or ride again free. Come experience with us the coastline and marine life that have made Dana Point one of Southern California’s iconic whale watching destinations.
Our sightings guarantee
Whale Checks never expire
On every two-hour whale and dolphin watching trip, we guarantee a whale or a good showing of dolphins, as determined by the captain. If you don't get one, you'll receive a Whale Check for a free return trip, good any time.
We often see guests bring one back 20 years later.
Whale Checks are treated like cash, so bring the original to check-in. The guarantee covers our public two-hour trips. Private charters aren't included.
Whale Watching & Event Specials
Whale Watching Log
2026 sightings so far
What the boats have logged since Jan. 1st 2026, across every trip.
924Humpback Whales8 mom and calf
308Gray Whales11 mom and calf
282Fin Whales
66Orcas
65Minke Whales
65Pilot Whales
10Blue Whales
3Bryde’s Whales
We also saw:
29Mola Mola
9Mako Sharks
5Blue Sharks
4Sea Turtles
2Frigatebirds
1Thresher Shark
1Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
1Hammerhead Shark
1Swordfish
We’ve also seen Risso’s Dolphins, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins and Common Dolphins.
What we saw in the last 30 days
| Date | Logged |
|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2026 | 14 Humpback, 1 Fin Whale |
| Nov 7, 2026 | 6 Humpback Whales, Common Dolphins, 1 Swordfish |
| Nov 6, 2026 | 8 Humpback Whales, Common Dolphin |
| Nov 5, 2026 | 65 Pilot Whales, 14 Humpback Whales, Common Dolphin |
| Nov 4, 2026 | 17 Humpback Whales & Common Dolphins |
| Nov 3, 2026 | 15 Humpback Whales & Common Dolphins |
| Nov 2, 2026 | 5 Humpback Whales, 1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Flying Fish |
| Oct 31, 2026 | 8 Humpback Whales, Common Dolphin |
| Oct 30, 2026 | 15 Humpback Whales, 1 Cow/Calf Pair, Striped Marlin, |
| Oct 29, 2026 | Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Flying Fish |
| Oct 28, 2026 | Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Common Dolphins |
| Oct 27, 2026 | Common Dolphins |
| Oct 26, 2026 | No Sightings |
| Oct 25, 2026 | Flying Fish, Common Dolphin |
| Oct 24, 2026 | 40 Orca Whales, Risso’s Dolphins, Common Dolphin |
| Oct 23, 2026 | 2 Humpback Whales, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins |
| Oct 22, 2026 | Flying Fish |
| Oct 21, 2026 | 2 Humpback Whales, Risso’s Dolphins & Common Dolphins |
| Oct 20, 2026 | 2 Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins |
| Oct 19, 2026 | Pacific White-Sided Dolphin & Common Dolphin |
| Oct 18, 2026 | 6 Humpback Whales, Common Dolphin |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Flying Fish |
| Oct 16, 2026 | 2 Humpback Whales, Common Dolphin |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 4 Humpback Whales & Common Dolphins |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 6 Humpbacks, 1 Sea Turtle, Common Dolphin |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 1 Humpback & Common Dolphins |
| Oct 12, 2026 | Common Dolphins |
| Oct 11, 2026 | No trips due to weather |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 1 Humpback Whale, Common Dolphins |
Every sighting since 2013
The complete log, day by day.
2025 Marine Life Sightings
Blue Whale – 20
Fin Whale – 160
Gray Whale – 241
Humpback Whale – 285
Minke Whale – 64
Mola Mola – 50
Orca – 6
Sperm Whale – 7
2024 Marine Life Sightings
Blue Whale – 259
Bryde’s Whale – 17
Fin Whale – 579
Gray Whale – 402
Humpback Whale – 251
Minke Whale – 118
Mola Mola – 287
Orca – 50
2023 Marine Life Sightings
Gray Whales – 460
(53 were Cow Calf Pairs!)
Humpback Whales – 185
Blue Whales – 197
Fin Whales – 387
Minke Whales – 74
Bryde’s Whales – 24
Orcas (ETPs) – 11
Sperm Whale – 1
Mako Shark – 5
Blue Shark – 2
Salmon Shark – 1
Great White – 1
What will you see on your whale watching trip?
Marine Life Calendar
Dana Point offers incredible whale and dolphin watching year-round, with different species visiting our waters throughout the seasons.
- Gray Whales (November – May) – Watch for gray whales during their annual migration along the Southern California coast. These incredible whales can reach up to 49 feet in length. Don’t miss the Festival of Whales in March.
- Blue Whales (May – November) – The largest animals on Earth, blue whales can reach nearly 100 feet in length. Seeing one off the Dana Point coast is an unforgettable experience.
- Year-Round Whales – Fin whales, humpback whales and minke whales may be spotted throughout the year.
- Dolphins – Dana Point waters are home to several species of dolphins year-round. You may encounter pods swimming, leaping and traveling alongside the boat.
- Sea Lions & Seabirds – Look for California sea lions, pelicans and a variety of other coastal and marine birds.
- Sharks & Other Marine Life – Every trip is different, with possible sightings of mako sharks, hammerhead sharks, great white sharks and other fascinating ocean wildlife.
Every trip is different, and you never know what you may discover!
Take Care of the Environment
Join the Stand Up To Trash Community! Our focus is to clean our oceans and protect our beaches for future generations. We exist to make a difference and we’re so excited you want to be a part of it!
For more information, visit https://www.standuptotrash.com/
Balloons Blow provides information to educate people about the destructive effects released balloons have on animals, people, and the environment, and strives to inspire and promote an eco-conscious lifestyle.
For more information, visit https://balloonsblow.org
Also, we’ve seen an increasing amount of plastic pollution on our adventures. Plastic is not only clogging our landfills but is also finding its way into our waterways and oceans at an unprecedented rate.
For more information, visit COSTA SUNGLASSES Kick Plastic to help reduce the amount of plastic we use and to mobilize a movement.
