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Capt. Dave’s Whale & Dolphin Sighting Log

Daily & Monthly Dolphin & Whale Watching Sightings Log

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.

May 2025 Daily Whale Watching Sightings Log

Date No. of Trips Sightings
May 18 4 19 Humpback Whales, 2 Fin Whales, 9,400 Common Dolphins
May 17 4 7 Humpback Whales, 2 Minke Whales, 4,000 Common Dolphins
May 16 5 8 Humpback Whales, 2,000 Common Dolphins
May 15 7 14 Fin Whales, 4 Minke Whales, 6,500 Common Dolphins, 100 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Mola Mola
May 14 4 14 Fin Whales, 9,000 Common Dolphins
May 13 5 14 Fin Whales, 3,200 Common Dolphins, 15 Bottlenose Dolphins
May 12 3 3 Humpback Whales, 2 Fin Whales, 5,000 Common Dolphins
May 11 7 7,100 Common Dolphins, 34 Bottlenose Dolphins, 3 Mola Mola
May 10 9 5 Humpback Whales, 3 Gray Whales, 9,800 Common Dolphins
May 9 4 3,000 Common Dolphins
May 8 4 7,100 Common Dolphins, 1 Mola Mola
May 7 1 1 Humpback Whale, 1,000 Common Dolphins
May 6 3 1 Gray Whale, 5,000 Common Dolphins
May 5 3 912 Common Dolphins, 50 Bottlenose Dolphins, 1 Mola Mola
May 4 0 Inclement Weather
May 3 11 5,400 Common Dolphins, 90 Risso’s Dolphins, 60 Bottlenose Dolphins, 2 Mola Mola
May 2 4 1 Gray Whale, 3,200 Common Dolphins
May 1 3 2 Fin Whales, 1 Minke Whale, 2,500 Common Dolphins, 75 Bottlenose Dolphins, 3 Mola Mola, Many Velella Velella (By-the-wind Sailors)

2025 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

2024 Whale Watching Stats

548

Gray Whales

400

Blue Whales

966

Fin Whales

574

Humpback Whales

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