Are Whale Watches Fun?

Have you ever wondered, “is whale watching worth it?” According to the Animal Welfare Institute, “…over 13 million people across over 100 countries go whale watching every year.” So, is whale watching fun? Yes!

“To have a huge, friendly whale willingly approach your boat and look you straight in the eye is, without doubt, one of the most extraordinary experiences on the planet.” – Mark Carwardine

Is Whale Watching Fun? YES!

There are few experiences in life comparable to the extraordinary feeling of seeing gregarious dolphins as they approach from every angle, excited to see our passengers aboard the safety of each of our vessels within our sea-worthy fleet. When asked if whale watching is worth it, our answer is an assured YES! Zooming over to take a sneak peek at our passengers is a pastime as exciting for dolphins as much as it is for passengers alike. The excitement heard on the boat is the ooohs and ahhs of hearing the sounds of a dolphin’s whistle from above the surface. When you hear another animal communicate, it is a chance to interact, creating the moments where nothing but a ‘fintastic’ day can be had. “Is whale watching worth it?” no longer becomes a question, but instead an emphatic statement, “Yes, whale watching is FUN!”

You will create a meaningful connection with nature

Settle yourself in a comfortable spot and take in a deep breath. As you relax, gently close your eyes and imagine the world with the wind gently crossing the path of your cheeks. As your thoughts drift, you wonder, “is whale watching FUN?” and “is whale watching worth it?” as you see the waves roll past your mind. As you ebb and tide with the sway of the boat, you begin to imagine yourself aboard our flagship boat DolphinSafari or our catamaran Manute’a with the world’s only underwater viewing pods cutting through each set of waves on one of our fast whale-watching zodiacs. You immediately find yourself embodied by nature, and you know, whale watching is worth it!

The first step in creating a meaningful and profound connection when trying to understand is whale watching worth it is to feel the true power of the ocean within every one of us. The outside world brings all of us closer to what we find beneath the surface of our mysterious ocean. The animals we see on each trip daily remind our enamored passengers of the larger-than-life mammals we see out at sea. The sun combined with whales spouting at the waterline, and the harmony all of this plays together is priceless. When you join us for a trip out to sea, you have the opportunity to share this feeling.

You may see something you may never see anywhere else!

Is whale watching worth it in Southern California? You bet! Dana Point is home to some of the best whale watching in the world. There are more whale and dolphin species right here in our waters than anywhere else! If you ask, “is whale watching fun?” to anyone who has been with us before, you will hear a resounding YES! Approximately 450,000 common dolphins frolic in the seas just minutes outside of the Dana Point Harbor entrance. Dolphins love to bow ride by using the pressure of our bow to play and have fun too! When asked is whale watching worth it, we love to share that the gray whales have made our stunning southern California coastline a part of their journey on both legs of their migration to and from the lagoons of Mexico each year. The late autumn and winter months also bring the presence of Pacific white-sided dolphins and the summertime months fill our oceans with the giant animals on the earth – the blue whale! Spending a day out on the water with Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari is not only the best way to get outside and enjoy the open air, but it is also the opportunity to prove to yourself is whale watching worth it. Seeing wildlife with your family, friends, and co-workers will be a long-lasting memory of a lifetime.

You could see the largest animals on earth!

If you are still wondering, “is whale watching fun” then our next topic may blow your mind. The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet. That is right – no other animal in the animal kingdom comes close, except for fin whales, the second-largest animal on earth! Both species call Dana Point their home. All year long, you have the chance to see enormous fin whales who swiftly glide and gracefully swim through the deep. And there is nothing like a summer sighting seeing blue whales with flukes the width of a professional soccer goal launch out of the water, dripping seawater from edge to edge. Not only is whale watching fun, but connecting with nature in such a personal way can be exhilarating! When our passengers ask us, “is whale watching worth it,” all it takes is for us to show them the sight of these magnificent animals and they become changed for life. Here are some useful tips on how to whale watch like a pro.

You could see thousands of dolphins!

With nearly 450,000 common dolphins residing in Dana Point, California, Dolphin and Whale Capital of the World^®, our Southern California waters are blessed with a copious array of whale species! While they may be found in every ocean worldwide, no other place has the large numbers we see in Dana Point. Remember, all dolphins are whales, but not all whales are dolphins. Having hundreds of thousands of these species is why we are including common dolphins in our top five reasons to go whale watching and why whale watching is so fun. Is whale watching worth it to you if you have the chance to become surrounded by dolphins? Common dolphins aren’t all we have, too! Bottlenose, Risso’s, and Pacific white-sided dolphins all call our water their “home.”  If the very thought of getting splashed by a dolphin’s fluke sounds like something that interests you, then book your Dana Point whale watching trip today!

Is whale watching fun is bound to be a question you will happily answer with amazing stories after watching whales and dolphins in Southern California! We hope when it comes time for you to choose where to go whale watching in Southern California, we will have the pleasure of meeting you in person and sharing our incredible dolphin and whale species with you and your friends and family.

Until next time,

Jess Wright
First Mate and Marine Naturalist
Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari