2023 - 2024 Winter Whale Watching Report
| Date | Morning Cruise | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starting December 16! | Join us as we search for Gray Whales and other Baleen Whales along with pods of playful Dolphins. Get your tickets today to be a part of the first Whale Watch adventure of the season! |
2023 Summer Whale Watching Report
| Date | Morning Cruise | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8/25/23 | 500 Common Dolphin 1 Brown Booby Flying Fish 3 Bottlenose Dolphin |
On our way out of San Diego Bay, some passengers saw a few Bottlenose Dolphin and as we moved toward the bank, we saw many pockets of floating bird life. We were even greeted by a close up encounter with a Brown Booby that flew over the upper deck, low enough for many to see up close! We also spotted some flying fish around the same time. On our return from scouting out the 9 mile bank, the skies became filled with San Diego sunshine and we saw a large pod of common dolphins exhibiting mating behavior. There were jumps, splashes, and high speed swimming occurring, and you could see the layers of dolphins under the surface. |
| 8/19/23 | 300 Dolphins | The whalers on board all noticed a large amount of sea birds of many types that were flying out to sea as we left the harbor. We were greeted with a small pod of common dolphins not far from a small bait ball as we left the harbor. Going out to the 9 mile bank, we observed a nursery pod of common dolphins that was a thrill for everyone to see. Throughout the cruise, we continued to see multiple short and long beaked common dolphin pods as we navigated in the whale zone. |
| 8/18/23 | 1000 Common Dolphins | The dolphins totalled at least 1000 overall, demonstrating wonderful acrobatics. We continued to see mother dolphins with their young ones and the various pods gave us many close-up views of their synchronized swimming. |
| 8/17/23 | 1 Fin Whale 800 Common Dolphin |
The Adventure headed out of San Diego Bay under foggy conditions that lasted until we reached the 9 Mile Bank area. Once there the sun attempted to peek through the cloud cover whereupon we discovered a small group of 100 Common Dolphins with a few calves in the mix that guests on board were able to observe. We continued our journey further west till a spout was sighted around the 14 Mile Bank area. The Adventure headed in the westerly direction where we were able to see a couple of spouts from a Fin Whale that was a bit illusive to us. We observed the Fin as it has such beautiful markings on its body. Our time ran out and the captain began the journey back to San Diego Bay. Along the way back we were fortunate to come upon a bit of a larger pod of 700 Common Dolphins that included a nursery pod. |
| 8/13/23 | 1 minke whale 2 mola mola 300 common dolphins |
We made our way to the nine mile bank where we got a great view of a friendly minke whale near the boat. On the way back to the harbor, we encountered a very active nursery pod of common dolphins that entertained guests with their high flying jumps and views of the mom and calf pairs. We also found two huge mola mola near the dolphins. |
| 8/12/23 | 2 Bottlenosed Dolphins 1200 Common Dolphins 3 Mola Mola |
The water was calm, the August skies grey, the bait fish were plentiful, and the dolphins out to play! They put on a great show. We observed various dolphin antics: jumping straight out of the water, spinning, tail slapping, and swimming at full speed in straight lines. Large nursery pods with many healthy-looking mom and calf pairs. |
| 8/11/23 | 500 Common Dolphins 1 Mola Mola |
While there were no whales to be found, the dolphins did not disappoint. There were several small pods throughout the trip, and one large nursery pod surrounding the boat. They followed the boat entertaining passengers with bow riding and leaps. A Mola Mola was spotted close to the boat and remained on the surface when the Captain circled giving passengers a great view. |
| 8/7/23 | 800 Common Dolphins 1 Fin Whale |
The Adventure headed out of San Diego Bay under foggy conditions that lasted until we reached the 9 Mile Bank area. Once there the sun attempted to peek through the cloud cover whereupon we discovered a small group of 100 Common Dolphins with a few calves in the mix that guests on board were able to observe. We continued our journey further west till a spout was sighted around the 14 Mile Bank area. The Adventure headed in the westerly direction where we were able to see a couple of spouts from a Fin Whale that was a bit illusive to us. We observed the Fin as it has such beautiful markings on its body. Our time ran out and the captain began the journey back to San Diego Bay. Along the way back we were fortunate to come upon a bit of a larger pod of 700 Common Dolphins that included a nursery pod. |
| 8/5/23 | 1 Blue Whale 1000 Common Dolphins |
Multiple pods of dolphins, including many mother/juvenile pairs kept appearing. First a small pod, then larger and larger, with many of them swimming with the boat for quite awhile. By the time we got out to the deep water, we saw our first spout. The whale took a few more breaths, showed more of his body, and then we spotted the dorsal fin. It was definitely an adult blue whale.We stayed with the whale for at least 3 cycles of breathing and diving before turning back toward the docks. |
| 8/4/23 | 800 common dolphin 2 mola mola |
We saw a large, active pod of approximately 800 common dolphins with baby dolphins about 12 miles out. On our way back to the bay, the pod had broken into two smaller pods, but remained active displaying jumps, tail slaps, and surfing in our wake. |
| 7/31/23 | Minke: 1 Mola Mola: 3 Common Dolphins: 3000+ |
Dolphins galore! One large pod after another leaping & slapping. There were many small babies in one small area. We saw 3 different mola mola, as well as 1 Minke that surfaced near the boat at least 6 times. Also, lots of military action today: an incoming nuclear submarine, 4 fighter jets taking off from the Naval Base, a Seahawk chopper, and a combat ship that can operate in just 14 feet of water. |
| 7/28/23 | 1 blue whale 2 mola molas 12 Risso's dolphins 30 bottlenose dolphins 550 common dolphins |
On our way to the submarine canyon , we encountered a pod of about 50 common dolphins. There were several cow/calf pairs swimming alongside the ship as well as a couple dozen playing in the bow wake putting on a great show. We later sighted the spout of a single blue whale when we were close to the 7 mile mark offshore. We were able to get close enough to see its topline during its shallow dives. However, the ship was getting closer to the Mexican "border" so we had to break off our course and go look for more marine mammals not heading south. We were very fortunate a short time later to see a pod of Risso's dolphins that were quite playful. A few of them leapt out of the water and thrilled all of us! We were able to stay with this group for about 20 minutes. These are always a special sight to see. On our way back into the harbor, there was a very active megapod of more common dolphins. Many of them were leaping completely out of the water, it was as if they were flying. |
| 7/23/23 | 1 Whale 557 Dolphins |
Soon after we left the bay we came across around 50 common dolphins. After that we headed west towards the nine mile bank. We saw a lot of fishing boats but no spouts on our way out. Then we were treated to a group of 7 Risso Dolphins who kept swimming under the boat and then turning up on the other side. They were very close and beautiful. Just as we were watching them swim away a Blue Whale came up on our port side quite close as well. We were able to see it come up for a second cycle on the surface before we had to head back to port. On our way back our final treat was a large pod (500) of common dolphin jumping and splashing. |
| 7/22/23 | 1 Blue Whale 1 Mola Mola 1500+ Common Dolphins |
The dolphins were in rare form today, with super-pods coming from various directions, jumping, leaping, and belly-flopping over and through the waves. Many swam with the boat, delighting the passengers and crew. Mothers with new calves were seen along with a nursery full of juveniles. After traveling about 12 miles out, we saw a juvenile blue whale who shared several blows with relatively short intervals. A mola mola also showed up, allowing everyone to see its unique shape and swimming movements. |
| 7/21/23 | 9 blue whales 250 common dolphins |
This cruise saw 9 blue whales with 6 close encounters and another 6 blows in the distance. The 9 whales activities displayed one fluke while other blue whales were surface snorkeling. Also, on this whale watching cruise, one mola Mola was seen and the 250 common dolphins seen were a mix of long and short beak. |
| 7/17/23 | 500 common dolphin 75 Bottlenose dolphin |
We twice came across pods of common dolphin that gave a great show as they skimmed through the water around the boat. It was easy to glimpse them below the surface in the clear, relatively calm seas. We also passed through a pod of bottlenose dolphin that treated guests to leaps and spins in the air all around us. |
| 7/16/23 | 2 Blue Whales (& Flukes) 150 Common Dolphins 25 Risso’s Dolphins 80 Bottlenose Dolphins |
A warm overcast hugged the coast as over 140 excited passengers departed for an eventful summer whale watching cruise. Captain Rick and his crew piloted the Adventurer past Shelter Island while those on-board watched a Bottlenose Dolphin jump near it’s US Navy training vessel. Before leaving the harbor, more Bottlenose Dolphins were seen devouring a bait ball just beyond Ballast Point. Dolphins were the theme of the day as many Common Dolphins, along with multiple pods of large, offshore Bottlenose Dolphins, and rarer Risso’s Dolphins were sighted while heading out to 9-Mile Bank. Near the end of the time at the Bank, multiple spouts were seen. To the passengers’ delight, thirteen minutes later a Blue Whale surfaced near the ship along with another in the distance. Both fluked to wave good-bye as we returned to port. |
| 7/10/23 | 500 Common Dolphins | Captain was able to approach several pods of common dolphin. It was amazing to see their beauty up close as they surrounded the boat leaping out of the water. I saw as many as 3 at at a time synchronize their jumps. Pelicans were diving head first making huge splashes on the surface as they fed. California sea lions were sunning themselves on buoys. |
| 7/8/23 | 2 Blue Whales 2 Mola Mola 500 Common Dolphins |
A large pod with at least 200 hundred common dolphins came stampeding toward us, giving us a close-up experience when they swam with the boat. We observed both an adult and juvenile blue for a while who initially stayed elusive but then came a bit closer for a better view. More dolphins showed up later, first swimming away and then back toward the boat. Our last whale sighting gave us a full-whale view from head to fluke as it stayed just under the water. |
| 7/7/23 | 3 Blue Whales 250 Common Dolphins 2 Mola Molas 2 Flying Fish |
As we entered the ocean side there was quite a lot of bird action on the water with Pelicans, Terns and various Sea Gulls species amongst a pod of Common Dolphins. As we continued our journey towards the 9 mile bank area we came upon a pod of 125 Common Dolphins who came to our vessel and were enjoying the bow riding and surfing the back of the vessel. There were a few calves in the pod that guests were thrilled to see in the mix. We then saw large spouts of 3 Blue Whales along the 9 mile Bank area. They were surfacing,spouting and fluking with their 25 foot tails. Many guests were in awe of seeing the Blue Whale so close to the surface and how "blue" their body appeared in the water. It was especially amazing for guests to observe their spouts that were anywhere from 30' to 40' high and how wide their fluke was when taking a big dive. As our time came to an end we headed back to port and as we came near to Point Loma another pod of Common Dolphins came to greet us and say adieu to all the fabulous guests on board!! |
| 7/2/23 | Blues: 7 Fin: 1 Common Dolphins: 100 Mola Mola: 1 |
In addition to seeing 7 Blues and 1 Fin whale, we saw a behavior that few onboard had ever seen. A Blue at the surface turned on her side and lifted her 8' pectoral fin out of the water to show off the white underside! The other Blues showed off their flukes multiple times, and they were close enough to clearly hear their breathing when they surfaced. We saw 2 pods of Common Dolphins and 1 Mola Mola floating at the surface. |
| 7/1/23 | 3 Blue whales 800 Common Dolphins 1 Jellyfish 1 Sea Snake |
We had many Common Dolphins play in the wake of the boat & bow ride on our way out to sea. We spotted a Blue Whale & while waiting for it to resurface, spotted both a Jellyfish and a Sea Snake. After another round of breaths by that Blue, we spotted another and stayed with it for a few rounds of shallow breathing. On our way back in, we were surrounded by Common Dolphins once more & saw our third Blue Whale off of the port side. |
| 6/26/23 | 9 Blue Whales 100 Common Dolphins |
On the way out to the 5-mile mark, we saw about 100 playful common dolphins. Before we even got to Mile 5, we were seeing blue whales. They were everywhere! Nine blues got close enough to the boat to see their bodies and their outlines while swimming just below the surface. We had good views of their enormous blow holes and a few flukes. We all enjoyed hearing them breathe. We also saw at least 8 more blows in the distance. We didn't have to go past 5 miles, because there were plenty of whales to keep us busy. There were also lots of California brown pelicans, and 3 submarines docked at the Naval Base! |
| 6/25/23 | 12 blue whales 400 common dolphins |
. As we made our way out from the harbor to the area in the Pacific Ocean known to see the Blue Whales, we came across some bate balls that had lots of pelicans, dolphins, and various other birds. There were several (400) common dolphins seen (some were long beaked) in various mega pods. The captain then maneuvered the boat to where we were in a feeding circle to see lots of blows and was completely surrounded by Blue Whales near and far. This cruise also saw around 12 blue whales and of those Blue Whales we saw two flutes that received applause from the guests. As we came to our final look at these Blue Whales, one came within a few yards of the stern for an excellent guest experience. |
| 6/24/23 | 3 Blue Whales 200 Common Dolphins 1 Mola Mola |
It was an amazing day whale watching with sightings of 3 blue whales in the same area. We could hear their breath and saw a couple of tail flukes. We also saw about 300 common dolphins and a Mola Mola that was exciting to watch as it fed on the surface. |
| 6/23/23 | 1 Blue Whale 2 Fin Whales 300 Dolphins |
We journeyed out about six miles and encountered a Blue Whale and two Fin Whales. All three of passengers I asked told me their favorite part of the cruise was seeing the three hundred or so Common Dolphins. Specifically the ones we saw frollicking adjacent to the ship. |
| 6/19/23 | 9+ Blue Whales 1 Humpback Whale 1000 Common Dolphins 200 Offshore Bottlenose Dolphins |
It was an amazing day on the water for today’s summer cruise! Captain Rick took us out towards the nine mile bank and we quickly encountered a large pod of 1,000+ common dolphins. We soon began seeing spouts and they did not stop! We were surrounded by Blue Whales and had multiple close encounters with whales right up near the boat with many fluking and showing off their impressive tails. At several points we would have two or three Blue Whales surfacing at the same time all around the boat. We saw at least two calf/cow or juvenile/adult pairs. A true highlight was a very friendly and playful Humpback Whale that breached at least 25 times and put on a spectacular show for everyone. We also had a great look at large pod of about 200 offshore bottlenose dolphins that were very active. After the morning June Gloom burned off we were treated to blue skies and everyone had an incredibly memorable day! |
| 6/18/23 | 6 Blue Whales (1 cow-calf pair) 200 Common Dolphin 10 Bottlenose Dolphin |
Beautiful Day - June Gloom on the way out San Diego sun on the way in. Lots of dolphin activity in the way out. Once we found the Blue Whales there where spouts all around us. |
| 6/10/23 | 3 Blue Whales 1 Fin Whale 70 Dolphins |
What a start of the whale watching season! Whale blows surrounded the boat. Whales so close you could hear them breathing. Another sight not often seen - Rizzo and Bottlenose Dolphins swimming together - about 10 of each. Lots of fish in bait balls attracted pelicans, dolphins, and the whales. Blue whales - the largest mammal on earth; fin whale - Greyhound of the ocean. SD Natural History Museum whalers showed biofacts and answered questions from passengers. A Whale of a day! |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you do whale watching tours in San Diego?
You sure can! City Cruises offers some of the best whale watching tours around. Enjoy a narrated experience by our expert guides and see whales up close and personal. If you are looking to see specific whales, be sure to visit during the appropriate season!
How much is whale watching in San Diego?
Prices for whale watching tours in San Diego usually range from $60 to $75 per person. It depends on the day, time of year and a few other factors. It is well worth the experience!
When can you see gray whales in San Diego?
Gray whales can be seen in San Diego from mid-December to early April. This is the time of year when they migrate from Alaska to Baja California. Book your whale watching cruise for the winter season!
When can you see blue whales in San Diego?
Blue whales are more likely to be seen in the summer months, from June to September. This is the time of year when they migrate from Central America to California. If you want to see blue whales, book your whale watching tour for the summer!
How long are whale watching cruises?
They are usually about three and a half or four hours long. This includes time for boarding, the cruise itself, and disembarking.
What should you bring on a whale watching cruise?
Be sure to dress in layers as the weather can change quickly out on the water. It is also a good idea to bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, binoculars and cameras. And don’t forget your sense of adventure!
Will you see dolphins on the cruise in San Diego?
It is very likely! San Diego is home to a large population of common dolphins. They often swim alongside the whales, so you may get to see them up close.
What other wildlife will you see on the tour?
In addition to dolphins and whales, you might see California sea lions, seals, pelicans, birds and more. Keep your eyes peeled and your binoculars handy! San Diego is home to some of the best wildlife in the state.
What is the best time of day for whale watching?
The best time of day for whale watching is usually early morning or late afternoon. This is when the sun is not as harsh and the whales are more active.
When is whale watching season in San Diego?
The whale watching season in San Diego runs from mid-December to early April. This is when the gray whales migrate from Alaska to Baja California. The blue whale season runs from June to September, when they migrate from Central America to California.