keep up with Dana Wharf link to Dana Wharf Facebook Fan Page link to Dana Wharf Twitter Page

Recent Sightings

Whale sightings since November 2011
(Gray WHale Season):
133 Gray Whales, 24 Killer Whales, 3 Minke Whales, 3 Humpback Whales, 8 Blue Whales, 83 Fin Whales

Our sightings log is updated every Monday! Please note that there is NO better time for seeing whales or dolphin as they both move 24 hours/day!


1/29

1 Gray Whale, Common and Risso's Dolphin
1/28

5 Gray Whales, Common Dolphin
1/27

2 Fin Whales, 2 Gray Whales, Common Dolphin
1/26

Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin
1/25

3 Gray Whales, Common and White-Sided Dolphin
1/24

6 Gray Whales, Bottlenose, Risso's and Common Dolphin
1/23

No trips due to weather.
1/22

1 Gray Whale, Bottlenose Dolphin
1/21

3 Gray Whales, Common Dolphin
1/20

3 Gray Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin
1/19

20 Killer Whales! 5 Gray Whales
1/18

6 Gray Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin
1/17

5 Gray Whales, Common and Risso's Dolphin
1/16

7 Gray Whales, Common Dolphin
1/15

3 Gray Whale, Bottlenose Dolphin and Risso's Dolphin
1/14

2 Gray Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin, White-Sided Dolphin
1/13

3 Gray Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin
1/12

7 Gray Whales
1/11

5 Gray Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin
1/10

4 Gray Whales, White-Sided, Common and Risso's Dolphin
1/9

1 Gray Whales, Bottlenose, Common and Risso's Dolphin
1/8

2 Gray Whales, Common Dolphin
1/7

1 Gray Whale, Bottlenose Dolphin and Risso's Dolphin
1/6

2 Gray Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin
1/5

4 Gray Whales
1/4

3 Gray Whales
1/3

2 Gray Whales, 1 Mako Shark, 24 Killer Whales!
1/2

7 Gray Whales, White-Sided, Common and Risso's Dolphin
1/1

2 Gray Whales, Bottlenose, Common and Risso's Dolphin
12/31

2 Gray Whales, Bottlenose, Common and Risso's Dolphin
12/30

1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin
12/29

3 Gray Whales, Common Dolphin
12/28

2 Fin Whales, 1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin
12/27

4 Gray Whales, Common Dolphin
12/26

1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin
12/25

Closed.
12/24

(2pm) - 1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin
12/23

(12pm & 2pm)- 2 Gray Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin
12/22

(12pm) - 4 Gray Whales
12/21

(12pm) - 1 Fin Whale, Common Dolphin
12/20

(12pm) - 2 Gray Whales
12/19

(12pm & 2pm)- 1 Gray Whale, Large Pods of Risso's Dolphi
12/18

(12pm & 2pm) - 1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin
12/17

(12pm & 2pm)- 1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin
12/16

(12pm & 2pm) - 2 Gray Whales, Common Dolphin
12/15

(12pm and 2pm) - 1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin
12/14

(12pm) - 1 Gray Whale, Common Dolphin
12/13

(12pm & 2pm)- 2 Gray Whales and Common Dolphin
12/12

(12pm and 2pm) - Common andBottlenose Dolphin
12/11

(12pm and 2pm) - White Sided and Bottlenose Dolphin
12/10

(12pm) - Common, Risso's and Bottlenose Dolphin
12/9

(12pm)- Bottlenose Dolphin
12/8

(12pm) - 1 Humpback Whale, Common, Bottlenose, Risso's Dolphin
12/7

(12pm and 2pm) - Bottlenose Dolphin
12/6

(12pm) - Common Dolphin and Bottlenose Dolphin
12/5

(12pm)- Common Dolphin and 1 Sea Otter
12/4

(12pm and 2pm) - Common Bottlenose Dolphin
12/3

(12pm) - Common, Risso's and Bottlenose Dolphin
12/2

(12pm)- Bottlenose Dolphin
12/1

No trips due to weather.
11/30

(12pm and 2pm) - Bottlenose Dolphin
11/29

(12pm) - Common Dolphin
(3:30pm) - Risso's Dolphin
11/28

(12pm)- Bottlenose and Risso's Dolphin
11/27

(12pm and 3:30pm) - 2 Fin Whales, Large Pods of Bottlenose Common Dolphin
11/26

(12pm and 3:30pm) - 1 Gray Whale, Large Pods of Risso's and Common Dolphin
11/25

(12pm and 3:30pm) - 1 Fin Whale, Large Pods of Common Dolphin
11/24

Closed for Thanksgiving.
11/23

(12pm) - Common Dolphin
(2pm) - Common Dolphin
11/22

(12pm) - Rissos', Common and Bottlenose Dolphin
(2pm) - Common and Risso's Dolphin
11/21

(12pm) - Risso's Dolphin
(3:30pm) - Bottlenose Dolphin and Risso's
11/20

No trips due to weather.
11/19

(12pm) - Common Dolphin
(3:30pm) - Risso's Dolphin
11/18

(12pm)- Common Dolphin
11/17

(12pm and 3:30pm)- 1 Minke Whale, Risso's and Common Dolphin
11/16

(12pm and 3:30pm)- Common Dolphin
11/15

(12pm and 3:30pm) 1 Blue Whale
11/14

(12pm and 3:30pm) Bottlenose DOlphin and Risso's Dolphin
11/13

(12pm) - Common Dolphin
(2pm) - Common Dolphin
11/12

(12pm) - Common Dolphin
(2pm) - Common Dolphin
11/11

(12pm)- 2 Blue Whales, Risso's Dolphin
(3:30pm)- Bottlenose Dolphin and Risso's
11/10

(12pm)- 3 Fin Whales, Common Dolphin
(3:30pm) - 2 Fin Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin
11/9

(12pm)- Common Dolphin
(4pm) - Common Dolphin
11/8

(12pm)- 1 Blue Whale
(2pm) - 1 Blue Whale
(3:30pm) - Common and Bottlenose Dolphin
11/7

(12pm)- Common Dolpphin
(2pm)- Bottlenose Dolphin
11/6

(12pm)- 6 Fin Whales, Common & Risso's Dolphin
(4pm) - 2 Fin Whales, Common and Risso's Dolphin
11/5

(10am)- Common Dolphin
(12pm)- Risso's and Common Dolphin
(2pm) - 2 Fin Whales, Risso's Dolphin and Common Dolphin
(4:30pm) - 2 Blue Whales, Common Dolphin
11/4

(11am)- 3 Fin Whales, Common Dolphin
(4pm) - No trips due to weather.
11/3

(12pm)- 3 Fin Whales, Risso's Dolphin
(4pm) - 4 Fin Whales
11/2

(12pm)- 12 Fin Whales, 1 Blue Whale, 1 Humpback Whale, Common Dolphin
(4pm) - 12 Fin Whales, Bottlenose Dolphin
11/1

(12pm)- 4 Fin Whales
(2pm)- 12 Fin Whales, 1 Humpback, 2 Minke Whales, Large Pods of Common DOlphin
(4pm) - 10 Fin Whales

Whale sightings for 2011 Blue Whale Season (May 2011 - October 2011):
752 Blue Whales, 223 Fin Whales, 23 Gray Whales, 22 Humpback Whales, 20 Minke Whales, 7 Orcas (Killer Whales)

Whale Sightings for the Gray Whale Season (November 2010 - April 2011):
277 Gray Whales, 1 Humpback Whale, 2 Fin Whales, 2 Blue Whales

Blue Whale Season Sightings (May - October 2010):
216 Blue Whales
, 43 Fin Whales, 8 Humpback Whales, 14 Killer Whales, 13 Minke Whales, 1 Mako Shark

Whale Sightings for the Gray Whale Season (November 2009 - April 2010):

272 Gray Whales
, 70 Fin Whales, 9 Minke Whales 9 Humpback Whales

 

Remember there is NO better time for whale sightings! Both whales and dolphin move 24 hours/day so there is no better time of day as far as sightings are concered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHALE WATCHING CRUISES

Dana Wharf is endorsed by Wyland!

Gray Whale season is here and will run through the end of April! We saw the first Gray Whale of the season on 11/26/11! Each October, after spending the summer feeding in the food-rich waters of the arctic, and as the northern ice pushes southward, small groups of Gray Whales start their 16,000 - 20,000 mile journey (the longest migration of any mammal). The Grays swim south along the coast to the bays of Baja California, where they give birth to their calves. Along the way BOTH southbound and northbound, they pass right Dana Point, a landmark for the whales along their route, where you can witness the annual winter journey. We saw 371 Gray Whales last season! Here's a great article on the Gray Whale migration in the OC Register!

We had some amazing Killer Whale sightings in January 2012! Check out our Facebook album here!

Gray Whale Watching Trips
Trips depart daily!
10:00AM - 12:00PM
12:00PM - 2:00PM
2:00PM - 4:00PM

Adults - $32
Kids (3-12) - $19
2 and under are FREE!

Join us as we search for whales, dolphin, sea lion and other exciting marine life! All of our cruises are narrated by our expert captains who will educate you on the abundant ocean life on our coast. Trips are all 2 hours long, plenty of time to discover the world that lies beneath! Remember that sightings are guaranteed! If you don't see A GOOD SHOWING of whales or dolphin, you will get your ticket back and are invited to come out again with us! These "whale checks" never expire.
Buy tickets online at Zerve

Click here for info on our special VALENTINE'S DAY SUNSET CRUISE!

Remember that Tuesdays are 1/2 price all year long! Check the schedule and buy tickets here!

Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild
Saturdays & Sundays
10:00am - 1:00pm
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Adults - $59
Kids (14 and under) - $44

This three hour activity aboard the OCean Adventures Catamaran will begin with a dockside presentation and art lesson, via video feed, by renowned environmental artist, Wyland! Guests will learn how Wyland has created some of the best know marine wildlife paintings and sculptures of our era. The vessel will then depart the dock for a whale and dolphin watching adventure!
Click here for more information and to buy tickets!

Catamaran 2-Hour Whale Watching Adventure Cruise
Click link above for schedule.
Adults - $42
Kids (3-12) - $29

Come aboard our new luxurious catamaran for a 2-hour, affordable cruise and you'll have a totally different, intimate and unforgettable experience. This boat is NEVER crowded! The 63-foot OCean Adventure catamaran is a beautiful, NEW, state-of-the-art vessel with a full-service deli-style galley. Every trip is a new experience, so be sure to come out often!
Buy tickets online at Zerve

Dana Wharf in the news!

As seen on Good Morning America!

1/3/12 - We just saw a very rare pod of Killer Whales! Check out this amazing video by clicking here!

Here's a great article in the OC Register about this amazing year of Gray Whale Watching! Click here to read the article!

Dana Wharf saw a rare albino dolphin as well as a 2,200 pound Sunfish basking in the sun. Dana Wharf has seen three albino dolphins off Dana Point's coast. They are white rather than the typical gray. Albino dolphins are affected by the same lack of pigment as humans with albinism. Every trip is a new adventure here at Dana Wharf! Check out the article in the OC Register by clicking here! This was also seen on CBS, NBC, KTLA, ABC and FOX news!


Check out the rare albino dolphin next to a normal Common Dolphin!
Click here for the story on ABC News!


A rare sighting and photograph of a sun fish (aka mola mola). These can grow up to 2,200 pounds!

Check out this video of the AMAZING Humpback Whale sighting we had by clicking here.

A great article in the OC Register on the history of Dana Wharf and how Don Hansen changed whale watching can be found by clicking here.

Another OC Register article on our 200th Gray Whale of the season.
Click here for the story.






CHECK SCHEDULE & BUY TICKETS ONLINE

Whale Watching Adventures
To purchase by phone, please call our ticketing company at
(800) 979-3370



WHALE WATCHING VIDEOS

Whale Watching Videos
Check out our videos on our YouTube channel! We update our channel often so be sure to follow us for the most recent videos! Make sure to have your volume up so you can hear our awesome captain's narration!

Check out our latest video which has almost 2,000,000 hits on YouTube!


OUR FLEET OF WHALE WATCHING VESSELS

OCEAN ADVENTURES


Click here for 360 degree video of the Ocean Adventures!
Dana Wharf's newest vessel is the 63' catamaran, the Ocean Adventures, which comfortably holds up to 49 passengers. This luxury vessel was built exclusively for Dana Wharf and is the newest boat in the California whale watching business! This eco-friendly vessel is the future of whale watching and features high-tech viewing cameras mounted at the bow, a roomy viewing deck, and the smoothest ride on the water! You will LOVE this vessel! You'll feel like you can reach out and touch the dolphin that swim right beneath you!

DANA PRIDE


Click here for a 360 degree video of the Dana Pride!
The 95' Dana Pride was built exclusively for Dana Wharf in 2002. The Pride is the largest and most comfortable vessel in our fleet and is said to be the queen of our fleet, complete with a full service bar/snack bar, flat screen TVs, large salon area, and 2 story seating arrangement. This vessel can accomodate up to 149 passengers. This vessel is our
main Whale Watching boat and
we guarantee it is the nicest whale watching boat in southern California!