Newport landing whale watching offers tours year round, december through april is the best time to catch the gray whale migration. Whale watching season in san diego is an exciting time. Cruise on the pacific ocean in a sturdy boat with a professional crew, looking for gray whales as they migrate along the coast of north america. Go on a whalewatching expedition in san diego on this 4hour cruise guided by birch aquarium experts. If you have a preference for one species of whale over the other, gray whales migrate from middecember through april while blue whales migrate from midjune through september. The blue whales tend to stick around through septemberoctober. Fortunately for us, we have just announced the official start of blue whale season this week, due to five consistent days of sightings. San diego whale watching cruise with birch aquarium. Incredible video shows blue whale and calf playing with dolphins in san diego friday june 15, 2018. Visit from middecember through midapril to see gray whales, dolphins and killer whales migrating, or visit from midapril through middecember to see humpback whales, blue whales, dolphins and.
Best places for whale watching from shore in southern. At that time, thousands of them can be found off the california coast. State officials approve san diegos plan to expand phase 2 reopening. Our experienced crew knows exactly how to track down and show you the spectacular wildlife the pacific ocean has to offer. With a maximum of 6 guests per cruise, you are sure to have the most personalized, intimate cruise. This memorial day weekend, we saw blue whales on all of our whale watching tours. Oregon whale watch week 2020 encore april 28th oregon state parks 116 watching live now amazing crabs shell exchange life story bbc earth duration.
Experience the magic of migrating whales yearround off the coast of san diego. Reaching lengths of nearly 100 feet, the blue whale is a sight to behold as it breaches the waters of the pacific ocean. May through november brings sea animals such as blue whales, finback whales, dolphin pods that number in the thousands, seals, orca whales, sharks and so many more. Most blue whale watching tours start in san diegos big bay and since the migration takes place out in the deep waters of the pacific, blue whale watching cruises can last up to four hours.
Whale watching season in san diego runs from middecember through april, and migrating gray whales are the most common species. With daveys locker there is a viewing success rate of 96%. Blue whales can average about 150,000300,000 pounds and measure about 90100 feet long. Summer whale watching cruise san diego, 4 hours previous slide next slide sand diegos aquatic ecosystem is your backdrop for one of the most breathtaking tours you could imaginewhales, dolphins, sea lions, sea birds and more are abundant in these perfectly blue waters. San diego, ca a small gray whale was spotted monday morning in the san diego bay, according to the port of san diego. Two veteran whale watchers were 12 miles off of san diego when a feeding blue whale rose out of the water, mouth open to gather krill, and slammed into the inflatable boat. The san diego whale watch tour takes you out on the pacific ocean for a threehour cruise in search of whales, dolphins, sea lions and seabirds.
Newport landing whale watching 309 palm st newport beach, ca 92661. Thats when several hundred blue whales migrate into southern california waters to feed. Hornblower san diego whale watching gives you the opportunity to see plenty of cool animals in the water. Get up close and personal with dolphins, sea lions, pelagic sea birds and migrating whales on this 3.
Big blue whales surface in san diego san diego reader. Blue whales filterfeed nearly exclusively on small shrimplike critters called krill by trapping large masses of them in their baleen plates. Whale watching in san diego with birch aquarium at scripps. Blue whales, the largest mammal and possibly the largest animal to ever inhabit earth, can be spotted swimming and feeding off the. Blue whale sightings are possible in the summer from may to august. During the summer and fall, marvel at pods of migrating blue whales, plus gray whales, dolphin and other sea life, as they pass by san diegos coastline. Blue whales are the largest animal ever known to man and are currently endangered. These include the san diego wild animal park, the del mar race track, the oceanside harbor and pier, the san diego zoo, knotts berry farm, seaworld, disneyland, california adventure, and the orange county. You can see humpback whales, fin whales, and minke whales yearround. Witness the annual whale migration with a whale watching tour in san diego curated by the birch aquarium at scripps the journey.
In summer, the legendary blue whales the largest animals on earth and humpback whales commonly feed offshore of the san diego coast. Sun, surf, and sand welcomes you to the southern california beach experience. Visited san diego for a conference and decided to do a whale watch. Blue whales, the largest creatures on earth and thought to be among the most endangered of the great whales, may be found off the coast of san diego midjune through september. Witness the majestic blue and grey whales migrate past the shores of. San diego provides the perfect launching point for a whalewatching tour in california. Join the inertia family to receive updates from the brightest minds in surfing. Blue and humpback whales regularly feed in the region summer through fall. The best time for whale watching in california usa today. California whale watching san diego san diego hotels. While staying at blue whale hotel, visitors can check out oceanside harbor village 0. Whalewatching cruises are available from most of the.
During the summer and fall months, blue whales migrate from their. Board a 2story yacht that gives you 360degree views of the ocean. Blue gray in color, the blue whale is long and slender with a tiny dorsal fin that is set far along the back, close to the tailflukes. While waiting for the scouting report, if we come across an encounter with other marine life along the way, we will free dive in the lovely blue pacific. We will discuss the migration itself, including the typical route taken by. Then, an energetic pod of bottlenose dolphins swam over to the pair. We saw 7 blue whales, an elephant seal and several huge pods of dolphins. Whether youre looking to get up close and personal or witness whales from the shore, there are tons of ways to enjoy these magnificent creatures here in californias beach city. Top 5 things to know about newport landing whale watching. It looks like you might have visited us at the end of the gray whale migration, the time during which we await the blue whales. San diego whale watching season starts in december. Daves in dana point offers whale and dolphin cruise. The blue whale balaenoptera musculus is a marine mammal belonging to the baleen whale suborder mysticeti.
The video shows the whales swimming calmly in the ocean off the san diego coast. We recognize two distinct seasons for whale watching off the coast of san diego, including gray whale season decemberapril and blue whale season juneoctober. Many providers offer whale watching only during the traditional whale watching season which is from january thru april, however. San diego wthr rare footage shows a blue whale and her calf playing with a few bottlenose dolphins off the cost of california monday. A 160acre park located at the end of point loma with spectacular views of the pacific and san diego bay. You may download the appchoices app at to opt out in. The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever live on earth.
Blue whales, some as long as 100 feet in length and weighing up to 190 tons 380,000 pounds, are being sighted off the san diego coast at nine to thirty miles. Whale watching san diego hornblower even has a snack bar on the boat to keep you happy and full. Watch the seasonal migration of whales off the san diego coast. Newport beach is located approximately75 minutes north of downtown san diego. Interannual and seasonal trends in cetacean distribution, density. Renowned for our wide range of adventure offerings, we have unsurpassed expertise in the approach and observation of marine wildlife in their natural environment. Blue whale watching off san diego coastline youtube. San diego two boaters on a whalewatching trip off coast of san diego got the surprise of their lives when one of the whales decided to watch them. Watch the seasonal migration of california grey whales and blue whales off the san diego coast up close and personal. When thinking of whale watching in and around san diego you should really consider greater southern california.
It was one of the most spectacular feeling experiences in my life, and the first time i. Blue whales feed off the california coast between bodega bay and san diego. San diego winter whale watching expedition cruise 2020. Each whale watching trip is a two and a half hour journey, with a chance to spot wildlife from the very beginning.
Blue whale resort oceanside west coast condo vacation rentals. During december through april, in san diego we have our annual gray whale migration where more than 20,000 of these whales pass right by us offshore. To find out what all those wonderful creatures look like up close and what they look like when you see them from. However, because blue whales and gray whales migrate at different times of the year, whale watching season in san diego is open year round. Whale watching season san diego december through april students will learn about the gray whale migration, the longest up to 12,000 miles roundtrip migration of any mammal on earth. Blue whales were primarily observed during summer and fall while fin and. San diego whale watching is especially wonderful because whales travel close enough to shore that you can watch them from land or from a chartered boat tour or even from a kayak. During the springsummer is the blue whale migration.
There are a number of recreational san diego whale watching cruises and tours based in the san diego harbor and mission bay. Pdf blue whale habitat and prey in the california channel islands. Cabrillos annual whale watch weekends run during the month of january with presentations, exhibits and films about whales. Book your tickets online for san diego whale watch, san diego. To see females with their calves, go late in the season as they take their babies back north with them. You and your family can enjoy hot food from the snack bar, and adults can get drinks from the full bar.
Hotel recommended this company, and i noted that they stated blue whales were in season, but being canadian i was skeptical. Experience some of the ultimate whale watching in southern ca with daveys locker. San diego whale watch the official travel resource for. They are categorized as baleen whales and belong to a group of whales known as the rorquals also includes humpback whales, fin whales, brydes whales, sei whales, and minke whales. In san diego, we also have two major seasons when we see the gray whale migration pass by us from november to. Most blue whale watching tours start in san diegos big bay and since the migration takes place out in the deep waters of the pacific, blue. San diego offers some of the best whale watching with year round whale sightings of humpback whales, fin whales, orca whales, dolphins, and much more. The blue whale resort in oceanside, california, is located in the greater san diego are with access to many interesting nearby attractions. These amazing animals feed on small crustaceans called krill and can consume upwards to 40 million krill a day. The blue whales long and slender body can be various shades of grayishblue dorsally and somewhat lighter underneath. Traditionally, whale watching season runs from december through april.
Located directly across the street from the beautiful pacific ocean, the blue whale is the place for yearround fun and relaxation. We often see blue, humpback, fin, and minke whales along with the occasional pod of pilot, sperm, or killer whales as we search for the legendary blue. The nat blue whale watching san diego natural history. We leave by boat each morning towards the area being scouted. Why blue whales hearts are stopping their bodies from getting. San diego whale watching tours whale cruises with hornblower. When exiting the bay, most cruises pass massive active and retired military vessels like the uss midway museum, and historic landmarks that dot the bayfront like the lighthouse at the cabrillo national monument. This is one of the best times to go whale watching in san diego. Blue whales have long throat grooves that expand while the animal is feeding. Get the scoop from a guide who studies the migratory patterns of grey whales as you keep a lookout for whales in the water.
Located on the cliffs above torrey pines state beach, the state reserve is. We also see fin and humpback whales, plus many species of dolphin. Blue whale resort aims to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to come back year after year. Would love to see some whales but not sure if my likely seasickness is worth it if the whales arent around. Dolphins play with blue whale calf off san diego coast. Guests are welcome to meet with a san diego whale watch event coordinator to book the boat and a tour for a private party or for your own personal chartering. Each winter the pacific gray whales pass san diego on their 10,000mile roundtrip journey from their bering sea feeding grounds to baja californias warmwater lagoons, where the whales play, rest, breed and give birth scripps aquarium. Blue whales swim and feed off the california coast from midjune through october when krill is abundant.
The pilot searches for blue whales for 3 to 4 hours in an area 15 to 25 miles offshore between san diego and mexico. Pdf whale habitat and prey studies were conducted off southern california during august 1995. Channel islands, with bold labels, are in the southern california bight between point conception and san diego. Big blue whales surface in san diego fourhour tours on the 9 mile bank.
1498 1476 1544 536 940 1288 74 835 332 1568 91 987 616 447 512 1489 1518 508 536 1463 1407 1077 84 502 72 1521 165 278 186 139 1395 374 1239 1219 1002 390 787 210 365