December 8, 2025

What a beautiful start to the week!

Our goal on every whale watch trip is to see both baleen whales and toothed whales; and today was a complete success!

Heading due west to the deeper water past the drop-off, we started seeing some big, consistent splashes of an active pod of short-beaked common dolphins.

They put on a great show, and we got to watch their signature popcorn-like behavior, popping out of the water repeatedly. Although the pod was scattered, there were about ~200 dolphins in the area, including some cows and calves.

Our whaley good luck continued while we were heading back towards the coast, where we spotted a pair of south-bound humpback whales peck slapping!

The duo was taking shallower dives, and we got to enjoy their “whale glow” right at the subsurface.

The great conditions continue all week; come see some whales.

-Naturalist Ruth

San Diego Whale Watch