July gave us the kind of wildlife encounters that remind us why no two days on the Pacific are ever the same. From the largest animal on Earth to massive dolphin stampedes, curious calves, feeding humpbacks, and even a rare sperm whale, it was an incredible month on the water.
And the numbers tell quite a story:
July Sightings
- 15,000+ dolphins, including common, bottlenose, and Risso’s dolphins
- 4 blue whales
- 15 humpback whales
- 10 fin whales
- 9 minke whales
- 1 sperm whale
- Plus flying fish and plenty of other offshore wildlife
The Giants of July
Some of our most memorable trips took us far offshore, including all the way to the outer edge of the 9-Mile Bank.
One afternoon, we encountered a mother and calf fin whale lingering at the surface. Mom rolled onto her side while her calf rolled alongside her, giving everyone aboard incredible views of their bright white bellies.
Then came an entirely different kind of giant.
During a sunset trip, an enormous blue whale estimated at around 90 feet long surfaced right beside us. Its body told the story of a long life in the open ocean, with visible scars, cookie-cutter shark bites, and even remoras hitching a ride along its back.
Blue whale encounters are always extraordinary. We spotted four blue whales in July, giving several groups of guests the chance to witness the largest animal ever known to have lived on Earth.
More Than 15,000 Dolphins!
If July belonged to anyone, it may have been the dolphins.
Throughout the month, our naturalists recorded more than 15,000 dolphins, from energetic short- and long-beaked common dolphins to bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins.
One of the biggest spectacles began as a solid line of whitewater in the distance. As we got closer, we realized we were looking at a stampede of roughly 500 common dolphins.
They raced, leapt, bow-rode, and seemingly popped out of the water like popcorn. Then, while we were still surrounded by the pod, another stampede began. At its peak, the activity stretched for nearly a mile.
On other days, crystal-clear conditions allowed us to look straight through the surface as dolphins surfed alongside the boat, sometimes appearing to look right back at us.
Humpback Whales Put on a Show
Our 15 humpback whale sightings delivered some of July’s most exciting — and adorable — moments.
One afternoon, we caught up with a mother and calf pair. When mom began a longer dive, her calf stayed at the surface and decided to investigate us. The little whale surfaced just about 15 feet off our port side, sending a wave of delighted reactions across the boat.
Another pair of humpbacks gave us an entirely different experience. Just as we arrived, one surprised us with a vertical lunge feed, its abdominal pleats expanding as it surged upward through the water.
And during one particularly beautiful sunset trip, a humpback appeared at the last minute to feed on a bait ball just as a green flash crossed the horizon.
Wildlife and a San Diego sunset don’t get much better than that.
Don’t Forget the Minke Whales
Blue, humpback, and fin whales may get more attention, but July also brought us nine minke whale sightings.
During one encounter, a curious minke came right over to investigate the boat before swimming underneath us, giving guests a fantastic view of its distinctive white-banded pectoral fins — sometimes affectionately called its “minke mittens.”
Add in 10 fin whales, a rare sperm whale, Risso’s dolphins, flying fish, and countless other moments we could never plan in advance, and July was truly one for the books.
What Will August Bring?
That’s the best part about whale watching: we don’t know.
Every trip is an opportunity to see wild animals behaving naturally in their own environment. Sometimes that means watching hundreds of dolphins race toward the horizon. Sometimes it’s a humpback suddenly bursting through a bait ball. And sometimes the largest animal on the planet surfaces right beside you.
After a July like this, we can’t wait to see what’s waiting for us offshore in August.
Ready to experience it for yourself?
Book your San Diego whale watching adventure and come see what we find next.
