About Us
Our purpose at San Diego Whale Watch is simple:
To give everyone an opportunity to experience the magic of the ocean and inspire them to become champions of our Earth
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San Diego's Original
15+ Years
of whale watching expertise
Our Promise
Sightings Guarantee
or come back free
Year-Round Tours
Daily Departures
from Mission Bay
Our Story
We began as the first year-round whale watching company on the San Diego coast, with the mission of bringing people and the oceanic wildlife together throughout the year. The residents of Southern California are familiar with the Gray Whale migration that can be witnessed here during the winter months. Very few are aware of visitations from Blue Whales, the largest animals on the planet, during the summertime! We also see Fin Whales, Minke Whales, an occasional Bryde's Whale, and lots of Humpbacks throughout the year.
Today, we aim to accomplish our purpose by revealing the phenomenal side of nature through spectacular whale watching adventures and memorable educational experiences on board and on land. As climate change impacts our planet more and more each day, we aim to do our part by adopting sustainable practices on-board and hosting beach cleanups, as well as educational events at local schools with our partners at our future Foundation.
Our Boats
The Privateer
The Privateer spent her early years in Provincetown, MA (the tip of Cape Cod), as the first whale watching boat in New England! Originally, she was used as a sport fishing vessel; however, the fishermen spent more time marveling at whales and began focusing on them instead. And so, her days as a whale watching boat began! After 10 years in Provincetown, The Privateer moved to Gloucester, MA and provided 28 years of magnificent whale watching memories on the east coast until making the move toward warmer weather.
In May 2011, she made the 4-week voyage down along The Atlantic and through the Panama Canal toward The Pacific Ocean and more specifically, to sunny San Diego. With an enormous platform, she provides an enjoyable, smooth ride on The Pacific. The Privateer has roomy, outdoor seating and open viewing spaces on the upper and lower decks, along with indoor seating. She is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics and is Coast Guard inspected for your safety.
Join us on The Privateer for a once in a lifetime whale watching experience!
The Inspiration
The Inspiration joined the San Diego Whale Watch family in the spring of 2025 after our crew traveled to Northern California to bring her home, navigating the California coast before arriving in Mission Bay for her next adventure.
At 61 feet long, she comfortably accommodates up to 100 passengers and features spacious indoor and outdoor seating, a wraparound deck, an upper viewing deck, a full galley, and two restrooms. Her classic wooden hull offers a smooth, comfortable ride, making her ideal for whale watching, bay cruises, and private charters.
The Inspiration is fully equipped with modern safety equipment and is inspected annually by the United States Coast Guard, so you can relax and enjoy an unforgettable day on the water.
Our Beach Cleanup Efforts
At San Diego Whale Watch, we take immense pride in calling America’s Finest City our home and we’re committed to helping to preserve it.
To ensure the preservation of the natural beauty that surrounds us, we are committed to organizing beach cleanups throughout the year. These efforts not only help in keeping our beaches clean but also play a crucial role in raising awareness about the importance of protecting our environment. So far through I Love A Clean San Diego's Adopt-a-Beach program, we've adopted Fiesta Island (2024) and Ocean Beach (2025) with the goal of adopting Mission Beach in 2026.
For more information on how you can join us in our next event and make a difference, please visit our sustainability page.
Join Us In Keeping Our Beaches Clean
San Diego Whale Watch Hosts Beach Cleanups Multiple Times Each Year!
Join us at some of our beautiful local beaches in San Diego, CA, as we work together to clean up our community! Every other month, we focus on a different area, and your participation can make a significant impact on the health of our waterways and oceans.
Beach Cleanup Details:
- Volunteers of all ages welcome!
- We’ll provide cleanup supplies.
- On the day of the cleanup, when you arrive, you will meet one of our Naturalists to jump start your volunteer service!
- To say thank you, we will be holding raffles at the end of each beach cleanup after trash and cleanup data are submitted, with prizes donated by us and our generous partners!
FREE Whale Watching Pass Requirements:
- Be one of the first 50 volunteers (sign up here)
- Please spread awareness of your efforts by posting ONE photo per group to Facebook or Instagram
- Photo ideas include a picture of you picking up litter, trash in the environment, and displaying full buckets of trash…Be creative!
- In your posts, please tag @sdwhalewatch and include the following 3 hashtags: #sdwhalewatch, #beachcleanup, #plasticpollution
- Track trash collected through the CleanSwell app.
Thank you so much for helping us keep our beaches and oceans clean!
Not Sure Which Trip is Right for You?
Our friendly team is here to help you plan the perfect whale watching adventure.
Give us a call or check out what we're spotting this week!
Free Parking · Sightings Guarantee · Year-Round Tours
What Guests Are Saying
4,000 + Five-Star Reviews
Located in San Diego’s Mission Bay, we’re closer to the ocean than other whale
watching companies, which means you spend more time searching for whales and dolphins!
