Celebrating 15 Years of Whale Watching in San Diego
This year marked a major milestone for us: 15 years of whale watching in San Diego. What started as a passion for sharing the ocean has grown into a community built around education, conservation, and unforgettable moments at sea.
In 2025 alone, we welcomed nearly 66,000 passengers aboard across 750+ trips, giving locals, visitors, families, students, and longtime members the chance to experience marine wildlife up close—always with respect and care.
At the heart of every trip are our expert naturalists, whose knowledge, enthusiasm, and deep love for the ocean guide each experience. Many of our naturalists have been with us for years, while we also welcomed new faces who quickly became part of the family. Together, they logged thousands of hours on the water, documenting sightings, educating passengers, and helping turn first-time guests into lifelong ocean advocates.
We were also incredibly grateful to see so many of our members join us regularly throughout the year, as well as to host educational trips with local schools and our partners at Our Future, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental education and ocean conservation. These trips continue to be some of the most meaningful voyages we offer.
2025 Wildlife Sightings: A Year by the Numbers
From massive dolphin megapods to rare offshore encounters, 2025 delivered one of the most diverse years of wildlife sightings we’ve ever recorded. Our onboard naturalists carefully logged each encounter, capturing not just numbers, but moments—breaches, feeding frenzies, and once-in-a-lifetime surprises.
Whales Spotted in San Diego 2025
| Gray Whales | 171 |
| Blue Whales | 25 |
| Humpback Whales | 313 |
| Fin Whales | 104 |
| Minke Whales | 67 |
| Sperm Whales | 8 |
| Orcas – ETP Killer Whales | 7 |
Dolphins Spotted in San Diego 2025
| Short-Beaked Common Dolphins | 34,480 |
| Long-Beaked Common Dolphins | 210,368 |
| Offshore Bottlenose Dolphins | 6,210 |
| Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins | 364 |
| Pacific White-Sided Dolphins | 172 |
| Risso’s Dolphins | 1,070 |
Rare & Unforgettable Marine Life Sightings from 2025
Some moments don’t happen every season—or even every decade. In 2025, our naturalists recorded a number of rare and unexpected encounters that made this year truly stand out.
From elusive pelagic species to dramatic feeding behavior and surprise appearances far from typical migration windows, these sightings remind us why every trip on the water is different—and why no two days at sea are ever the same.
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ETP Killer Whales (Orcas) — September In September, we encountered a pod of ETP (Eastern Tropical Pacific) killer whales off the San Diego coast—an exceptionally rare sighting for our region. These orcas typically prefer colder waters and are only seen here a few times each year, making this encounter especially memorable. |
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Humpback Whales Lunge Feeding — 2025 Highlights Throughout 2025, we recorded a remarkable increase in humpback whale sightings, making it one of the most memorable humpback seasons we’ve ever experienced in San Diego. Beyond the numbers, what truly stood out was their behavior—repeated lunge feeding at the surface, dramatic splashes, and playful interactions that showcased their curious and energetic personalities. Watching humpbacks work together to feed, often alongside dolphins and seabirds, gave passengers an unforgettable look at one of the ocean’s most awe-inspiring feeding strategies. |
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False Killer Whales — April Another standout moment came in April with the sighting of false killer whales, a rare occurrence in Southern California. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the pod was seen jumping and playing in the water at sunset, creating one of those moments that feels almost unreal. |
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Northbound Gray Whales in Summer — June & July Seeing northbound gray whales in late June and again in July was one of the most unexpected surprises of 2025. By this point in the year, gray whales have typically completed their northbound migration, making these summer sightings highly unusual for San Diego waters. Observing gray whales traveling north well outside their typical timeline offered a fascinating glimpse into how migration patterns can vary from year to year—and served as another reminder that the ocean doesn’t always follow a set schedule. |
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Mako Shark Feeding on a Swordfish — August In August, we witnessed an incredible display of natural behavior when a mako shark was spotted feeding on a swordfish. While mako sharks are not uncommon in our waters, observing this kind of feeding interaction is rare and offered a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of the local marine ecosystem. |
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Sperm Whales — A Historic First for San Diego Whale Watch In September, we experienced a truly historic moment with the sighting of a pair of sperm whales off the San Diego coast—the first documented sperm whale sighting in San Diego Whale Watch history. These deep-diving giants are rarely seen in Southern California waters, making this encounter especially meaningful for our crew and longtime passengers alike. |
What 2025 Taught Us About the Best Time to Whale Watch in San Diego
What 2025 taught us about the best time to whale watch in San Diego is that there isn’t just one perfect season—there are patterns, surprises, and moments that continue to evolve year after year. By looking at our 2025 sightings season by season, you can see when different species are most commonly encountered, how feeding behavior shifts throughout the year, and why off-season sightings sometimes steal the show. This seasonal breakdown reflects real observations logged by our onboard naturalists and offers insight into when—and why—certain months stand out for San Diego whale watching.
Winter: Gray Whales, Dolphins & Early Season Highlights
(January–March)
Notable sightings:
- Peak gray whale migration along the San Diego coastline
- Frequent encounters with the locals a.k.a. short-beaked and long-beaked common dolphins
- Offshore fin whales and occasional humpback whales
- Dense dolphin pods traveling near kelp forests and canyon edges
- Consistent seabird activity signaling feeding opportunities
Winter remains one of the most reliable times for San Diego whale watching, offering classic migration views and high-energy dolphin encounters. Get your tickets to catch the fun!
Spring: Early Blue Whales, Fin Whales, & Humpbacks Plus Feeding Frenzies
(April–May)
Notable sightings:
- Increasing dolphin megapods and mixed-species groups
- Early blue whale activity offshore as feeding grounds began to form
- Frequent feeding frenzies involving birds, dolphins, and baitfish
Spring serves as a transition period, bridging winter migration and summer feeding seasons while delivering a wide variety of wildlife encounters. This season, we were delighted to spot so many fin whales, nature’s second-largest whale, as well as our local humpback whales!
Summer: Blue Whales, Humpbacks & Unexpected Gray Whales
(June–August)
Notable sightings:
- Peak blue whale season, although this year looked much different than in years past. Read our blog about this year’s Blue Whale Season in San Diego to learn more.
- Increasing humpback whale sightings, often spotted feeding
- Large, fast-moving dolphin megapods numbering in the hundreds
- Off-season gray whale sightings in June, July, and August—an unusual and exciting surprise
- Rare pelagic encounters including, mola mola, sharks, and jellyfish species
While summer is typically defined by blue whales, 2025 reminded us that San Diego whale watching can be unpredictable, and why ocean conservation is so important.
Fall: Rare Encounters with Orcas and Sperm Whales, Dolphins, & Humpbacks
(September–October)
Notable sightings:
- For the first time, San Diego Whale Watch recorded 8 sightings of sperm whales
- Active humpback whales, including surface behavior and feeding
- Massive dolphin pods traveling along offshore currents
- A rare and unforgettable sighting of ETP (Eastern Tropical Pacific) orcas in September
- Continued feeding frenzies including a Mako shark feeding on a Swordfish
Fall delivered some of the most unexpected moments of the year, including species rarely seen in Southern California waters.
Late Fall & Early Winter San Diego Whale Watching: First Southbound Gray Whales & Lunge-Feeding Humpbacks
(November–December)
Notable sightings:
- First southbound gray whales of the season documented on November 30th
- Multiple lunge-feeding humpback whales throughout December
- Dramatic surface activity including breaches, tail slaps, and mugging behavior
- Feeding frenzies continuing late into the year
- Strong dolphin presence alongside migrating whales
Closing out the year with active feeding behavior and the return of migrating gray whales set the stage for another exciting winter season.
Comparing San Diego Whale Watching Seasons: 2024 vs 2025 Sightings
Dolphin Sightings by Species During San Diego Whale Watching Tours (2024 vs 2025)
Whale Sightings by Species During San Diego Whale Watching Tours (2024 vs 2025)
Comparing sightings year over year shows that while certain whale and dolphin species peak during traditional seasons, San Diego whale watching continues to offer strong viewing opportunities—and occasional surprises—throughout the year.
A Community Built Around the Ocean
Beyond wildlife, 2025 was about people—our crew, our members, our partners, and everyone who stepped aboard with curiosity and respect for the ocean.
| Trips Taken | 752 |
| Passengers Educated | 66,000 |
| Beach Clean-ups | 7 |
| Volunteers | 421 |
| Trash Collected (lbs) | 1,729 |
| Landfill Trash | 1,620 |
| Recyclables | 109 |
| Balloons Removed From Ocean | 76 |
On the water, our crews continued to take action whenever possible—removing 76 balloons and pieces of marine debris from the ocean, reporting wildlife entanglements to SeaWorld when needed, and making ocean-smart choices on every trip, such as elimination of single-use plastics. For us, whale watching isn’t just about what we see; it’s about how we show up for the ocean every day and encourage stewardship that lasts long after passengers return to shore.
