Private Whale Watching

A Breath-Taking Adventure You’ll Never Forget!

Note:  Regarding Children Under 10
We love sharing unique experiences with adults and children alike. However, children under 10 years of age will not be able to join us on this private whale watching adventure. If you have little ones please see our whale watching tours page for tickets on the larger vessel where children under 10 can safely enjoy the tour.

Private Whale Watching Tours

The best whale watching in San Diego is on our private whale watching tour.  You get the boat to yourself, VIP treatment, and have the best chance to see whales and dolphins.  Perfect for groups of no more than 6 people!

This unique experience gives you:

  • 2.5 – 3 hour private whale watching adventure
  • Just your group of no more than 6 people and our 2 crew members
  • Go further and have the best chance of seeing whales
  • Get closer and have better photo opportunities
  • Plus, our whale watching guarantee (see below)

Our Whale Guarantee

We were the first company in San Diego to offer whale watching year around and we stand behind our promise… if you don’t see a whale or dolphin YOUR NEXT TRIP IS FREE!

Whales All Year Around!

We were the first year around whale watching company in San Diego!  Plus, we’re located in Mission Bay—closer to the ocean than other whale watching companies, which means you get more time searching for whales and dolphins!

December through April

Join us as we observe part of the longest migration of any mammal on earth! Reaching up to 45 ft. in length and weighing up to 40 tons, Gray Whales depart from their summer feeding grounds in Alaska and migrate south along the west coast to the isolated lagoons of Baja California, Mexico to mate and give birth. We are lucky enough to see both the south and northbound migraters up until the end of April. Although we are just one passing point along their route, Gray Whales travel up to 12,000 miles, roundtrip, on an annual basis! Because they hug the coast during their migration, we can spot these gentle giants within only a few miles from the coast!

Humpback Ryan 1 1 | San Diego Whale Watch 83
Humpback 3 1 | San Diego Whale Watch 84

May through November

San Diego is equipped with a cold-water up-welling system that brings especially nutrient-rich water up to the surface, drawing in hungry Blue Whales and Fin Whales. Although the production of food could attract them to our coast at any time, recent years have shown a spike in Blue whale and Fin whale encounters throughout the summer and fall. Blue Whales are the largest animals to have ever existed on the planet and we are lucky enough to see the healthiest population around the world. Only 1% of the human population will ever be able to say that they’ve seen a Blue Whale. That means that we can drastically increase your chances of becoming part of that small percent! Runner-up in size and well-known for being the fastest of the baleen whales is the mighty Fin Whale! They can also be spotted at any time, feeding along our deep-water banks.

Throughout the year

Fin Whales, Humpback Whales and Minke Whale can be spotted off the coast of San Diego at any time. Although this makes them a little less predictable, it also means that we have a chance of seeing them on every trip! Various types of toothed whales (includes all dolphin species) also visit our coast throughout the year. Common Dolphins (both Short-Beaked and Long-Beaked), Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and Risso’s Dolphins can be seen year-round. Pacific White-Sided Dolphins are a seasonal visitor that we get to observe during the winter, typically between the months of December-April. In addition to cetaceans, California Sea Lions, Sharks, Bony Fishes and a wide variety of sea birds will also be pointed out for your enjoyment!

Common dolphin 3 | San Diego Whale Watch 85
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