The Ultimate Guide to Spotting Gray Whales in San Diego

San Diego’s Gray Whale Sighting Season: Everything You Need to Know

Gray Whales, also known as the California Gray Whale, are an important species in the marine ecosystem. They play a crucial role in the food chain, as they feed on small crustaceans and other invertebrates on the ocean floor, which helps maintain the health of the ecosystem

Recent Sightings
Book a Cruise
Quick Facts About Gray Whale Sightings in San Diego
Learn More

1.

Gray whales are one of the oldest species of whales, dating back more than 30 million years.

2.

They are also one of the longest migrating mammals, traveling up to 12,000 miles round trip each year.

3.

Gray whales can live up to 70 years, but the average lifespan is around 55 years.

4.

They have two blowholes on the top of their head, which creates a heart-shaped spray when they exhale.

5.

Gray whales are known for their friendly behavior towards humans and have been observed approaching boats to interact with people.

6.

They have a thick layer of blubber, which helps to insulate them in cold waters and store energy during their long migration.

7.

Gray whales are bottom feeders and use their baleen plates to filter small crustaceans, worms, and other small organisms from the ocean floor.

8.

They have a unique feeding behavior called “mud plating,” where they roll on their sides in shallow waters to stir up the sediment and expose food.

9.

Gray whales have been known to display altruistic behavior, protecting other species like sea lions and smaller whales from killer whale attacks.

10.

They were once hunted to near extinction, but their population has since rebounded to around 27,000 individuals today.

Discover why San Diego is the best place
for gray whale watching
people on la jolla cove beach 2022 11 15 12 47 09 utc

Coastal Gem: La Jolla Cove

Watch gray whales frolic in the crystal clear waters of La Jolla Cove, one of the most beautiful spots in San Diego for whale watching.
a man rides his bike while wearing a face mask to 2022 11 10 10 35 10 utc

Scenic Views: Cabrillo National Monument

Experience stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean while observing gray whales at Cabrillo National Monument, a prime location for whale watching.
in 1542 2022 11 10 10 12 37 utc

Up Close Encounters: Point Loma

Get up close and personal with gray whales at Point Loma, where the whales often swim close to shore during their migration.
IMG 1202

Unforgettable Experience: Daily Tours

Join one of our whale watching tour in San Diego for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see gray whales up close and personal, with a 95% success rate of whale sightings.

Stay Informed with Daily Updates on Whale Sightings

Don’t miss a moment of the incredible whale migration in San Diego. Subscribe to our daily newsletter to receive updates on recent sightings and more!

Name
Unforgettable Experience: San Diego Whale Watch Reports Unprecedented Gray Whale Sightings
Join San Diego Whale Watch for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the majestic gray whales on their migration path, and discover why this season’s sightings have left seasoned marine biologists and tourists alike in awe.
217A3989 2

May 13, 2023

May 13, 2023

May gray is here and in full force! Our morning trip headed out to sea and found a small pod of long beaked common dolphins. There were lots of babies in this one. We pushed further and came across a pod of offshore bottlenose dolphins! They were pretty surface...

Read More
217A5841 2

Apr 27, 2023

Thursday, April 27, 2023

We had two trips today in great conditions. This afternoon we found 3 baleen species! We first encountered a northbound pair of cow/calf gray whales and spotted a third just a bit west of them. We then went out to the drop off where we found a minke whale that I...

Read More
IMG 8560 2

Apr 16, 2023

April 16, 2023

There was no shortage of life out there today! Our morning trip came across a smaller pod of about 150 long beaked common dolphins about 4 miles from Mission Bay. We saw lots of bow-riding and wake surfing. We pushed further west and found a fin whale that had a...

Read More
217A4782 2

Apr 2, 2023

April 2, 2023

It was a day to beat out there on the Privateer! Our morning trip started strong, finding a gray whale about a mile outside of the jetties. We got a couple looks at it before it gave us the slip. We pushed out to about 7 miles and found a fin whale! It was pretty...

Read More
217A2312 2

Mar 28, 2023

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

We had a great day on the water once again! We encountered hundreds of long-beaked common dolphins, a pair of northbound gray whales and a huge humpback whale on our afternoon trip and on our sunset trip we found a solo northbound gray whale, a mixed pod of feeding...

Read More
217A0831 2

Mar 25, 2023

March 25, 2023

Happy Cetacean Saturday! We saw whales on all our trips today. Our morning trip started strong heading straight out west. We got to see a Mola Mola for the first time in a while! We kept pushing and got lucky catching up with a trio of gray whales and about 50 long...

Read More
217A9165 2

Mar 18, 2023

Saturday, March 18, 2023

We had a great day on the water full of wildlife! The morning started out pretty foggy but had over a thousand common dolphins. This afternoon we found another big pod of long-beaked common dolphins feeding under birds and there were also 3 humpbacks in the area of...

Read More
217A8336 2

Mar 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

We had super lucky day full of sightings! Our morning trip caught up with a fun pod of ~50 Offshore bottlenose dolphins up to the north. The afternoon cruise, encountered ~150 Long-beaked Common dolphins, 2 northound Gray whales, and 1 juvenile Humpback! On the...

Read More

Discover the Magic of San Diego’s Marine Life: Gray Whales, Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, and Dolphin Sightings

Dive deeper with our additional resources and links to external sources.

Experience the wonders of the ocean and witness the magnificent migration patterns of whales and dolphins in San Diego. With our comprehensive guides to Gray Whales, Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, and Dolphin Sightings, you’ll discover the diverse marine life of this coastal city. Explore our additional resources and links to delve even deeper into this fascinating subject.

Recent Sightings
Book a Cruise

Whale Migration in San Diego

Witness the incredible Gray, Blue, and Humpback whale migration in San Diego

Gray Whale Sightings

Discover the unique behaviors and patterns of gray whales in the area.

Blue Whale Sightings

Experience the majesty of the largest mammals on earth in San Diego.

Humpback Whale Sightings

Witness the impressive acrobatic displays of these majestic creatures

Dolphin Sightings

Observe the playful and curious dolphins in their natural habitat.