Witness the Annual Migration of Humpback Whales along the California Coast

Discover the Magic of Humpback Whales in San Diego

San Diego is a prime location to witness the annual migration of humpback whales along the California coast. These majestic creatures, known for their acrobatic displays and haunting songs, travel thousands of miles each year from their feeding grounds in Alaska to their winter breeding grounds in warmer waters. Don’t miss your chance to witness this incredible sight of humpback whale sightings in their natural habitat.

Recent Sightings

Quick Facts About Humpback Whale Sightings in San Diego

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Humpback whales migrate annually along the California coast, passing through San Diego’s waters.

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Their migration route spans over 6,000 miles from Alaska to warmer waters in Mexico and Hawaii.

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Humpback whales can grow up to 50 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons.

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They are known for their acrobatic displays, such as breaching and tail slapping, and for their haunting songs.

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Humpback whales feed on small fish and krill, and can consume up to a ton of food per day.

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San Diego is a popular location for humpback whale watching, with sightings reported from December through April.

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Humpback whales are identified by their distinct fluke patterns, which are unique to each individual.

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They are social creatures and often travel in groups, known as pods.

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Humpback whales were hunted to near extinction in the 20th century, but their populations have since recovered due to conservation efforts.

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Humpback whales play a vital role in the ocean ecosystem as they transport nutrients and help regulate the food chain.

Discover why San Diego is the best place
for humpback whale watching

Humpback Whale Watching Season in San Diego

Humpback whale watching season in San Diego runs from December through April. Book a tour to witness these majestic creatures on their annual migration.

The Beauty of Humpback Whale Breaching in San Diego

Witness the breathtaking sight of humpback whales breaching and tail slapping during their migration along the California coast. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

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Discover the Unique Songs of Humpback Whales in San Diego

Humpback whales are known for their haunting songs, which can travel for miles underwater. Hear these unique songs during a humpback whale watching tour in San Diego.

The Importance of Humpback Whales to San Diego’s Ecosystem

Humpback whales play a vital role in San Diego’s ocean ecosystem, transporting nutrients and regulating the food chain. Learn more about their importance on a humpback whale watching tour.

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!

Capturing the Perfect Humpback Whale
Sighting in San Diego

Whether you’re a professional photographer or a nature enthusiast, capturing the perfect humpback whale sighting in San Diego can be a challenge. Join us for tips and tricks on how to capture stunning photos of these majestic creatures.

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May 8, 2023

Monday, May 8, 2023

We had one afternoon trip today, and traveled northwest until we encountered a humpback whale! It breached out ahead of us and once we got to it we recognized it as a whale that we had seen hanging around off our coast for a couple weeks back in march! While with...

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Apr 15, 2023

April 15, 2023

We had three amazing trips today! We set out to deeper water and along the drop-off we caught up with 4 Fin whales! During the morning trip, we sighted a pair doing tight circles with short dive times of ~6-7 minutes. We even observed Fin whale POOP! The orangey...

Apr 14, 2023

Friday, April 14, 2023

We had two great trips today. On our afternoon trip we started out with a pod of about 8 bottlenose dolphins right at the jetties that came right to the boat. Then only a few miles out we encountered a fin whale circling the area. We then went north west and found...

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Apr 7, 2023

Friday, April 7, 2023

We had an awesome day out there today. We had a feeding frenzy of birds, common dolphins and a humpback whale on our afternoon trip and a big traveling pod of long-beaked common dolphins on our sunset trip and a great sunset!...

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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...

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Apr 1, 2023

April 1, 2023

We had a blast on all three trips today! The morning trip started with a huge feeding frenzy! We encountered a Fin whale and hundreds of Common dolphins. Birds were everywhere, diving and feeding on small schooling fish. During the afternoon tour, we caught up with...

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Mar 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

It was a great day to be out on the water! We started the day off with a fun morning tour. Close to 11-miles from shore, we encountered a pair of Fin whales that were traveling north. They never went down for a deep sounding dive! They hung out near the surface. We...

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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...

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Mar 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

We are starting our week off with a Hump-day! We set out to the northwest out near the drop-off and encountered a huge pod of ~250 Long-beaked Common dolphins and 1 Humpback whale! The dolphins were very surface active and were seen feeding around a couple of bait...

Humpback Whale Resources

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

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.