San Diego Whale Sightings — Updated Daily!

See what our naturalists have spotted during our last 7 trips in Mission Bay and off the coast of San Diego.

16

Whales Spotted

7,300

Dolphins Spotted

5

Different Species Spotted

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Today's Sightings Summary

Detailed Sightings Log - September 12, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Sunset TourLong-beaked Common Dolphin1000Running for their livesForagingSurfingSurface ActivePlaying
Sunset TourOrcas8HuntingMugging

Detailed Sightings Log - September 12, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Mid-day TourHumpback Whale1BreathingFeeding
Mid-day TourLong-beaked Common Dolphin750ForagingBreathingSurfingStampede

Detailed Sightings Log - September 12, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Morning TourLong-beaked Common Dolphin750ForagingSurfingSleepingStampedeSurface ActivePlaying
Morning TourHumpback Whale1BreathingMegapod
Morning Tour

Detailed Sightings Log - September 11, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Mid-day TourLong-beaked Common Dolphin1100Surface ActiveCow/Calf PairBow Riding

Recent Sightings

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Two Kinds of Baleen Whales!

It is the best conditions of the week and gorgeous out there! Plus the oceans are filled…

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If minkes and molas weren’t enough….

How about a pod of Risso’s dolphins? The sunset trip this evening had UNBELIEVABLE conditions, flat seas…

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Minke Mittens

This morning brought us out to the drop‑off, where a frenzy of hungry long‑beaked common dolphins was…

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Fins in the canyon!

La Jolla Canyon has been the hotspot for incredible wildlife lately! We’ve had a fin whale or…

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Crawling the Canyon Walls

The Privateer combed along the drop-off 5 miles from shore and encountered a pod of ~300 long-beaked…

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Mo’ Mola Mo’ Problems

La Jolla Canyon was sleepy for the Privateer trip this afternoon, until our deckhand Brandon spotted a…

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Our Typical Route

While our route varies with sightings, we typically follow a similar course near known feeding areas.

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This Year's Stats

Total: 24,147 dolphins and 317 whales.

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Departing daily from Mission Bay.

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