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.

25

Whales Spotted

3,010

Dolphins Spotted

7

Different Species Spotted

Google Reviews

4.8

4,300+ verified reviews

San Diego's Original-icon

San Diego's Original

15+ Years
of whale watching expertise

Sightings Guarantee-seal-icon

Our Promise

Sightings Guarantee
or come back free

Sightings Guarantee-icon

Year-Round Tours

Daily Departures
from Mission Bay

Today's Sightings Summary

Detailed Sightings Log - August 3, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Sunset TourFin Whale5Surface Active
Sunset TourShort-beaked Common Dolphin100Stampede
Sunset TourMola mola (Sunfish)1Breaching

Detailed Sightings Log - August 3, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Morning TourShort-beaked Common Dolphin200StampedeJumping
Morning TourFin Whale5BreathingSurface Active

Detailed Sightings Log - August 2, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Sunset TourOffshore Bottlenose Dolphin30ForagingSurfingSurface ActiveJumpingChin SlappingTail SlappingCow/Calf Pair
Sunset TourFin Whale3BreathingJumpingDivingRafting

Detailed Sightings Log - August 2, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Mid-day TourOffshore Bottlenose Dolphin50MuggingSurface Active
Mid-day TourShort-beaked Common Dolphin350ForagingStampedeHunting

Detailed Sightings Log - August 2, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Morning TourBlue Whale2Stampede
Morning TourRisso's Dolphin30BreathingSleepingMugging
Morning TourShort-beaked Common Dolphin200SurfingHunting

Detailed Sightings Log - August 1, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Sunset TourShort-beaked Common Dolphin150Stampede
Sunset TourFin Whale4BreathingSurface ActiveFeedingDiving

Detailed Sightings Log - August 1, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Morning TourOffshore Bottlenose Dolphin50SurfingMuggingNursery Pod
Morning TourFin Whale3BreathingDiving

Recent Sightings

All
  • All

Welcome to the brunch party à la Pacific

WOOOOO!!! It was INCREDIBLE out there! We barely had to leave the bay before we stumbled into…

Read More

Massive Dolphin Party!

Massive dolphin party to the north today — and we were right in the middle of it….

Read More

Circus Cetaceans!

Today on the Inspiration we found the most playful pod of common dolphins about 6 miles offshore….

Read More

Magical Minke Mugging

What. A. Day. On. The. Water. The Pacific really saved the best for last – we got…

Read More

Happy Mother’s Day to the Mums in our whale watching community!

Sunset was another calm and beautiful trip to round out our Sunday on the Pacific Ocean. We…

Read More

Dolphins by the dozens….and dozens….AND DOZENS!

Days of the dolphins continues! Thousands of common dolphins and their babies drove small fish up and…

Read More

Our Typical Route

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

Follow Our Live Updates!
Get real-time sightings and videos

@sdwhalewatch
InstagramFacebookTikTok

This Year's Stats

Total: 21,007 dolphins and 332 whales.

Latest from Our Blog

Ready to Meet the Whales?

Book your tour today and experience San Diego’s most spectacular wildlife adventure.
Departing daily from Mission Bay.

Free Parking · Sightings Guarantee · Year-Round Tours