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

Breaching Humpbacks for Sunday Brunch!

Our Sunday morning trip started with a big splash from a breaching humpback seen inside the drop…

Read More

We set out on our own adventure tonight

We set out on our own adventure tonight and went where nobody else had gone all day…

Read More

Dolphins in Mission Bay!

2 bottlenose dolphins swam by the Privateer as she headed out on her afternoon tour! The bottlenose…

Read More

Spouts, Splashes, and Seabirds!

The Privateer had yet another successful trip south. Following our three S’s to finding whales (spouts, splashes,…

Read More

UNBELIEVABLE!

Somehow it’s just getting better out there! Eight whales! Three species — blue, fin, and humpback —…

Read More

Sneaky Cetaceans!

This afternoon the Privateer sailed south again to search a whale feeding ground. Early into the trip…

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