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.

22

Whales Spotted

4,900

Dolphins Spotted

5

Different Species Spotted

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Today's Sightings Summary

Detailed Sightings Log - September 13, 2026

Tour Species Count Behavior
Mid-day TourShort-beaked Common Dolphin200BreathingFeedingBow Riding
Mid-day TourHumpback WhaleBreathingDiving

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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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…

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Massive Dolphin Party!

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

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Circus Cetaceans!

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

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Magical Minke Mugging

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

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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…

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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…

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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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