Dana Wharf Whale Watch

01/08/2026

Good morning from the Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World! 🌊☀️ The ocean is alive and we’re ready for another amazing day on the water! What’s your favorite, sunrise or sunset?
Video by
Whales OceanAdventure CaliforniaCoast MarineLife GetOutside ExploreCalifornia

01/08/2026

Multiple pods of Long-beaked Common Dolphin were found along the outer edge of the drop-off, 5–7 miles offshore. From early morning through midday, massive pods of dolphin and sea birds from Aliso Canyon to San Onofre were moving steadily south. Each pod included numerous young calves swimming alongside their moms, with some playful youngsters repeatedly leaping completely out of the water.

This afternoon brought the largest aggregation of the day, straight out from the Dana Point Harbor and stretching for miles. Thousands of Common Dolphin were joined by Black-vented Shearwaters, California Brown Pelicans, and Western Gulls as they fed on the abundant baitfish in our local waters. An Osprey was enjoying a fresh catch on the jetty marker this afternoon.

Sea lions patrolled inside the jetty, though none were hauled out, and the harbor mouth navigational buoys occupied earlier in the day remained vacant by late afternoon. Yellow-crowned Night Herons took advantage of this afternoon’s low tide and perched on exposed rocks, patiently searching for their next meal.

Report & 📸 Laura Lopez

Dana Point Times

01/08/2026

New year, new babies ✨ We’re kicking off 2026 with adorable calf sightings right here in Dana Point! Nothing sweeter than baby dolphins learning the ropes alongside mom. 🩵🐬 Did you know dolphin calves stay close to mom while they learn to swim, hunt, and socialize? NewYearBabies Video by

01/07/2026

NOW is the perfect time to go Whale Watching! Thank you bayareatelegraph for coming out with us and seeing the magic of we ❤️ seeing the sea life that makes the area so special.

https://bayareatelegraph.com/2026/01/05/review-cruising-with-dolphins-at-dana-wharf-whale-watching-in-dana-point/

01/07/2026

Gray whale season is one of our favorite times of year here in Dana Point! 🌊🐋
Here are a few fun Gray Whale facts:

• Gray whales migrate up to 12,000 miles round-trip — one of the longest migrations of any mammal
• They travel between the cold feeding grounds of Alaska and the warm lagoons of Baja California
• Mother gray whales give birth and raise their calves in the protected lagoons of Mexico
• They’re known as “friendly whales” because of their curious nature around boats
• Gray whales leave visible “footprints” on the surface when they dive

Come join us on the water and see if you can spot one of these incredible travelers! 💙
Video by
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01/07/2026

On our first trip of the morning we were able to locate both Common Dolphin and Bottlenose. The small pod of about 100 Common were right on the drop off, directly out from Dana Point Harbor and traveling up the coast. This area is particularly rich in nutrients as upwelling occurs here, attracting larger animals that feed on the “fin food” in this area. Bottlenose were later found south of the harbor and farther offshore. It was a large pod for Bottlenose and extended about 1/4of a mile. Picking up our speed enticed them to play in our surf wake, leaping high out of the water. The same kind of cetaceans were seen on our second trip but in opposite order and different sizes. The Bottlenose were seen about 6 miles out and slightly above Dana Point Harbor. This was a smaller pod of about 20 dolphin perhaps the larger pod divided. Turning down the coast we came upon a much larger pod of Common Dolphin. They were actively feeding and splashing the water. It is believed that this behavior sends a percussive sound through the water causing the bait fish to ball up, making it easier for the dolphin to hone in on their prey. On our last trip of the day, the dolphin were a bit more elusive. We found Commons spread out and feeding 6 miles off of Laguna Beach. Unusual for Common Dolphin, they had little interest in the boat. They would dive down for almost four minutes before surfacing. Clearly they were feeding. Heading back south and staying in the deeper water we finally came upon a huge pod of active Common Dolphin. So much fun to watch this large pod interact with the boat and play in our stern wake. The harbor had a variety of birds from grebes, pelicans, gulls, and osprey to our hungry sea lions looking for free fish! Always great to be able to get back out on the water. The beautiful green hills are evidence of the good soaking we received over the last couple of weeks. Here’s to a year of abundant marine life off of Dana Point Harbor in 2026.

Report & 📸 Nona the Naturalist

01/06/2026

Please send your letters to stop the Expansion of offshore oil drilling off our Coast ..save the whales and marine life -the last oil spill off Huntington Beach was devastating to many of us and to the wildlife! Please send your letters.

⏰ The clock is ticking on offshore drilling and your voice is needed NOW!

Big Oil may profit from new offshore drilling — but our coastal communities will pay the price.

The Trump administration's offshore drilling plan has been public for over a month now, and the comment period is flying by. We only have until January 23 to flood the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) with opposition—and every single comment counts.

Here's what's on the line:

🌊 California's entire coastline — from San Diego to the Oregon border, all proposed for new drilling
🏖️ Gulf waters off Florida — previously protected, now up for grabs
🐻 Alaska's pristine waters — including the High Arctic, where drilling has never been attempted before

We’ve stopped offshore drilling before, but the stakes have never been higher. We can do it again, but we’ve got to go bigger and louder. Take action now: https://hubs.la/Q03T5J-p0

01/06/2026

Making a big SPLASH in 2026! 🎉 🐳 🥳
#2026
Video by 5/24

🎥 Laura Lopez
Dana Point Times

01/06/2026

Sunshine and dolphin! What better way to spend the day? 🐬🌞🐬

With a backdrop of bright white billowing clouds and sunny skies, we headed five miles straight out from the Dana Point Harbor encountering several small pods of 50–100 Common Dolphins, all with young calves. California Brown Pelicans, Black-vented Shearwaters, and countless Western Gulls followed closely as the dolphins traveled along the edge of the drop-off, actively feeding.

An unusually large number of Western Gulls stuck with us, making incredibly close passes, so close we were practically eye to eye as they hovered. A few even landed on the wheelhouse and hung out long enough that they probably should’ve paid an Uber fee for the ride!

Back in the harbor, California Sea Lions were everywhere we looked, swimming and hauled out on the jetty, scattered across docks and boats, and on the navigational buoys at the harbor entrance.

Report & 📸 Laura Lopez

Dana Point Times

01/06/2026

Sunshine & Dolphins ☀️🐬☀️
Did you know these sleek swimmers are some of the most energetic dolphins in the ocean?

✨ They can reach speeds up to 35 mph
✨ Often travel in large pods of hundreds (sometimes thousands!)
✨ Love to bow-ride and surf our wake
✨ Frequently spotted off the coast of Dana Point & Southern California

Seeing Common Dolphins never gets old — their energy is absolutely contagious! 💙🌊

📍 Dana Point

OceanLovers WildCalifornia Cetaceans WhaleWatchingLife 🎥

🎥 Laura Lopez
Dana Point Times