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Dana Wharf Whale Watch

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Dana Point, CA
Dana Wharf Whale Watch

Year round opportunity to see many whale and dolphin species right here in Dana Point, CA And just like that, whale watching was born.
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The story of Dana Wharf:
In 1958 While running several sport fishing boats off the San Clemente Pier,Don Hansen, decided to take children out on a whale watching excursion at the urging of friend and local educator Philip Grignon. For years Hansen and his fellow captains had been watching Gray Whales pass by them but no one was really watching this majestic Whales at the time. Some years later, H

ansen moved the operation to Dana Point Harbor when it opened in 1971. This was where the West Coast Whale Watching industry originated - not only for school field trips, but the public Whale Watching excursion was born in Dana Point. Don's love for the Gray Whale inspired people from all around the world to come and see for themselves the friendly Gray Whales as they migrate past Dana Point. Dana Wharf Whale Watching, the first whale watching company in Orange County, is a year-round whale watching facility in Southern California. Interacting with thousands of whales during the Gray Whale migration in the winter and Blue whales in the summer plus year round whales such as Fin , Orca, Minke and Humpback . In addition to whales, thousands of dolphins, sea lions, sea faring birds and even sharks are found in the beautiful waters right off Dana Wharf. There is always plenty of wildlife to experience, as you will see in this video. Today Dana Wharf sits in the heart of a busy, flourishing harbor and continues to be owned and operated by the Hansen family.

07/01/2025

With lots of sunshine and beautiful blue water, we had a stunning backdrop for today’s trips. Our first cetacean encounter was a pod of 20–30 Offshore Bottlenose Dolphins, which put on an incredible show, breaching with giant leaps in the wake behind Ocean Adventures. Long-beaked Common Dolphins were spotted on every trip, most pods seen today included tiny calves and young dolphin.

On our last trip heading north from the Dana Point Harbor, we caught up with multiple pods heading north. When we turned south, one pod turned and “followed” us, merging with another northbound group to form a massive megapod. Now, hundreds of dolphins surrounded us in every direction. Plus, these dolphin were super active leaping high in the air as they raced across the water.

Report by Laura Lopez
Drone 📸 Gavriel Berghouse
📸 John & Cindy

06/30/2025

‼️ Cuteness Alert! 🐬

Common Dolphins live in social groups called pods, also known as herds. These pods can be made up of bachelor males, nursery pods with mostly females and calves, or mixed groups of males and females of varying ages. Nursery pods are the easiest to identify, with tiny calves swimming closely alongside their mothers, drafting to conserve energy and keep up with the group.

Today, we encountered multiple pods of Common Dolphin on every trip usually straight out from the Dana Point Harbor along the ledge or drop off 3-5 miles offshore. Nursery pods are always a favorite as these tiny calves delight our passengers. Some pods passed over visible patches of bait, likely full from the plentiful anchovies present in our waters.

Unlike migratory Baleen Whales, Common Dolphins typically stay within a 100–200-mile range of where they were born. While we saw Gulls and Terns flying overhead, no Pelicans or Sea Lions were spotted foraging alongside the dolphins today. We observed the dolphins charging up the coast before suddenly shifting direction sometimes heading offshore, turning north or south likely corralling baitfish making feeding easier for both themselves and the hovering seabirds.

Report & 📸 Laura Lopez

06/29/2025

Under blue skies and sunshine we saw Common Dolphin below the Dana Point Harbor several miles offshore on most of our trips today. Our last trip of the day traveled many miles up the coast and several miles offshore but there was nothing to be seen. Those passengers received whale checks inviting them to return again someday on us. Whale checks never expire. A few sea lions were resting on the navigational buoys while most are still away at calving rookeries. Dolphin always delight us with high jumps, fast swimming, and numerous small calves in the pods. A nice day to be on the water!

Report & 📸 Nona Brinkman Reimer

06/28/2025

Today’s Pelagic Bird Trip, led by David Pereksta highlights included a Pigeon Guillemot, a Common Murre, and three species of Shearwaters—Sooty, Black-vented, and Pink-footed. Surprise sightings of two hummingbirds spotted several miles offshore occurred hours and miles apart. Multiple pods of feeding Common Dolphin were encountered throughout the day, and Offshore Bottlenose Dolphin stole the show with impressive leaps in the wake of the Dana Pride which was an exciting end to the day!

Report & 📸 Laura Lopez
Drone 📸 Gavriel Berghouse

06/27/2025

Dolphin De Jur! 🐬🐬🐬

Common Dolphin were seen in small and large pods throughout the day on all four of our trips. At 10am Common dolphin were seen below the harbor about four miles off of San Clemente. The remainder of our trips saw Common Dolphin directly out from the harbor and above Dana Point Harbor as far north as Laguna Beach. Often they were hunting and feeding. We even had a bit of a stampeded on our 12pm trip. Sea lions were seen swimming with some of the dolphin pods but it is much easier to observe sea lions when they are hauled out on the navigational buoys. Birds were seldom present on the water today. We did see a resting Western gull on the NOAA oceanographic/meteorolgical buoy. Dolphin never disappoint. Always a delight that makes us smile.

Report by Nona Brinkman Reimer

🎥 Laura Lopez

06/26/2025

Baby Dolphins Delighted Our Passengers All Day! 🐬🐬🐬

Calves or baby dolphin were seen on every trip today! These tiny, toothed whales are some of the most endearing marine mammals we are lucky enough to see. Born gray with pale bellies, their distinctive hourglass patterns of light gray or yellow begin to show as they mature. Did you know Dolphin calves are born with tiny whiskers on their upper jaws (rostrums), which fall out shortly after birth?

Under partly cloudy skies, both Ocean Adventures and Lot’ a Fun encountered an energetic pod of Common Dolphin, with a second smaller group seen on our return to the Dana Point Harbor. Kids on a Summer Camp Field Trip were thrilled to spot a Pelagic Ray on the water’s surface off the bow!

By midday, the sun was shining and more nursery pods were just a few miles from the harbor. As we returned to the harbor, a pod of at least 150 dolphins broke out into a stamped racing north toward the headlands. On our last trip, we found another nursery pod actively feeding about 4 miles off Laguna Main Beach, with even more dolphins spotted as we headed back south. The Dana Pride even found some Bottlenose Dolphin on their late afternoon charter.

Though many buoys have recently been empty, late in the day we did find two California sea lions hauled on the green buoy at the harbor mouth accompanied by a brave or foolish Western Gull standing unusually close to them on the lower platform.

Report & 📸 Laura Lopez

06/25/2025

Dolphin were airborne on all four of our trips today. At 10am we sighted Common Dolphin in our binoculars and caught up with them 4 miles off of the San Clemente Pier. Their high acrobatics are an indication that they are sending a percussive sound through the water that causes the “ fin food” to tighten up in dense groups. This allows the dolphin to dive down, use their echolocation, and successfully hone in on their prey. At noon we found Common Dolphin 4 miles offshore just below the harbor. We then headed up the coast and found a pod of about 30 Bottlenose dolphin feeding. At 2:30pm we first found the Bottlenose 4 miles out just above the Dana Point Harbor. Circling through them, they quickly began jumping high off of the stern wake. From there we headed some 7 miles offshore to find more dolphin actively schooling the bait. What made this even more dynamic was the presence of Blue Fin Tuna deeper in the water. Anchovy were pinned between tuna below and dolphin above with no where to go but into the mouth of a predator. As our captain said, “It was not a good day to be an anchovy.” Few sea lions were seen at this time of year as it is pupping season. Sea lions have headed to their calving rookeries as far away as the Channel Islands. At 5pm we bookended our day with more Common Dolphin about 7 miles out from the harbor. Again the acrobatics were high, splashing the water’s surface to corral their dinner. Today’s totals: Dolphin! Dolphin! Dolphin! Commons by the hundreds and hundreds and plenty of Bottlenose.

Report & 📸 Nona Brinkman Reimer

Address

34675 Golden Lantern
Dana Point, CA
92629

Opening Hours

Monday	6am - 10pm
Tuesday	6am - 10pm
Wednesday	6am - 10pm
Thursday	6am - 10pm
Friday	5am - 10pm
Saturday	9am - 10pm
Sunday	9am - 10pm

Telephone

+18005909994

Website

http://danawharfwhalewatching.org/

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Our Story

on our trips : Visitors can take a voyage with Orange County’s original whale watching company. Riders on one of Dana Wharf's 17 vessels often see whales, dolphins and sea lions while embracing the majestic coastline of DanaPoint, all these excursions are narrated by expert naturalists . In addition, Dana Wharf is endorsed by renowned wildlife Artist Wyland.