Dana Wharf Whale Watch

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.

One Humpback Whale (Seen on 2 Trips) and Common Dolphin!Calm, glassy seas and a playful breaching baby dolphin welcomed ...
09/07/2025

One Humpback Whale (Seen on 2 Trips) and Common Dolphin!

Calm, glassy seas and a playful breaching baby dolphin welcomed us just 4 miles from the Dana Point Harbor where a nursery pod of Long-beaked Common Dolphin was actively feeding, though no birds circled overhead. By midday, a fast-moving Megapod surged up the coast, passing the San Clemente Pier just 4 miles offshore.

This afternoon, farther out, about 9 miles southwest of the harbor just south of San Onofre, we encountered a juvenile Humpback Whale cruising leisurely out to sea. Remaining close to the surface with its long pectoral fins spread out, it surfaced to blow two or three times every few minutes. Just as we prepared to leave, it surprised us with a massive peduncle throw almost as if waving goodbye. On our way north, a pod of around 100 dolphin eager to engage with us joined in, riding our bow and surfing the stern wake beneath the warm glow of the afternoon sun.

Ocean Trash Picked up Today ~ September 6, 2025 - One Mylar Balloon Balloons Blow Stand Up To Trash

Report & 📸 Laura Lopez
Drone 📸 Gavriel Berghouse

Dana Wharf is a Proud Sponsor of the 41st Maritime Festival, September 12th, 13th & 14th!We are extending our 2:30p Whal...
09/06/2025

Dana Wharf is a Proud Sponsor of the 41st Maritime Festival, September 12th, 13th & 14th!

We are extending our 2:30p Whale Watch trips to 5p on Friday and Sunday at no additional charge and adding a 5p-7p trip on Saturday so we can view the the tall ships off the Dana Point Headlands. Our cruises are just intended for you to view the tall ships and take pictures; an added bonus to our regular whale watching cruise.

If you want to take part in an actual cannon battle, check out our friends Ocean Institute be on board one of the vessels at the Ocean Institute during the cannon battles for a full reenactment experience.

The Cannon Battles will deliver reenactments of naval skirmishes. The Spirit of Dana Point, Californian, Exy Johnson, Irving Johnson, Curlew, Bill of Rights, and Mayflower tall ships will exchange cannon fire in dramatic encounters beginning at 3:30p each day.

https://www.picketfencemedia.com/danapointtimes/eye-on-dp/41st-dana-point-maritime-festival-returns-at-ocean-institute/article_d4c093c6-2543-466a-9f8b-f715169c4f76.html

09/06/2025

The Weekend is Here! The Dolphin are Ready! 🐬

🎥 Laura Lopez

Our day began and ended with spectacular Dolphin Stampedes! Just five miles off the Dana Point Harbor, we encountered a...
09/06/2025

Our day began and ended with spectacular Dolphin Stampedes! Just five miles off the Dana Point Harbor, we encountered a fast-moving nursery pod of Long-beaked Common Dolphin. This megapod followed along the outer ledge, trending northwest and out to sea. Farther offshore, about eight miles out, we found smaller feeding groups. Heading south of San Mateo Point on our noon trip more than 10 miles offshore, another massive megapod of Long-beaked Common Dolphin stretched across more than a mile as it moved southwest.

The afternoon brought even more activity with a third megapod and a “birdnado” with hundreds of Black-vented Shearwaters, California Brown Pelicans, and other seabirds joining a developing feeding frenzy. Suddenly, the dolphin stampeded toward our vessel, surrounding us with dolphin surging ahead and others wake-surfing. Adding to the fun, several California sea lions joined the action, porpoising alongside the dolphins and surfing in our stern wake!

Report & 📸 Laura Lopez

Pods of Common Dolphin were seen on both trips today. These dolphin were inside the dropoff and above Dana Point Harbo...
09/05/2025

Pods of Common Dolphin were seen on both trips today. These dolphin were inside the dropoff and above Dana Point Harbor. At 10am they were found about 0.75 miles from shore off of Aliso Creek. At one point they took off in a stampede headed closer to shore. At noon they were still above the harbor but a bit farther off shore, still well within the drop off to deeper waters. Small calves were noted in each pod. Sea lions were resting on the green navigational buoy on both trips.

Report & 📸 Nona the Naturalist

On our morning trip, we encountered several scattered pods of Offshore Bottlenose Dolphin stretching from Aliso Canyon t...
09/04/2025

On our morning trip, we encountered several scattered pods of Offshore Bottlenose Dolphin stretching from Aliso Canyon to six miles southwest of Dana Point Harbor off San Mateo Point. Calves were spotted in the glassy calm water as groups approached the Ocean Adventures to bow ride. Altogether, roughly 100 individuals were present in these relaxed pods, steadily moving south along the coast.

At noon, just two miles farther offshore in the same area where the Bottlenose had passed only an hour earlier, we came across a nursery pod of several hundred Long-beaked Common Dolphin. Tiny calves could be seen breaching and tail-slapping alongside the more mature dolphin.

In the afternoon, a spectacular sight unfolded as a megapod of Common Dolphin was stampeding up the coast about four miles off Monarch Bay. We watched in awe as the pod surged at high speeds, porpoising in unison, zigzagging toward the coastline and then back out to sea. The energy of this herd was impressive, slowing at times only to erupt again into bursts of speed keeping up this fast pace for nearly 45 minutes before we turned south. The sheer number of dolphins and their powerful momentum was remarkable. Meanwhile, on the inner jetty, one California sea lion was hauled out on the rocks for most of the afternoon while a pair patrolled the inner jetty, barking, splashing, rolling, which was very entertaining to watch.

Report & 📸 Laura Lopez

Note: Ocean Trash picked up today, September 3, 2025 ~ One Mylar Balloon Stand Up To Trash Balloons Blow

Dolphin de jour was the order of the day. At 10am we looked long and hard and found a pod of Bottlenose near the end of...
09/03/2025

Dolphin de jour was the order of the day. At 10am we looked long and hard and found a pod of Bottlenose near the end of our two hours. Knowing we wanted our passengers to enjoy more time with these amazing animals, we “whale checked” the trip and encouraged them to return on another Tuesday on us. At noon we found a large pod of Common Dolphin below the Dana Point Harbor several miles offshore. So many calves could be seen in this pod. Young are born year-round after a ten month gestation period. Great to see such a healthy population of Common Dolphin off of our coast. Our 2:30pm trip had a wild ride to get to a large pod Common Dolphin traveling fast up the coast. We finally reached them above Laguna Beach. It seemed many passengers were enjoying the splashing waves as much as the Common Dolphin were. Today’s totals: A pod of Bottlenose Dolphin, two pods of Common Dolphin.

Report & 📸 Nona the Naturalist

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

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+18005909994

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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.