Feel the exhilaration of seeing some of the oceans largest and most magnificent creatures. Spend a few hours searching for the gray whales that migrate each december through april from the arctic to warm mexican breeding grounds. The best time to view blue whales is during the summer. But to see whales up close and learn more about whale behavior, youll want to take a whale watching tour. Our experienced crew knows exactly how to track down and show you the spectacular wildlife the pacific ocean has to offer. Jan 22, 2018 the anniversary of san diegos award as a coast guard city is february 23. This is one of the best times to go whale watching in san diego. Were interested in whale watching in san diego this coming winter. Tours include sightings of whales, dolphins, and more marine life around san diego. San diego whale watching season san diego boat tours. Best whale watching tours in san diego next level sailing. This is your chance to have some amazing face time with gray whales who are the friendliest and will at times come right up to our boat. A volunteer from the audience for the new orca encounter show at seaworld san diego is about to be inundated by a wave caused by an orca in the large tank as part of a demonstration on how.
Seaforth sportfishing whale watching trips san diego. San diego harbor police initially saw the whale by the sweetwater channel. Prime season for gray whale watching is late january through early april. Captain\owner chuck taft of the local sportfishing boat legend, suggested that the coast guard host a special whale watching trip for members and their dependents on an extraordinary threehour excursion.
Start point san diego or you get to the ensenada airport on your own for your flight to guerrero negro. California grey whales and blue whales are seen off the coast as they are migrating. Whether by land or by sea, you cant go wrong with a guided tour of san diego s top sights. Get a unique and intimate view of spectacular whales and other sights in san diego bay. San diego is an ideal whale watching destination as the majestic grey whales make the 10,000 mile roundtrip journey from alaska to baja california. Approximately 20,000 gray whales pass san diego in their 10,000mile annual migration from the bering sea to baja california. An overlook near the old point loma lighthouse offers whale watchers a. The best time for whale watching in san diego is in the morning. San diego offers some of the best whale watching with year round whale sightings of humpback whales, fin whales, orca whales, dolphins, and much more. Nov 11, 2012 whale watching off the coast of san diego is exciting and fun for the whole family.
The grays are finishing up the last leg of their 5,000mile journey south from their feeding grounds in the arctic. With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, you might consider getting out on the water. Gray whale season starts in december and runs through april. Whale watching season in san diego runs from middecember through april, and migrating gray whales are the most common species. San diego whale watch offers the premier whale watching experience in southern california.
Is whale watching in san diego worth it this time of year. San diego community news group whale watching season. For san diego whale watching, newport landing provides year round whale watching cruises multiple times daily departing north of san diego in newport beach. Nov 21, 2017 san diego, ca a small gray whale was spotted monday morning in the san diego bay, according to the port of san diego. Watch the seasonal migration of whales off the san diego coast. Blue whales, the largest creatures on earth and thought to be among the most endangered of the great whales, may be found off the coast of san diego midjune through september. You can see humpback whales, fin whales, and minke whales yearround. With a maximum of 6 guests per cruise, you are sure to have the most personalized, intimate cruise. In 1998, seaworld, with the help of the us coast guard, released the gray whale j.
The fins and humpbacks are super fun to watch as well. You and your family can enjoy hot food from the snack bar, and adults can get drinks from the full bar. To see females with their calves, go late in the season as they take their babies back north with them. The kickoff began july 30, as we set out from the coast of san diego in search for this season s more commonly seen whales, including blue whales. Besides the famous gray whale season, san diego sees another migration of blue whales.
Blue whales, the largest mammal and possibly the largest animal to ever inhabit earth, can be spotted swimming and feeding off the. Most southern california whale watching tour operators offer discounts. From december through mid april, over 25,000 california gray whales undergo their annual migration from alaska through san diego and onto baja california. The blue whale season in san diego usually begins in mid to late may and extends throughout the summer and fall. Most blue whale watching tours start in san diegos big bay and since the migration takes place out in the deep waters of the pacific, blue. Whale watching season san diego, california coast for students. The nat gray whale watching san diego natural history. With some of the worlds largest mammals migrating past coastal points, feeding near the coast and swimming in inlets, youll find plenty of ocean creatures to see. We are still also seeing grey whales on their northbound migration and yesterday we were treated to both grey whales and a blue whale on one tour. Get up close and personal with dolphins, sea lions, pelagic sea birds and migrating whales on this 3. San diego whale watching season best months for whale. New killer whale show premieres at seaworld san diego.
When you book a trip with us, you are getting the premier dolphin and whale watching experience in san diego. Enjoy this archived footage of bai yun and xiao liwu at the san diego zoo recorded from january through april 2019. Where to go whale watching in san diego we are in the throes of the perfect time to go whale watching in san diego. Apparently, this is the latest in the season theyve been sighted in these. During the summer and fall, marvel at pods of migrating blue whales, plus gray whales, dolphin and other sea life, as they pass by san diego s coastline. We are the only firm providing truly comprehensive services to the creators and producers of plays and musicals, including theatrical licensing, music publishing, script publishing, cast recording and first. During the high season, whales are typically observed along with a variety of marine wildlife, some rare and endangered. If you have a preference for one species of whale over the other, gray whales migrate from middecember through april while blue whales. Tripadvisor san diego winter whale watching expedition. Best time to view gray whales in socal is february through march. Cruise on the pacific ocean in a sturdy boat with a professional crew, looking for gray whales as they migrate along the coast of north america.
Every winter, more than 20,000 pacific gray whales travel 10,000 miles roundtrip the longest migration of any mammal on earth from alaska to the lagoons of baja california. Whale watching kayak tour in san diego at cloud 9 living. Gray whales can be seen as close as 12 mile from mission bay san diego. Departing from a natural bay it only takes a few minutes to leave the bays entrance and reach the productive waters for sighting whales and.
On this trip you fly north and south from ensenada. Late season blue whale spotting san diego whale watch. Experience the magic of migrating whales yearround off the coast of san diego. Although the main attraction for whale watching on the california coast is the great. When is the best time to see killer whales in california. Legacy whale watch 1717 quivira rd san diego ca 92109. To find out what all those wonderful creatures look like up close and what they look like when you see them from. The blue whale is the largest animal to ever on the earth and can grow to over 100 feet in length. The best time for whale watching in california usa today.
Witnessing this whale species on tour can be quite a treat. Whether youre looking to get up close and personal or witness whales from the shore, there are tons of ways to enjoy these magnificent creatures here in californias beach city. Whale sightings today san diego whale watching reports. With 5 departure times, we have a tour to fit perfectly into your schedule. During this whale watching season, the san diego natural history museum offers cruises with museumtrained naturalists, the museum whalers, who provide interpretation on board the hornblower whale and dolphinwatching cruises. To get the best opportunity to see an orca whale or pod of orca whales on a whale watching tour, heres some important information on killer whale season that will help. I have a couple of questions regarding the whales are there whales you can see from the shore, or. Whale watching in san diego san diego whale watching season. San diego whale watching charters san diego boat tours. And near the historic lighthouse at cabrillo national monument, whale.
Check the california whale migration season calendar and. Whale watching in san diego whale watching adventure. Apr 12, 2020 whale watching season december april enjoy whale watching in san diego. San diego whale watching tours whale cruises with hornblower. Offer can not be combined with any other offer or discount. If youre interested in a closer look at these majestic creatures, a host of sightseeing and tour operators in san diego offer a variety of whale watching excursions. San diego whale watching season best months for whale watching. So whale watching is in the area is available nearly all year round. Im a local but i have no idea when is a good time to go whale watching, hoping someone out there knows.
Jun 20, 2015 i took a 4 hour whale watching tour with next level sailing out of san diego on the yacht america, a replica of the worlds most famous racing yacht, which won the royal yacht squadrons 100. Daily whale watching cruises with birch aquarium at scripps continue through april 14. San diego s most experienced whale watching guided by flagships local knowledge and experts from birch aquarium each year approximately 20,000 gray whales migrate from the bering sea to the lagoons of baja california and back again. Each year thousands of california gray whales make the long trek from their feeding grounds in the nutrient rich arctic waters to calving grounds in baja, mexico. Renowned for our wide range of adventure offerings, we have unsurpassed expertise in the approach and observation of marine wildlife in their natural environment. An amazing sight is the fin whale who is one of the fastest swimmers. Our daily whale sightings have been recordbreaking. Whale watching report in san diego whale sightings. Our team at next level sailing provides the optimal experience with guides so experienced we received a 100 percent success rate last year when spotting the king of the deep. In california, whale watching is a popular thing for tourists to do, and its no wonder why.
Visit these centers and habitats to get upclose and personal looks at some of southern californias wildlife. Enjoy live educational narration from the captains and a trained naturalist from the san diego natural history museum. Watching season in san diego officially starts december 9. Its possible to see whales from the shore usually humpback whales spouting and jumping. San diego provides the perfect launching point for a whale watching tour in california. San diego things to do kayaking, golf, surfing, tours. Then, find your way to navy pier, where youll cruise out into the pacific ocean on a boat with both indoor or outdoor seating. Best time for whale watching in california condor express. The images you see on this page were all taken on our vessel, and our us coast guard certified captain also has a license with the faa that allows him to fly photography drones on your trip. See gray whales as they migrate along the san diego coast to and from baja california. Whale watching season is all year long in san diego. In san diego, we also have two major seasons when we see the gray whale migration pass by us from november to may and the blue whale season from may to october. Watch the seasonal migration of california grey whales and blue whales off the san diego coast up close and personal.
Using both traveler sentiment and expert opinion, u. San diego whale watching season starts in december. The san diego public library is a popular destination that connects our diverse community to free educational and cultural resources that will enrich their lives. Whale watching specials whale watching discount tickets. Dolphin and whale watching tours out of san diego range from adventurous to relaxed, suitable for the whole family or geared to the avid naturalist. San diego whale watching showcased for coast guard families.
Whale watching in february san diego forum tripadvisor. San diego boat tours offers whale watching charters with an experienced and knowledgeable captain for private group excursions in the pacific ocean near san diego. We will discuss the migration itself, including the typical route taken by gray whales and the purpose for their migratory behavior. For detailed info on whale watching season in san diego see this blog. May through november the mighty blue whales along with finback whales can be seen off the coast of san diego. Whale watching is a fun thing to do near carlsbad and its visitors enjoy not just whales but dolphins and the beautiful scenery that san diego whale watching and whale watching dana point in newport beach sightings takes place on board our cruises. In honoring the terms of our conservation loan agreement with the peoples republic of china, 27yearold bai yun and her son, 6yearold xiao liwu, have been repatriated to. The san diego area has become a world class destination for viewing marine wildlife. Summer whale watching has started, and so far calm seas and warm weather have prevailed. Choose between a morning or afternoon whale watching tour from san diego. Whether you are from the southern california area or coming from any location around the world, it is well worth the trip for this whale watching tour that never goes out of season. Weve seen them from santa maria beach after snorkeling there. Your whale watching cruise is available at an affordable price on our historic boat, the privateer.
Were thinking of visiting san diego in february, 2009. San diego whale watch all you need to know before you go. San diego whale watching deals in san diego, ca groupon. Traditionally, whale watching season runs from december through april. Magnificent whales pass through san diegos coastal waters on their way to and from their breeding grounds. Whale and dolphin watching tour or sunset couples cruise from tailwalker sportfishing up to 67% off. Cast off from san diego harbor and head into the waters of san diego bay in search of the majestic california gray whale. Jan 18, 2011 sea lions have also been plentiful, and a few shy harbor seals were seen within san diego bay. We had an awesome time spotting blue whales off san diego aboard the mv privateer. Hornblower san diego whale watching gives you the opportunity to see plenty of cool animals in the water. Whale watching at cabrillo national monument the high cliffs of point loma in cabrillo national monument make a wonderful vantage point to watch the grays as they parade by close to shore. During december through april, in san diego we have our annual gray whale migration where more than 20,000 of these whales pass right by us offshore. This video was filmed in san diego aboard the adventure hornblower whale watching boat which departs from downtown. Whale watching season san diego december through april students will learn about the gray whale migration, the longest up to 12,000 miles roundtrip migration of any mammal on earth.
Because these two types of whales migrate at different times, whale season is usually a yearround event in san diego. Whale watching cruise for one from hornblower cruises up to 37% off. When you book a trip with us, prepare for the best whale watching in san diego. Whale watching san diego hornblower even has a snack bar on the boat to keep you happy and full. When youre booking san diego tours or looking for things to do in san diego with kids, definitely include taking a whale watching tour on your list. Whale watching off san diego will tharsheblows you away posted by chris stone on february 20, 2020 in life 508 views comments leave a comment. The nat blue whale watching san diego natural history. San diegos marine life is very active, and one of the more interesting things to see while in town is the migration of the whale pods, or in other words, whale watching in san diego. Magnificent whales pass through san diego s coastal waters on their way to and from their breeding grounds. Reaching lengths of nearly 100 feet, the blue whale is a sight to behold as it breaches the waters of the pacific ocean. San diego and the point loma region have become a premier global destination for viewing marine wildlife. Book your tickets online for san diego whale watch, san diego. Its only week two of the whalewatching season with birch aquarium. The zoo has many sponsored programs, however they will change by the season.
Whether by land or by sea, san diego is one of californias best spots for whale watching. Whale watching can be had yearround in the waters off san diego, california, and if youre lucky, you may catch an aweinspiring aerial display. Visit san diego from middecember to midmarch to see more than 25,000 california gray whales migrating from chilly alaskan waters. This year we spotted our first blue whale on april 27th. Hornblower san diego whale watching see whales up close and personal like never before. During the summer and fall months, blue whales migrate from their. During this whale watching season from december through april, witness this amazing journey off the coast of san diego on educational whale watching excursion. San diego winter whale watching expedition cruise 2020. Visitors to the san diego bay will regularly see sea lions, dolphin and seals swim right up to the shore. Legacy whale watch 1717 quivira rd san diego, ca boats.
San diego is home to one of the largest protected marine sanctuaries in southern california, and the rich environment attracts lots of marine mammals. We also see fin and humpback whales, plus many species of dolphin. However, because blue whales and gray whales migrate at different times of the year, whale watching season in san diego is open year round. December 30th, 2018 have you been whale watching with us yet. San diego hosts over 25,000 grey whales on their journey on their 10,000 mile journey. It takes place in summer and early fall, namely midjune to september. Newport landing whale watching has provided san diego residents and visitors a year round whale watching cruise option from newport beach just a short drive north of san diego. Whale watching in laguna san ignacio of the three locations in baja california where the gray whales make an appearance each year, laguna san ignacio is regarded as the best. Departing from one of the closest marinas to the pacific with the option of sailing in the bay, or open water. Click here to learn more about san diego whale watching. The southern coastal location of san diego with its unique mediterranean climate is comfortable for humans and marine mammals alike. Know season and schedule for baja whale watching tours and.
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