Are the boats safe?

Our vessels are inspected and recertified every year by the coast guard to the highest level of safety and compliance. Throughout the year they are consistently maintained and updated by qualified technicians. We use high quality commercial grade navigational equipment and all of our crew are AHA first aid and cpr certified.

The patrol style RHIB boats in our fleet are the same that are used around the world for government, commercial, research and as luxury yacht tenders.

What should I wear/bring?

Weather and temperature can change quickly on the water, so it is highly recommended to bring at least one extra layer of comfortable clothing. That way you can stay comfortable if it cools off or heats up out there.

Sunscreen and eye protection! It is extremely important to bring and apply sunscreen, especially since a cool ocean breeze can sometimes mask the feeling of getting too much sun. Imagine that you are spending a couple hours laying out on the beach. Good sunglasses will also greatly improve the enjoyability of your experience and can even make it easier to see the animals through the surface glare of the water.

Also, don’t forget that camera!

What will we see out there?

Southern California is blessed with good weather and ocean wildlife year round. Every time we go out, we have a great chance of finding a friendly pod of the famous Common Dolphins. The Bottlenose Dolphins are also a year-round local favorite. Many other animals are seasonal:

Summer: This is when we hope to find Blue Whales, the largest of all animals on earth! Also we can see Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Risso’s Dolphins, Minke Whales, Brydes Whales, Sei Whales and occasionally even Orcas.

Fall: We begin to see the first of the migrating Gray Whales heading south. Every year these amazing animals make the journey from north of Alaska to Baja California and back again. They pass our shore in both directions and put on a great show for lucky whale watchers. We can also see Humpback Whales, Fin Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins this time of year. 

Winter: This is the peak season for witnessing the incredible Gray Whale migration as they make their way to the breeding lagoons in Baja California. In fact, many give birth on the way near Long Beach and so it is possible to see extremely young baby whales with their mothers. The Pacific Whitesided Dolphins settle in for the winter and feed in the shallow waters near the coast, sometimes mingling with the year-round Common and Bottlenose Dolphins.

Spring: This is a great time of year for finding Humpback Whales, some early Blue Whales searching for Krill, and of course, the last of the Gray Whales returning north. Most of the Spring Gray Whales are cow/calf (mom and baby) pairs staying very close to shore and even pausing to nurse in the protected coves along the coast of SoCal.

Am I guaranteed to see whales?

The wild dolphins and whales of Southern California are exactly that, wild! That is the beauty and also the challenge of experiencing them in their natural habitat. Our captains and crew are experienced and proficient at finding the wildlife and will always go the extra mile to deliver the experience our guests are here for. We have a very high success rate in finding dolphins, whales or both on every trip throughout the year, however it is not 100 percent. That is the nature of nature.

So while dolphins or whales cannot be guaranteed, our success rate is high enough that we offer a “do-over” in the rare case of a trip with no dolphin or whale sightings. That means that if no dolphins or whales are found, each guest on that trip is offered a free trip redeemable any time within the following year.

How close do we get?

A close encounter with one of the largest animals to have ever lived is an unforgettable experience. With that said, our highest priority is both the safety of our guests and the wellbeing of the wildlife we so dearly love. As a rule we approach all species of whales cautiously and respectfully to avoid stressing them or interfering with their natural behavior. Lucky for us, sometimes these majestic creatures have other plans and approach us to interact. We always let the whales dictate the proximity, they are gentle giants and deserve their space.

Dolphins, on the other hand, are almost always highly interested in the boat and the guests, and will go out of their way to interact. These playful and spirited cetaceans very often steal the show and are all the kids talk about the whole way back to the dock!