Capt. Dave's Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari
Capt. The most unique dolphin and whale watching in the world! Our eco-friendly high-tech catamaran “Manute’a” is never crowded with a maximum of 49 passengers.
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Dave's Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari provides the world's best and most unforgettable, eco-friendly experiences that connect valued guests with dolphins and whales in life-changing ways. Daily, year round, Dana Point whale watching trips aboard high-tech, high-speed, Catamaran Sailboat can get you up close & personal with magnificent blue whales (May - Nov.), gray whales (Dec. - May),
fin whales, humpback whales, and minke whales, plus five species of wild dolphins that can number in herds up to 10,000 and more, for an educational and incredibly exciting whale watching experience. Be one of the pod and feel what it’s like to swim with dolphins and whales without getting wet in our two Eye to Eye Underwater Viewing Pods. Knowledgeable marine naturalists explain how these animals live while you see and touch our collection of whale and dolphin artifacts. And Mrs. Dave’s yummy triple fudge brownies are served as a special treat.
03/25/2025
This past Saturday, we were fortunate to witness an extraordinary spectacle: EIGHT majestic Gray Whales migrating together up the coast. These incredible whales rolled around and interacted with one another, reveling in the companionship as they journeyed along this stretch of their migration. -MS
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📸Matt Stumpf
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03/24/2025
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” -Frank Lloyd Wright
Being out in nature is a simple joy we delight in daily. It also doesn’t hurt that we get awesome sightings of marine mammals to accompany us. Do dolphins make you smile? -JO
Looking for some springtime fun? Book a trip at dolphinsafari.com!
(📷: Matt Stumpf 3.17.25)
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03/23/2025
You might think birds wouldn’t play a huge role in our trips, but that’s not the case! We see birds of varying kinds both onshore and on the water, like in this case, barn swallows and brown pelicans. These bird species are beautiful reminders of California’s unique and notable wildlife. We experience the wonder of nature in many ways on our trips, but what’s your favorite?- JO
A little birdie told us you were looking for adventure! Join us at dolphinsafari.com.
(📸 Jay Spring Photography; 4.29.24, 10.19.24 & 10.21.24 )
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03/22/2025
It’s World Water Day! We’re surrounded by it daily and delight in the marine life that depends on it, but we know not all places are so lucky to have the access that we do. That’s why we’ve partnered with Wells For Life.
This nonprofit organization in South Orange County has dug over 900 new wells and repaired over 400 water wells in Uganda in just the last 12 years! We donated our first two wells at the end of 2024 and hope to sponsor another five wells in 2025 by donating half the sales from portraits sold during our trips. We want to help break the barriers of water scarcity.
Please join our mission by walking, running, or donating to Run4Water on May 3 in Fountain Valley, CA. With your help we hope to raise $4,000, and we're matching every dollar you raise.
Join or donate at https://wellsoflife.rallybound.org/Team/View/208327/Capt-Daves-Dolphin-Dream-Team
Will you join us in making a difference?
Have an amazing time on the ocean with us, and book your trip at dolphinsafari.com!
(📸 Hannah Walsh 3.20.25)
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03/21/2025
It’s International Day of Forests. For us, forests mean forests of the sea: kelp. Kelp grows in towering groups similar to forests on land and provides food and shelter for thousands of underwater species like fish, crustaceans, and marine mammals. The whales we see often use kelp in a behavior called ‘kelping’. Here are some examples of the whales we’ve seen enjoying these sea forests on our trips.
View the majesty of the sea with us! Book your tour at dolphinsafari.com
(📸 Stacie Fox 10.5.24 & Matt Stumpf &10.12.24)
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03/20/2025
Risso’s Dolphin are one of the more uncommon sightings we get, with months between sightings sometimes. To see these rare dolphin is a crew and passenger favorite treat!
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(📸 3.20.24)
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@visitcalifornia
03/19/2025
There are so many fun things to celebrate this week, but today, we’re taking a meditative moment to think about the sound of the waves, the feel of sea spray, and the sun's warm rays. While whales make trips exciting, there’s something about being on the water that settles the soul. Have you gotten your ‘vitamin sea’ recently? -JO
Join us for a wonderful day on the water at dolphinsafari.com!
(📸 Matt Stumpf 3.9.25)
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03/18/2025
Mid-March typically brings Gray Whales migrating north, but yesterday we were somewhat surprised by a lone whale heading south toward the lagoons of Baja. Perhaps this gentle giant was running late due to some St. Patrick’s Day festivities?
-MS
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03/17/2025
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We might not see a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but we’re not complaining. We hope some of today’s luck rubs off to bring you exceptional luck in spotting whales and dolphins in the coming future. -JO
For your best chance to spot a whale, join us at dolphinsafari.com!
📷: 11.25.24)
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03/16/2025
We’re taking cues from the gray whales today and gliding gracefully on through the weekend. It’s great to have a moment of serenity. Tell us your favorite gray whale inspired relaxation technique! -JO
Want a relaxing cruise and ocean views? Book your tour at dolphinsafari.com!
(📷: Matt Stumpf 3.8.25)
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03/15/2025
It’s time for another cetacean spotlight! One of the four dolphins we see most commonly in our area are Pacific white sided dolphins. These remarkable beauties are pelagic (open ocean dwellers) and have distinct body shapes and patterns that really set them apart! They aren’t as frequently sighted as common or bottlenose dolphins, so it’s even more fun when we get a moment with them. Have you seen Pacific White-Sided dolphins before? -JO
You’ll ‘dolphinitely’ have a blast if you join us! Book a trip at dolphinsafari.com.
How about some fin whales for Friday? While the weather might be a little gray and rainy, we thought we’d at least look back to some fun fin whales sightings from two weeks ago. Although gray whales (and clouds) have been in the spotlight, we still have other sightings, too! What do you hope to see on your next trip?-JO
Find a day full of fun with us! Book your trip at dolphinsafari.com.
(📷: Hannah Walsh 2.28.25)
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03/13/2025
It’s not easy being an Anchovy…-MS
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(📸 Matt Stumpf & Daelyn Daniloff 3.9.2025)
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03/12/2025
It’s Whale Wednesday, and we have a fun fact for you! Gray whales are bottom feeders. Ever try to pan for gold? Imagine every meal is as difficult, only you’re using your mouth instead of a sieve. It’s incredible that a 90,000-pound whale can obtain enough nutrients to eat its daily 2,000 pounds of food just from the ocean floor! -JO
Want to see them in action? Join us at dolphinsafari.com!
(📷: Matt Stumpf 3.8.25)
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03/11/2025
We can’t help it, here is even more footage from our incredible Festival of Whales sightings this weekend! -MS
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03/10/2025
The Festival of Whales was attended by so many fun loving festival goers, which also included the whales! We saw gray whales both days this weekend and we couldn’t be happier to know they got their invitation. Were you able to celebrate gray whales with us? -JO
Looking for a way to view wildlife? Join us at dolphinsafari.com!
(📷:Matt Stumpf 3.8.25)
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03/09/2025
We all spring forward today! As winter ends and we grow closer to a new season, we hope the change in time will bring sunny adventures and a blooming of curious minds. We hope you’ll join us for some amazing moments on the water this springtime! -JO
Come have an adventure! Book your trip at dolphinsafari.com.
(📷: Matt Stumpf 3.1.25)
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03/08/2025
The Festival of Whales is in full swing, and we thought we’d show our recent gray whale sightings in the celebratory spirit. How are you celebrating gray whales today? -JO
Want to join us onboard? Book your trip at dolphinsafari.com!
📷: Stacie Fox & Matt Stumpf 2.26.25 & 3.1.25)
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24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive Dana Point, CA 92629
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Videos
This past Saturday, we were fortunate to witness an extraordinary spectacle: EIGHT majestic Gray Whales migrating together up the coast. These incredible whales rolled around and interacted with one another, reveling in the companionship as they journeyed along this stretch of their migration. -MS
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📸Matt Stumpf
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#graywhale #whale #whales #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #migration #breach #breaching #leap #splash #makeasplash #animalbehaviour #discoverocean #naturephotography #naturallife #danapointharbor #visitdanapoint #visitcalifornia #explorecalifornia #creatingmemories #funthingstodo #stayandwander #beautifuldestinations
#letsgosomewhere #thingstodoinoc #captdaves @mydanapoint @danapointharbor
@DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia
@festivalofwhales
Risso’s Dolphin are one of the more uncommon sightings we get, with months between sightings sometimes. To see these rare dolphin is a crew and passenger favorite treat!
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(📸 @mattastumpf 3.20.24)
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#rissosdolphins #risso #dolphins #dolphin #dolphinwatching #dolphinswimming #cutedolphins #wildandfree #dolphinlove #dolphinlovers #glisten #sparkle #twilight #romance #hellofrom #socal #welivetoexplore #exploreeverything #optoutside #creatingmemories #naturallife #discover #majestic_earth #wildlifephotography #orangecounty #visitdanapoint #visitcalifornia #captdaves @mydanapoint @danapointharbor @DanaPointChamber@visitcalifornia
Mid-March typically brings Gray Whales migrating north, but yesterday we were somewhat surprised by a lone whale heading south toward the lagoons of Baja. Perhaps this gentle giant was running late due to some St. Patrick’s Day festivities?
-MS
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📸 @mattastumpf
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#graywhale #whale #whales #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #migration #breach #breaching #leap #splash #makeasplash #animalbehaviour #discoverocean #naturephotography #naturallife #danapointharbor #visitdanapoint #visitcalifornia #explorecalifornia #creatingmemories #funthingstodo #stayandwander #beautifuldestinations
#letsgosomewhere #thingstodoinoc #captdaves @mydanapoint @danapointharbor
@DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia
@festivalofwhales
We can’t help it, here is even more footage from our incredible Festival of Whales sightings this weekend! -MS
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📸 @mattastumpf
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#festivalofwhales #graywhale #whale #whales #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #migration #breach #breaching #leap #splash #makeasplash #animalbehaviour #discoverocean #naturephotography #naturallife #danapointharbor #visitdanapoint #visitcalifornia #explorecalifornia #creatingmemories #funthingstodo #stayandwander #beautifuldestinations
#letsgosomewhere #thingstodoinoc #captdaves @mydanapoint @danapointharbor
@DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia
@festivalofwhales
This weekend is the annual Festival of Whales! As we prepare for the festivities, let’s look back at some of the highlights from last year. -MS
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#festivalofwhales #graywhale #whale #whales #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #migration #breach #breaching #leap #splash #makeasplash #animalbehaviour #discoverocean #naturephotography #naturallife #danapointharbor #visitdanapoint #visitcalifornia #explorecalifornia #creatingmemories #funthingstodo #stayandwander #beautifuldestinations
#letsgosomewhere #thingstodoinoc #captdaves @mydanapoint @danapointharbor
@DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia
@festivalofwhales
Can anything be more beautiful than seeing an animal exercising its right to live wild and free? -MS
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(📸: Matt Stumpf 2.28.2025)
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#finwhale #whale #relax #takeabreak ##whales #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #splash #makeasplash #animalbehaviour #creatingmemories #funthingstodo #stayandwander #beautifuldestinations #letsgosomewhere #outdoorlife #thingstodoinoc #mydanapoint #danapointharbor #visitdanapoint #visitcalifornia #explorecalifornia #californiaadventure #captdaves @mydanapoint@danapointharbor
@DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia @festivalofwhales
While we love seeing Gray Whales on our trips, we also understand that they have been having a tough time over the past couple of years. Receding sea ice in their northern feeding grounds has presented a major problem for them. Algae grows at the bottom of that sea ice, and then as the ice melts, the algae gets deposited to the sea floor. The ecosystem on the seafloor is dependent upon the algae to feed, and in turn the Whales are dependent upon that ecosystem for food. So in summary, less see ice translates to harder times for Gray Whales. -MS
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( 📸: Matt Stumpf)
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#graywhale #whale #whales #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #wildlifeonearth
#wildlifeperfection #seacreatures #amazinganimals #oceananimals #naturesbeauty #natureswonder #natureaddict #optoutside #creatingmemories #funthingstodo #stayandwander #letsgosomewhere #thingstodoinoc #boatcruise #boatcharter @mydanapoint @danapointharbor
@DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia #socal #orangecountyca #californialove #danapointharbor
#californiacoast #captdaves
We are accustom to seeing big pods of dolphin off of our coast, but we don’t see big rafts of sea lions nearly as frequently. Recently we have been seeing large groups of sea lions off of south Orange County. You never know when you are going to be treated to giant groups of these amazing animals. - MS
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📸 Matt Stumpf
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#sealion #sealions #sealife #marinelife #marinewildlife #marinemammals #wildlifephotography #wildlifephoto #discoverwildlife #wildlifefirst #cuteanimals #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeperfection #naturephoto #nature_brilliance #naturephotography #funthingstodo #stayandwander #hellofrom #socal #danapoint #mydanapoint #danapointharbor #visitdanapoint #visitcalifornia #captdaves @mydanapoint @danapointharbor
@DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia @pacificmmc
While today’s weather is keeping us on the docks, we’re reminiscing about last March when this beautiful trio of Gray Whales was spotted migrating up the coast. The first to depart the lagoons in Baja are usually the expecting mothers, who need to start feeding as soon as possible, followed by the males, and finally, the new moms and their calves. -MS
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( 📸: Matt Stumpf 3.13.2024)
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#graywhale #whale #whales #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #wildlifeonearth
#wildlifeperfection #seacreatures #amazinganimals #oceananimals #naturesbeauty #natureswonder #natureaddict #optoutside #creatingmemories #funthingstodo #stayandwander #letsgosomewhere #thingstodoinoc #boatcruise #boatcharter @mydanapoint @danapointharbor
@DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia #socal #orangecountyca #californialove #danapointharbor
#californiacoast #captdaves
While our crew gives excellent naturalist commentary throughout our trips, we do have a soft spot for what our passengers have to say! -MS
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(📸 Matt Stumpf 2.10.2025)
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#commondolphin #dolphins #dolphin
#dolphinwatching #dolphinswimming #cutedolphins #wildandfree #dolphinlove #dolphinlovers #splash #makeasplash #discoverwildlife #wildlifefirst #cuteanimals #wildlifeonearth #seacreatures #discoverocean #lovethesea #naturephotography #naturallife #discover @mydanapoint @danapointharbor @DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia #hellofrom #socal #orangecounty #visitdanapoint #explorecalifornia #californialife
#californiacoast #captdaves
Over 20 years ago Capt. Dave was living on his boat in Dana Point Harbor and taking small groups of people out to see the huge herds of wild dolphins and amazing whales off the Southern California coast. When he told other boaters about what he saw they were amazed. Capt. Dave realized if the people who live on their boats don't know what lives off their coast, then who does?
Capt. Dave eventually traded in his small sailboat for a 35-foot catamaran sailboat with a capacity to carry 24 passengers. It was aboard this vessel, “DolphinSafari.com”, during regular trips, that Capt. Dave filmed his documentary, Wild Dolphins & Whales of Southern California. It ended up winning eight awards at two of the world’s biggest wildlife film festivals: the International Wildlife Film Festival and Wildscreen in England, the ‘Academy Awards’ of wildlife films. “DolphinSafari.com” was the first vessel in Southern California to offer YEAR ROUND dolphin watching trips.
In 2007 Capt. Dave added a second catamaran sailboat to his fleet. “Manute’a” was 50 feet long and carried up to 49 passengers. Like his first catamaran, “Manute’a” also had Eye-Spy Tram Nets for up close and personal viewing of the whales and dolphins. A couple of years later Capt. Dave upgraded “Manute’a” with one of his most innovative ideas: an Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pod. The Pods (he added second Pod two years later) gave passengers the opportunity to feel what it’s like to swim with wild dolphins without having to jump in the water!
In 2007 Capt. Dave added a second catamaran sailboat to his fleet. “Manute’a” was 50 feet long and carried up to 49 passengers. Like his first catamaran, “Manute’a” also had Eye-Spy Tram Nets for up close and personal viewing of the whales and dolphins. A couple of years later Capt. Dave upgraded “Manute’a” with one of his most innovative ideas: an Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pod. The Pods (he added the second Pod two years later) gave passengers the opportunity to feel what it’s like to swim with wild dolphins without having to jump in the water!
“Lily”, a 65-foot power catamaran, was welcomed into the expanding fleet in October 2013. In addition to luxury accommodations such as a bow with cushioned bow seating and rails enclosed with Lexan® glass for wind protection, “Lily” is also equipped to respond to a whale in distress. She can host and feed an entire rescue team and stay with the whale for days until it is successfully disentangled.
During the summer of 2009, Capt. Dave launched another special feature on “Manute’a”: WhaleWatchingTV. Long before Facebook, Instagram, and other social media apps were doing live video, Capt. Dave had the idea to broadcast his trips live on the internet. He outfitted the boat with seven cameras and microphones on the crew so everyone around the world could see whales and dolphins live on their computers.king events that help feed starving children and families. Proceeds from the sales of Capt. Dave’s award-winning book and DVD go to support this cause.
From special trips and custom boat features to drone photography and more, Capt. Dave continues to seek new and ground breaking ways to introduce passengers to the incredible wildlife off the coast of Dana Point, California. And yes, we continue to serve Mrs. Capt. Dave’s famously delicious Triple Fudge Brownies! We are committed to providing the most unique whale watching tour in the world!
In addition to our daily, year-round, dolphin and whale watching safaris, we are proud to be giving back to the environment and to the community. Capt. Dave founded and organized Orange County's first whale rescue group. He persists in his efforts to rescue entangled whales and find new methods for reducing the number of entanglements. We are also honored to partner with Kids Around the World for annual meal packing events that help feed starving children and families. Proceeds from the sales of Capt. Dave’s award winning book and DVD go to support this cause.
To reserve for our safaris, give us a call at 949-488-2828 or visit www.dolphinsafari.com