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Monday 7am - 6pm Tuesday 7am - 5pm Wednesday 7am - 6pm Thursday 7am - 6pm Friday 7am - 6pm Saturday 7am - 6pm Sunday 7am - 5pm

Capt. Dave's Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari

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Dana Point, CA
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.

01/20/2025

This Monday, we’re marveling at sightings of the magnificent miniature mitten-wearing Minke! These mesmerizing marine mammals are the smallest rorqual and easily identified by the bright white areas on their pectoral fins lovingly referred to as ‘mittens’. What would you call those bright patches instead of mittens? -JO

For sightings like these and more, visit dolphinsafari.com!

(📸 Hannah Walsh 1.17.2025)
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01/19/2025

What color are dolphins? Your go-to answer might be gray, however dolphins have a variety of unique and beautiful color patterns. The Pacific white-sided dolphin has a distinct black, white, and gray pattern, while the common dolphin has a beautiful range of grays, blues, whites, and even light cream or yellow. It's amazing how nature creates such stunning creatures. Do you have a favorite? -JO

Come see the colors of nature with us! Book your tour at dolphinsafari.com.

(📸: Matt Stumpf)
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01/18/2025

Seeing this beautiful gray whale made us feel like singing!

“What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me”
-Kermit the Frog

Come with us for a wildlife adventure! Book your tour at dolphinsafari.com.

(📸 Matt Stumpf 1.5.2025)
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01/17/2025

This flashback Friday, we’re remembering a little mishap that made us laugh. Dolphins and humpback whales both feed on small baitfish, leading to occasional overlap in feeding areas. Due to their size difference, collisions can occur. This amusing incident occurred a month ago when a dolphin inadvertently obstructed a humpback whale. They’re both fine, but we’re definitely feeling that secondhand embarrassment for the dolphin. Can you relate? -JO

For unexpected moments and amazing memories, book a tour with us at dolphinsafari.com!

(📸 Matt Stumpf 12.7.24)
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01/15/2025

It’s Whale Wednesday! In today’s spotlight is the beautiful and speedy fin whale. Did you know? Fin whales live around 80 or 90 years so it’s quite possible to be the same age as a fin whale when you see one while whale watching! We’re lucky to have the ability to see these awesome animals at any time of the year here in Dana Point. How would you celebrate seeing a fin whale with the same birth year as you? -JO

For an adventure unlike any other, join us at dolphinsafari.com!

(📸: Matt Stumpf 1.6.25 & Stacie Fox 11.5.24)
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01/14/2025

01/13/2025

Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the devastating fires in Southern California. We extend our deepest condolences to the individuals and families who have suffered loss during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the courageous firefighters who continue to heroically fight the flames with unwavering dedication.

We stand together in solidarity and support for all those affected by this crisis and are endlessly grateful for those who have come together to offer assistance and comfort to those in need during this challenging period.

Within it all, the crew here at Capt. Dave’s hope to bring a sense of peace from the sea. We offer this moment of serenity, a breath of calm, and the hope that loved ones are safe and near. -JO

(📸 Matt Stumpf 10.19.2024)
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01/12/2025

Welcome to Sunday school! Funnily enough, fish and dolphins have something in common besides fins and swimming. A group of fish is well known as being called a school, but did you know a group of dolphins can be called either a pod or a school? Regardless, we love it when the moment strikes that we have both types of schools collide. We’re not sure the fish enjoy it overly much though. Would you rather be in a school of fish or dolphins? -JO

Join us for a “dolphinitely” good time! Book your trip at dolphinsafari.com.

( 📸: Jay Spring Photography & Matt Stumpf 12.7.24, 1.4.25, & 1.5.25)
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01/11/2025

Did you know that gray whales are celebrated here in Dana Point? Each year, we look forward to the Festival of Whales, which takes place in March and honors these incredible visitors who pass through our area throughout their migration. If you’re looking for a way to share the joy of marine life with a whole community, don’t miss it. When do you plan to join us? -JO

Come onboard anytime for a wildlife lover’s dream! Book your tour at dolphinsafari.com.

( 📸: Matt Stumpf 12.21.24 & 12.22.24)
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01/10/2025

What did we see in January last year? We took a flashback Friday look and revisited some fun images. It can be truly amazing off Southern California’s beautiful coastline. What do you think this year has in store for us? -JO

Come join us for an adventure in 2025! Book your tour at dolphinsafari.com.

(📸 Matt Stumpf, Caitlyn Nieblas, William Janowiak & Stacie Fox 2024)
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01/09/2025

From all of us here at Dolphin Safari, we wish to offer our heartfelt condolences to those who have been affected by the recent fires across Southern California. We also offer up our thoughts and prayers to those brave firefighters who have been working tirelessly to save lives and homes.

01/08/2025

Gray whales may seem elusive when we see them, but it only adds to their charm. Seeing those beautiful flukes crest the surface makes it all that more rewarding. Do you have a favorite moment viewing a gray whale? -JO

Come with us for a wildlife adventure! Book your tour at dolphinsafari.com.

(📸 Matt Stumpf 1.5.2025)
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01/07/2025

01/06/2025

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”-Vincent van Gogh

We’re grateful to see gray whales venture our way once again. They add so much beauty and joy to our area without even realizing it. -JO

See the glory of nature in style! Book a public or private tour at dolphinsafari.com.

( 📸: Matt Stumpf 1.4.25)
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01/05/2025

Happy National Bird Day!

We’d like to shine a spotlight on the amazing local marine birds we see. Although shorebirds aren’t always the most exciting compared to whales and dolphins, they still play a crucial role in the ocean ecosystem, and ocean trash and fishing gear affect them as well. You can help by donating to local non-profits dedicated to improving the survival of endangered birds. What kind of bird would you want to see on the ocean? -JO

See animals of all kinds on a tour with us! Book your adventure cruise at dolphinsafari.com.
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01/04/2025

Today is National Trivia Day, so here are 5 fun trivia facts that you can wow your friends with:

-Gray whales are the only baleen whales that are bottom feeders, filtering sand or mud from the seafloor to eat the tiny crustaceans that live there.

-Dolphins don’t chew the fish they catch and swallow their prey whole.

-Humpback whales use a technique called "bubble net feeding" to trap plankton and small fish near the water’s surface and easily scoop them up in one gulp. This is considered tool use, which suggests social learning and is a marker of intelligence.

-A Risso's dolphin typically only has 14 teeth, and those sit in their lower jaw.

--Currently, there are 42 dolphin species with 38 members belonging to the oceanic dolphin family.

Are there any other whale and dolphin facts you love that you learned from our crew? -JO

Come onboard for fun facts and relaxing vibes. Book your trip at dolphinsafari.com!

(📸: Matt Stumpf, Jay Spring Photography, & Caitlyn Nieblas)
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01/03/2025

What is it about them that makes dolphins such an inspiration to humans?

We’re not entirely sure either but they definitely have that certain something that strikes a tune with our souls. This connection is powerful and we’re glad to guide a multitude of people each year to greet these amazing animals.
Have you had a moment with dolphins while on a tour with us?- JO

Find an ocean of adventure with us! Book your trip at dolphinsafari.com.

( 📸: Matt Stumpf 12.30.24, Hannah Walsh 12.31.24, & Caitlyn Nieblas 1.1.25)
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Address

24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive
Dana Point, CA
92629

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 6pm
Tuesday	7am - 5pm
Wednesday	7am - 6pm
Thursday	7am - 6pm
Friday	7am - 6pm
Saturday	7am - 6pm
Sunday	7am - 5pm

Website

https://www.dolphinsafari.com/

Alerts

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Videos

On Friday, we were incredibly fortunate to witness a pod of Common Dolphins stampeding for over 30 minutes! We may never know exactly when or why a group of dolphins decides to exhibit this behavior, but one thing is certain: it’s always a favorite among both our crew and passengers. -MS • • • • (📸 Matt Stumpf 1.3.2025) • • • • #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

These cold winter days remind us of the warm summer afternoons we got to spend with our Bryde’s Whale friends. These beautiful whales make their way to our coast when the water is warm, usually in the late summer. -MS • • • • ( 📸: Matt Stumpf 9/22/2024) • • • • #whale #whales #whalewatching #brydeswhale #awesomeearth #naturesbeauty #natureaddict #naturephoto #wildlife #wildlifepage #sealife #marinelife #marinewildlife @mydanapoint @danapointharbor @DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia #socal #danapoint #visitcalifornia #californiaadventure #californiadreaming #captdaves

As we wind down the year, we look back on all the exciting moments we experienced. However, some of the moments that stayed with us the most were the quiet, serene, and beautiful ones we shared with those we love. -MS • • • • (📸 Matt Stumpf 6.15.2024) • • • • #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

What a day! Passengers aboard our RHIB AllSwell got to cross seeing ORCAS off of their bucket list! This pod, identified as members of the CA51 pod, moved up the coast throughout the day and we got lucky enough to see them for many breath cycles. It is likely that they have moved out of our area, but today’s sighting shows you can never guess what you will see on the water! • • • • 📸 Hannah Rich 12.27.24 • • • • #whalewatching #whalewatchingtour #dolphins #orca #orcaencounter #orcapod #orcalove #killerwhale #blackfish #natureshots #naturecaptures #aerialphotography #droneofficial #intense #drama #omg #predator #wow #apexpredator #danapoint #ExperiencetheConnection #captdaves #wildlifephotography #wildlife #ocean @visitdanapoint @danapointharbor @DanaPointChamber @visitcalifornia

From all of us here at Capt. Dave’s we wish you and your pod safety, prosperity and the Happiest of Holidays! • • • • (📸 Matt Stumpf 8.18.2024) • • • • #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

All right, we’ll admit it, seeing whales during golden hour is pretty amazing… -MS • • • • ( 📸: Matt Stumpf 12.21.2024) • • • • #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

Our tagline here at Dolphin Safari is “experience the connection” and we gotta say, when you are eye to eye with a dolphin as it swims and plays next to you in its natural habitat, those words ring particularly true! -MS • • • • (📸 Matt Stumpf 8.22.2024) • • • • #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

Shortcuts

Our Story

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