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

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

Capt. Dave's Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari
5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Whale watch with Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari in Dana Point on our high-tech sailing catamaran year round, with two Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods. For 20 years Captain Dave's has provided daily trips to see dolphins, up to 10,000 strong, leap and play right off our bow, plus Gray Whales (December through April), Blue Whales (May through November), and year round Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, and so much more. Go underwater with whales and dolphins without getting wet during your whale watch in our Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods aboard Manute'a. Listen to dolphins during your whale watching safari with our underwater Hydrophone. Celebrity and certified naturalists make this exciting Dana Point whale watching excursion educational and entertaining too. Mrs. Capt. Dave's famous triple-fudge brownies make this a one-of-a-kind dolphin and whale watching adventure unforgettable. We are a real Eco-tourism company providing only sustainable wildlife viewing. Ask about Fast Cat, our upscale Rigid Hull Inflatable Catamaran and the newest boat in our whale watching fleet.
Dana Point, California
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024

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Tours and Tickets by Capt. Dave's Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari
Travelers talk about

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,955 reviews
Excellent
1,781
Very good
123
Average
24
Poor
14
Terrible
13

kelpzone
Riverside, CA3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Family
Since we couldn’t make the trip for our late summer anniversary we decided January 1 would be a great way to start the year. We were concerned when we hit fog 40 minutes away from Dana Point. The weather never improved much, but any trip with your sweetheart is worthwhile, and we knew based on our several trips with Dolphin & Whale Safari that even with challenging weather Dave’s Crew would do their very best. Once again we were not disappointed. (Shout out to Manute'a crew Capt. Alex, Naturalist/Photographer Caitlyn, and first mate Alex!) The crew doggedly searched while all the other whale watching groups were staying in touch by radio while doing the same. Just as Captain Alex was about to head back due to the time we found the superpod of common dolphin (which he radioed to all the other groups), estimated at least 1000 strong. Though we were technically supposed to be on our way back the team worked to allow everyone who wanted to a moment down in the viewing pod for that eye-to-eye experience. We’ve been before, But my sweetie’s knee’s aren’t up to steep stairs or ladders any more. We enjoyed see plenty of action topside. Normally one of the services offered (for a reasonable price) is your party’s photo surrounded by pics of the actual whales/dolphins photographed on your trip, but we were so late seeing the dolphins there was no time for Caitlyn to get the edits done. She drew from her bank of photos to create a great “frame” then she provided the photo at no charge. You’ll get an email with link to buy your digital album download (which we did).
When we finally headed back everyone seemed to be basking in the the memory of an unforgettable experience. Topping it off was Mrs.Dave’s Brownies as we headed down the dock. My sweetie said they’re always very moist and delicious. (I can’t do the carbs any more.) So long as we’re able to make it to Dave’s we’ll be back. They’re the best!
Written January 4, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review, and for continuing to choose Capt. Dave's! It's wonderful that we were able to share an exciting dolphin superpod with you and your sweetie! I'm very glad that you were satisfied with our crew's efforts to show you as much as possible, as well as the souvenir photo and Mrs. Capt. Dave's delicious complimentary brownies. We're so grateful for your support and we look forward to seeing you next time!
Written January 6, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Julia N
Washington DC, DC8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
We went on an overcast Monday afternoon on the 2pm tour on the Manute’a boat on July 3rd. The boat was great with plenty of seating even though it was full. We saw several fin whales in different locations and it was so moving to see them that some in our group teared up! The captain was quick to find the whales and keep on them before they dove down after several breaths. The narration and information were top notch too! We then found hundreds of dolphins and stayed with them for at least 30 minutes while we went down below in the underwater viewing pods to watch them swimming under the water! This was amazing to see! We also went to the front of the boat and watched them swim on the surface as fast as the boat and could hear and get splashed by them taking breaths! Yes, this tour was more expensive than others but it was well worth it! It was our favorite activity of the week! At the end they printed a large 8x10 picture of your group surrounded by all the marine life we saw (professional close-up photos) for $15 or you can purchase it digital! When we compared online the sightings counts for this tour and others Capt. Dave's sees many more whales for some reason so we decided on the tour based on that originally. We would come back again and again for that and many other reasons now! Thank you so much Captain Dave's!
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Julia, thanks for this wonderful detailed review! It's so exciting that you encountered multiple Fin Whales and hundreds of dolphins while out on the water with us. I'm happy that you were comfortable on board and enjoyed the unique features of the boat during the ride for the most up-close experience possible! We appreciate the 5 stars and hope you can visit us again soon!
Written July 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jason M
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Solo
Over the last few months I have been taking whale watching tours from multiple companies, from multiple spots in Orange County. I have to say, I don’t normally write reviews for anything, but Captains Hannah and Chuck of Captain Dave’s Dana Point Whale Watching were the best, by far. The others are all good, I didn’t have a bad tour. But this tour was the best by a significant margin.

Captain Chuck was great, he was supporting Captain Hannah who was at the helm and spotting cetaceans. She has a super sharp eye and expertly took us right to a large pod of common dolphin and to a pod of bottlenose. Both captains enhanced the experience by sharing their passion for it. Captain Hannah especially seemed genuinely excited to see the animals, even though it’s her job day in and day out. That genuine energy rubs off on the passengers. Some folks maybe can fake that, but Captain Hannah’s was real. It’s hard to describe but you know it when you see it. She shared her knowledge freely and passionately with us. Other tours have a script they mostly stick to. While that’s effective and serves its purpose, especially for large groups, infusing some fun personality into the smaller tour group on Allswell, in my estimation, made for a much better, unscripted experience.

Honestly, whale watching has become something I knew I would enjoy but didn’t know it would be to this degree. I was almost shopping around the coast for the best one to go back to repeatedly. It looks like Captain Dave’s will be that place for me.

I can’t say enough good things about the Captains and I appreciate the fun conversation between cetacean sightings and on the way back in. I had a blast. I hope I get Captain Hannah and/or Captain Chuck next time, which will be very soon.
Written August 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Jason, thank you for the 5 stars! I'm so glad that Chuck and Hannah made sure you had a fun, unforgettable ride, with up-close views of different kinds of dolphins and interesting conversations. We appreciate the great feedback about our service, and we love knowing you'll be back soon for another exciting dolphin and whale watching safari! See you then!
Written August 26, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

melfreeman08
Irvine13 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Family
We’ve done the Christmas boat parade with this company for 3+ years and while the boat and the experience itself is 5 stars the boarding is a nightmare. Each year they call me immediately after booking to review the procedures- fine, but overkill. Then day of they call me 30 mins prior to boarding asking where I am. I am parking. They then borderline harass me into thinking I am late. Meanwhile they did not let us board the actual ship until 6:02- which was 27 minutes prior to when I was standing in line to board. So we stand there in line in the cold doing nothing. I get you are a small business, but honestly I should NOT for the price I pay be obligated to stand in your line for 30 minutes because you want me too. I even heard the woman tell a person parking (20 minutes prior to departure) that she was late. Insane. The only people late was Dave. We were late to board and I should not have to wait 30 minutes for that. Last time we ride with them. Ridiculous.
Written December 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Melanie, Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about your experience. We're grateful that you have continued to choose us for the fun, festive boat parade trips, but I'm so sorry that you didn't feel like your most recent trip rated 5 stars. We strive for top-notch customer service, which includes communication. We want to make sure the details in the bookings are correct, that confirmation emails are received, and that our guests know where to go, including making sure no one is lost. This is all especially important during busy times such as the boat parade. On the night of your trip, we had multiple boats going out, and in fact several of the guests booked on our catamaran Manute'a were lost and had to be guided in by our Dolphin Deck staff. This caused Manute'a to depart late, which in turn delayed the boarding of your assigned vessel, Hoku Nai'a. Even so, Hoku Nai'a only departed 12 minutes late and was still on time for the parade. Additionally, we'd like to respectfully explain that Capt. Dave was not even working that night, so he could not have been late as you mentioned. Checking in so many passengers for a big event such as this is certainly more of an undertaking, and parking is more of a challenge, so we always ask guests to arrive 45-60 minutes early. It's definitely never our intention to harass or make you feel like you're late. We were trying our best to make sure everyone was accounted for and in the correct spot for their assigned vessel. Having guests wait in line before boarding like this is not uncommon among companies who participate in the boat parade. But we do wish we could have made you feel more comfortable while waiting to board, and we'll keep your insights in mind as we prepare for next year's parade trips. Once again we are so sorry that you weren't happy with how the boarding went for your trip. Your feedback is important as we welcome the chance to improve, and we hope to see you again in the future.
Written December 16, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jennifer E
Laguna Niguel, CA7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Family
Captain Dave’s whale watching whale watching was the highlight of our trip to Dana point California. We had Captain Neil and Stacie they were excellent. Stacie was very knowledgeable about the marine life and made sure our family had a great time. I highly recommend doing a private charter it was well worth the money and look forward to coming back and doing it again. Thank you for making such a wonderful memory for our family for Mother’s Day weekend.
Written May 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the 5-star review, Jennifer! It’s wonderful that you had a memorable private charter, and that you were satisfied with our Captain and crew. We loved having you out on the water with us to view the amazing marine wildlife! We appreciate the recommendation and hope you can visit us again soon.
Written May 8, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

glendacarlos
Houston, TX1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
My husband had an amazing whale watching experience. The crew, Will and Lauren were fantastic, and Captain Danny led us to excellent whale watching locations. We were able to enjoy multiple humpbacks breaching, and even saw a minke whale doing the same. We highly recommend this tour group to anyone looking for an awesome whale watching experience. Thank you Captain Dave's for a "whale" of a time.
Written November 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Glenda, I'm thrilled that you and your husband had an amazing time getting up close and personal with different kinds of breaching whales! It's fantastic that you liked our crew, and we appreciate the high rating and your recommendation. We'd love to see you again soon!
Written November 20, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Dawn G
21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
I took my 90 year old mother to attend the 4th of July fireworks with Captain Dave's on the Hoku Nai, which Gunner (2nd mate) said was Hawaiian for "Dolphin Star." She was concerned but I wasn't having previous experience on this boat (the fabulous airshow) and crew, always helpful and polite. The mobility challenged were allowed on first and Gunner and Will (first mate) helped my mom and others up the stairs, Very friendly and kind. Mom got a nice comfy seat and I was able to move around to get favorite views of the multiple fireworks shows up and down the coast. The DP show was fabulous and very close and I enjoyed mine with a cup of chardonnay served by amiable bartender Tabitha. Only one sadness, she ran out of hot chocolate that my mom requested, but tried to come up with other options. Captain Alex, also awesome, coming out to engage with us, sharing what was happening and keeping us safe and still in the lumpy water just outside the harbor. Take advice to bring blankets and wear layers, it can be chilly.

One suggestion is to get rid of the plastic cups and use more sustainable paper cups. If they end up in the ocean they will biodegrade. Thank you for that consideration, and the great 4th of July evening !
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the fantastic review, Dawn! It's excellent that you and your mom had a blast on our special 4th of July fireworks trip. I'm glad you found our Captain and crew to be friendly and welcoming - but I'm sorry we ran out of hot chocolate! And we appreciate your suggestion about the cups. We will definitely consider that for future trips. Thank you again for coming out, and for rating us so highly. We hope you can join us again soon!
Written July 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

DayTrip49485617940
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Family
A whale excursion was on my scheduled list while traveling to Ontario to visit our daughter. Dana Point proved to be the most sought-after location for the adventure. A private excursion was an important factor and Captain Dave's itinerary fit the requirements. We had a wonderful time and while we didn't see any whales, what we did see took our breath away. We captured a pod of dolphins swimming in a stampede alignment, one of the most amazing adventures we had seen. Captain Stacey worked with other local sailors to spot a location that was memorable, enjoyable, and safe.

A special birthday card for my husband was presented along with their signature brownies for each of us to enjoy.

We had an awesome time. A big shout out to Janel for assisting and her knowledge in marine life.

What an Awesome adventure and comes highly recommended.
Written December 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for choosing Capt. Dave's as part of your family's Christmas celebrations! I'm thrilled we were able to make the season and your husband's birthday a bit more special with some amazing views of a dolphin stampede, and we love the shoutouts for our Captain and crew too. We're so pleased to receive a 5-star rating from you, and hope you can visit us again.
Written December 27, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Deborah K
Laguna Hills, CA12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
Four of us went out in Captain Dave's zodiac style boat, the Allswell. It was a beautiful day but with a heavy swell from a storm. The Allswell ran through the swells easily with minimal rocking. We found a pod of about 40 bottlenose dolphins almost immediately. They entertained us with spectacular leaps out of the water and bow riding our boat. Captain Jim heard that there was a gray whale several miles away and the Allswell got there quickly. Because fo that speed we were able to watch the whale play with some floating kelp for about 15 minutes before heading back to the harbor. This was our 4th whale watch with Captain Dave's Whale and Dolphin Safari and we highly recommend them.
Written March 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the review and high rating, Deborah! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed spending time with the acrobatic wild dolphins, as well as a migrating Gray Whale during your high-speed zodiac excursion! We appreciate that you continue to choose Capt. Dave’s for unforgettable safaris, and we look forward to your next trip out with us!
Written April 3, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Nan I
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Family
We are a family of 11 and we lost our brother in July. He was our first family member to leave us. The remaining 10 of us, plus extended family had the best experience imaginable through Capt. Dave's. Captain Alex and crew were so kind and attentive. The weather was stunning and the ride smooth. We dropped the ashes and had time for speeches and stories that made it all so very special. All the details from booking the date to executing the event were seamless.
Written October 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Nan, thank you very much for the review and high rating. It was a privilege to help make sure Rob's sendoff was so special, and we're thrilled you were happy with our service. We're honored that you chose Capt. Dave's for your family's special occasion. Thank you again!
Written November 1, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Capt. Dave's Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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