5-Hour Whale Watching Cruise in San Diego

We had an amazing time on our tour on June 30, 2026. The conditions were not great - windy with choppy water and swells, so the trip off shore wasn't the most pleasant, but the payoff was worth it. There haven't been many Blue Whale sightings this season, and given the conditions, our expectations were kept in check. Our first encounter was with a pod of Pacific Common Dolphins riding the boat's wake at the first large drop off in depth. We later came across a small family group of rare Risso's Dolphins, though they kept their distance. The captain also stopped to let us get good looks and photos of some Black-Footed Albatross, which was a bonus for this birding enthusiast. Of course, the highlight was our encounter with the Blue Whale, and this is where Gone Whale Watching really earned its 5 stars. Even with the poor conditions, the captain caught sight of the whale's blow probably a mile off. He knew the timing of a whale dive and positioned the boat accordingly, and when the next spout occurred, he was able to confirm it was a Blue Whale, and we were able to close the distance. Using these two sightings, the captain was able to estimate where and when she would come up again, and again moved us into position. This time we were able to get great looks at her breaking the surface. Since she was on the move, we kept having to motor on while she dove, and each time, the captain expertly kept us in sighting distance of her surfacing, until at the very end, she came toward us and dove right under the boat. We were able to see her almost electric blue silhouette from above and the captain presciently grabbed his GoPro cameras to capture some stunning footage, which he shared with us at the end of the tour (see attached screenshot). It was exhilarating! The captain's expertise, maneuvering and knowledge made it possible, even with the rough ocean conditions. A few additional notes - the boat was comfortable if a bit worn, and while the bathroom situation is adequate though I did find being in the tight space on rough seas a little nauseating. Sit at the back of the boat for a smoother ride - given the speed they have to navigate at to get off shore and follow fast-moving wildlife, you'll need to be comfortable with some rough movements. If you can manage some of the discomforts, this is an adventure worth your time!

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