San Diego Whale Watching: Naturalist Notes – 7/25/26-7/26/26

Updated on
07-27-23 12PM white sided dolphins

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San Diego Whale Sightings 7/25/26 – 7/26/26  from the onboard team of volunteer naturalists for our San Diego Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure: up-close views and educational moments by expert captains and volunteer naturalists from the San Diego Natural History Museum. Don’t forget that kids cruise FREE in December and January; use promo code WHALEYFUN.

7/26/26

9:30 am Whale Watch & Dolphin Sightings:

Bottlenose Dolphin
Common Dolphins

It’s Comic-Con weekend, which means we had guests from all over the world aboard, including some from France and the UK! We sighted a pod of 10 bottlenose dolphins right in the harbor as we set out to sea! It was hazy offshore, but we were also able to see a pod of about 300 common dolphins. Guests loved seeing the baby dolphins swimming alongside their mothers and the acrobatic jumps of the commons as they soared above the ocean. We returned to shore with calm, smooth seas.

Your naturalist,

Yvonne, Aimee

 

7/25/26

9:30 am Whale Watch & Dolphin Sightings:

California Sea Lions
Common Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins
Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish)

Cool ocean breezes made for a lovely day on the water and offered a welcome break from the heat on land. In San Diego Harbor, California sea lions lounged on buoys, delighting children who were eagerly watching for marine life. As we headed west toward the Nine Mile Bank, we soon encountered about 50 common dolphins. They swam close around the boat, rode our wake, and leapt out of the water. Farther out to sea, we spotted about 30 bottlenose dolphins riding the bow of the boat. We also saw a large mola mola, or ocean sunfish, along with many seabirds. On the return trip, a Los Angeles-class submarine passed us as it headed back into San Diego Harbor. Passengers enjoyed a beautiful view of the San Diego skyline while listening to detailed narration about the many naval vessels and aircraft we passed on the journey back to port.

Your naturalists,

Karen L, Carla, and Jim C

 

A great way to time your whale-watching adventure is to check out our Whale-Watching Naturalist Notes, which include sightings and reports of whales, dolphins, and other birds and sea life. This blog-style report provides valuable insights that help future guests plan and enhance their experience. It can identify the best time for spotting, update on weather conditions, highlight active whale and dolphin species, and educate guests about local sea life. Please review our website’s more detailed helpful hints blog and how-to guide for your whale-watching adventure.

 

San Diego Whale Watching: Naturalist Notes – 7/25/26 – 7/26/26

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