Capt Daves Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari

One of the best experiences in Southern California. We saw 8 whales, 7 humpback and 1 Bryde’s. The staff was very knowledgeable and announced very clearly what we were seeing. We even stayed out longer than our time was allotted since the viewing was extra special the day we went.

As a first timer, I didnt know what to expect as far as looking out for whales and dolphins. The ships size was larger than I expected, the crew was as nice and professional as expected but the second best part of the experience was the peacefulness and tranquility of the ride. The best part were the dolphins . I didnt expect to see dozens and dozens of dolphins swimming, eating and flying out of the water as much as they did. They were playful and I felt they were enjoying us as much as we were enjoying them. I wanted to dive in to the water to swim with them so bad. When the dolphins flew out of the water they would make a blow out sound sort of like an exhale . This experience was amazing and I will definitely be going back. Thank you to Captain Daves crew, this was awesome!!

Even on a foggy afternoon we were treated to an amazing dolphin show. When the Captain finds the dolphins, the boat is slowed do passengers can enjoy the speed and acrobatics of the hundreds of dolphins swimming around the boat.Due to COVID-19 regulations, the number of passengers is limited and passengers are required to wear masks while on the boat. The breeze generated by the boat and being outdoors and the strict requirement to wear masks, makes this wonderful trip s safe activity for you & your family.

With there always being a possibility that we do not see dolphins or whales, these guys were proactive and quick to use their tools to find signs of activity. Sure enough they quickly found a massive pod of dolphins and then two others all feeding. We hung out for a while in amazement. Highly recommend.

We went on a whale watching & dolphin cruise for my husbands birthday. We did see a few whales, but what was truly spectacular was the dolphins playing alongside the boat. I can smile right now even thinking about how joyful it was. It was also fabulous to see the other wildlife. The boat was small & fast & the captain wonderful. Highly recommend.

Phenomenal experience from beginning to end. Hands down the nicest group of people in town. We saw plenty of Dolphins. The crew is dedicated to making sure guests have an amazing experience. Cant wait to go again! Highly recommended.

Wow what an amazing experience! The crew was informative and fabulous. We stumbled upon a pod of at least 1000 dolphins it was incredible. My grandsons had such a blast. Will definitely go again when we are back in town. Thank you to the wonderful crew!

Day with Captain Chuck and Buck was amazing! One of the best daddy daughter days we could have asked for!! Highly recommend and will be back for more. We saw a pod of 1,000 dolphins!!Loved it! These guys are awesome. And the brownies are a must!!

So nice we did it twice! We went on two whale watching tours with Captain Daves and they are both fantastic.I brought my photo gear, but they do also have an onboard photographer who will capture your journey. The staff was knowledge and entertaining, and the sea life was bountiful. We followed multiple pods of dolphins who played alongside the boat and leaped out of the water.If you are looking for something fun to do in Dana Point, I cannot recommend this enough.

Booked a trip on a whim and ended up having the BEST time. I would have never expected to see sooo many dolphins, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen. We also saw a grey whale which was amazing! My kids will always remember this experience. Thank you so much!

Captain Gary and First Mate Janelle took us on an amazing adventure today. We went in search of a dolphin pod and we definitely found it! We were surrounded by thousands of dolphins leaping out of the water and swimming with our boat. It was thrilling to be so close to these magical and majestic creatures. A day to remember, for sure!

I will never go on any other boat tour again in California except for Captain Daves..they were AMAZING! We had Captain Steve and he was awesome he really made sure that we saw dolphins and he tried hard to find us whales but no luck. They told us about the wildlife that we did see which so cool. The boat was great and had some amazing areas to stand so you could see everything. Plenty of space for everyone on the boat to get a great view of the dolphins. And we got brownies at the end lol (which were amazing) Highly recommend.

Great trip and well worth it. We went for our anniversary at the last minute. Had a fantastic time. Steve and Hannah were great. We had only 9 on the boat so they could have been zoned out. Instead they were very personal and were filled with lots of information about the wildlife in the ocean. Were very concerned everybody had a good time. Definitely going to go again and will let all our friends know this is a great safari.

Great trip last weekend with Capt Dave’s tour. It was just my husband and I and we enjoyed the trip. It was a beautiful day on the water. No whales - but they are a bit more scarce this time of year. Our captain certainly tried his best to find wildlife. We cruised all the way up the coast to Main Beach and he pointed out some interesting things along the way both related to the coastline and the homes. We headed out from there and finally found a group of common dolphins which capped off the trip. Seeing them from the pods was very cool. We appreciated the professional staff and the way the trip was run. Nice job!

We had a fantastic time out there today! Capt. Chuck and Hannah were fantastic! They were so knowledgeable and fun. They tried their hardest to find us the best views possible. You could tell Hannah’s passion for what she does and would love to see her be a Captain herself one day! And then the free Mrs. Capt. Dave’s brownie on the way out was worth the trip in itself! Great job and will definitely be coming back!

We’ve gone to Captain Dave’s 2 years in a row with our boys. Good for ages 3.5 and up, I’d say. The staff are personable and always willing to share their knowledge with curious kids. The viewing pods are exciting and the front of the boat is fun for viewing. The brownies at the end are a fun touch.

Our family just returned from not only the Best ocean excursion in our lives but maybe the most special wonderful Family experience in my lifetime.We decided to spent our Thanksgiving week in a house in Dana Point, CA. As we planned the trip we looked for something fun to do as a family that was also safe because of Covid. We looked online and found Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Excursions online in Dana Point. They offered smaller private excursions that we were comfortable with. We booked it and were not disappointed.Captain Jim and fist mate Matt not only showed us a good 3 hour trip but really went above and beyond to make sure we had a good trip. They radioed other boats out on the water to find Dolphins for us.They located a pod of Pacific White-sided dolphins and before we knew it we were surround by maybe 100 of these playful creatures. Jim and Matt gave us all the information about these amazing creatures. They circled the pod and spent as much times as we wanted to play and interact with the dolphins. The Dolphins seemed to understand our admiration and were very entertaining.It was time for our tour to end and we were about to head back to the port when Captain Jim asked us if we wanted to go back or...they had heard on the radio that another of Dave’s boats had found another pod...almost a “boil” of Common Dolphins “kind of” on the way back to port. Jim gave us the option to go back or go find the new pod. We all agreed we wanted to see more. We cruised for about 15-20 minutes and encountered the most AMAZING thing we had ever seen.There was AT LEAST 1000 dolphins swimming, jumping, twisting and putting on the most amazing display possible. There were 3 other boats in the area with us watching this display.Captain Jim and Matt stayed as long as we wanted and then returned just before dark.If you want to go for a boat ride on the ocean around Dana Point...book with any other tour company...If you want a experience you won’t forget...go with Captain Dave’s Tours...you won’t regret itThanks again Jim and Matt, for what my Family has told me was “This Best Thing We Have Ever Done”The Burt Family from Salt Lake City, Utah

We were a bunch of first-timers and had the best time ever! My children (13,9, and 5) all felt safe and delighted the entire trip. The check-in was simple, the captain and staff were incredibly friendly, and we were lucky enough to see a huge pod of dolphins! The gift/snack shop is adorable and sufficient for the boat ride. Overall a wonderful experience for our family and would definitely go again!

Capt Daves was such an amazing experience! The crew made my husband and I feel very welcomed and the ship was very comfortable. We saw a humpback whale and about 200 dolphins playing by the boat! This was my best birthday experience ever! Thank you so much for providing such a professional, yet fun atmosphere. If we ever make it back out to Dana Point again, we will definitely take another tour!! And thanks again for the extra birthday brownie

This was one of the most amazing experiences my boyfriend and I have ever been through ! Gorgeous views, amazing crew and an up close experience with BEAUTIFUL dolphins! Absolutely amazing. It was such a great experience. Captain Steve and his crew were absolutely amazing! They were very sweet, they care about everyone’s safety and they care about your experience! DEFINITELY WILL BE BACK VERY SOON The brownie at the end of the cruise is yummy!

We had a great time with Captain Dave’s tour. The staff was really knowledgeable and very nice. As we went during COVID, the boat wasn’t at full capacity and we had plenty of space around us. It was also really nice to see everyone onboard wearing a mask. We were able to see a bunch of common dolphins, as well as California sea lions.

We real appreciated the clean professionalism of the tour and crew. Covid is no joke to us, and they supported masking and personal spacing. Great for kids. Our 4 year old granddaughter spent the day on the ropes and all over that boat! So fun.No whales today, but we did just fine with face to face running with about 5,000 dolphins!!! Really appreciated their respectful decision not to disturb a gaggle of feeding birds and dolphins. Integrity.And wow, don’t miss the brownie .

I came for my birthday last week and LOVED IT!! We went out on the catamaran and i was impressed by all the informatio, stories, facts shared by the captain.I love dolphins and whales - and even though we did not see any whales I would definitely recommend Captain Daves dolphin and whale watching safari!! They were clean, efficient, friendly, entertaining, knowledgeable, and totally worth it! I cant wait to go again

Today we had our dolphins safari with captain Chuck. The trip was amazing, we had the entire boat just for us and the weather was perfect. We were so lucky to see many dolphins swimming all around us and jumping out from the water to our delight and joy. Chuck was so friendly and knowledgeable making us feel welcomed and even brought us best ever chocolate brownies. After two hours of perfectly riding waves in the dolphins company, Chuck directed us to a nearby seafood restaurant for lunch. Before we left Deana Point we were already planning our next trip with Captain David’s crew ( hopefully with Chuck as our captain). I can’t imagine a better way of spending a special day with family or friends. Looking forward for our next trip with Captain Davids team.Cami K.

Had a wonderful trip on a very nice boat. The crew was super friendly and worked hard to make sure we saw some dolphins and spent a lot of time telling us about what we were seeing. The were very knowledgeable and it was fun and interesting. Highly recommend this cruise!

Capt Dave’s Dolphin and Whale watching was such a good time. The woman that greeted us in the crows nest was super nice. She checked us in right away. I booked the raft trip and was really happy I did. There were tons of dolphins swimming all around and, being on the raft, got to see them up close and saw them swimming under the water next to the boat. Captain Chuck and Matt were great a very knowledgeable! The time went by so fast. I would highly recommend.

The whole crew made it such a special day! They were so nice and helpful. They really went above and beyond to find dolphins and we did!! What an incredible day!! Thank you

INCREDIBLE VALUE. We bought tickets on a whim and it was literally so fun and perfect. Staff were kind and knowledgeable, and our captains were Chuck & Hanna. You could tell they love what they do. The boat was socially distanced and had plenty of seating room for all parties. We saw EIGHT whales including a rare Bryde’s whale and thousands of dolphins who swam with our boat. The captain did a great job of respectfully showing us the animals without scaring them off. Can’t wait to come back. We did the 4PM to sunset ride. It was amazing.

I have taken over 40 trips with Captain Daves and never have been disappointed. Tom Sothern is by far my favorite Captain. He is very knowledgeable, hilarious and goes above and beyond to find anything and everything that is out there on every given day. Aside from the underwater viewing pod (which is awesome), the main thing that separates Captain Daves from other whale watching outfits is the fact that Captain Dave goes the extra mile. All of the whale watching companies communicate with each other so they all know how many whales are in the area and roughly where they are located. The other outfits will come across a whale and will spend all of their time with it, the whole two hours. Whereas with Captain Dave, if there are seven whales in the area, he will take you to see all seven. I really appreciate this, and it makes me feel like his crew love what they do. If you are going to go whale watching in Southern California, do it with the best crews and captains in the area, Captain Daves... You will not be disappointed!!

We visited from New Jersey and heard the whale watching off the California cost was a go to activity. We chose Capt Daves because of the proximity to where we were staying, the great reviews online as well as the type of boat (catamaran). We also saw they have underwater viewing pods in each of the pontoons. Unfortunately we didnt see any whales but the crew didnt leave us empty handed. We caught a small pod of common dolphins (cooler looking then they sound) which the team followed back to a much much larger pod. We enjoyed watching and photographing for almost an hour. The acrobatics and sheer number of dolphins was an incredible sight and I would definitely recommend Capt Daves to anyone looking for a family friendly environment.

Capt Daves managed my dads ash scattering. What can I say? They were compassionate, thoughtful and so helpful! Shannon was fantastic! Helped through a very difficult teVery helpful! Kim was great on the day of the ash scattering! Capt Tom was wonderful under less than great weather. Thank you all so much.

Im a huge fan of Capt Daves and have probably been out on their Dolphin and Whale Watching trip 5-6 times since my move to Dana Point 6yrs ago. I take every special visitor/guest out on this tour. Doesnt matter what time of year - Im never disappointed. We always see dolphins and sea lions, and almost always see at least one whale. Regardless of sea life, youre bound to enjoy the splendor of being out on a catamaran on yet another gorgeous southern CA day! Bonus: the crew on this boat are always professional, friendly and fun. I wont hesitate to book this trip again soon :)

I love this company. Great day, the zodiac was super fun, everyone at Daves is super friendly and great. This is the place to go if youre looking for fun on the water.

My husband and I went whale and dolphin watching on my birthday this year and we had so much fun that we went back just a couple of days later! The catamaran was beautiful and our crew was knowledgeable and fun. Plus, we saw pods of dolphins and even a fin whale! If you are interested in a whale watching tour, I highly recommend going with Capt Daves

We had a great time on this boat!! Captain Chuck, Caitlin and Stacy were EXCELLENT!! Very informative and helpful to everyone. They kept checking on us and made sure we saw HUNDREDS of long nose dolphins and a few sea lions cavorting with the dolphins.We will be back in February 2021 to hopefully catch some whales as they migrate past us.Highly recommend this company, they take great care with the passengers and each other!

What a wonderful experience! Captain Marie was great. Full of knowledge about the sea life and a good spotter too! We booked a private charter on the Fast Kat which was a blast. Got up close to a giant fin whale and a huge pod of bottle nose dolphin. Definitely recommend.

The staff were very nice and knowledgeable. They made sure that you had a good view and had enough time to see the whales, dolphins, and sea lions. The catamaran is very clean and felt very safe. Definitely worth the $ and a memorable experience ️

Captain Steve was great! Hannah & Grayden? were super friendly & knowledgeable. I think it was wonderful that you guys stopped & fished out the balloons out of the water to save the ocean animals! We saw lots of dolphins. The whole experience was amazing!

This is the best place to go on a dolphin/whale tour! Convenient location in Dana Point Harbor, has a great shop for souvenirs before you board. The captain and first mate were helpful, informative, and knew right where to go to see the marine life. We took a huge catamaran that was roomy enough for all of the passengers and we saw HUNDREDS of dolphins, a whale, and a shark! The ride is 2.5 hours, too, which felt like plenty. We’ve been on tours before, but the expertise and experience of this company is just the best. Highly recommend, they even give you brownies after your trip! We had all ages on our trip, so it’s definitely family friendly but with just my husband and I it made for a nice date! We are thrilled to have found Capt Dave’s Dana Point Whale Watching, and can’t wait to go again.

Capt’n Chuck & Capt’n Buck were fantastic. Made it super fun & educational. We had an absolutely incredible 45min+ interaction with a huge pod of common dolphin! What a much needed nature connection. Thank you, thank you!

A friend and I decided to do one of the private charters and - Wow - what a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. We had Captain Gary at the helm and he was awesome. We spent most of the time following a pod of about 200 Common Dolphins who were very active. It was so much fun. Gary was very informative and answered any questions we had. Will definitely do this again!

After making our arrangements online, we received a confirmation call including information for other fun activities offered. We also received discount codes for future use which is convenient. Our vessel left on time and all standard cleaning measures were taken. The captain was knowledgeable and took us straight to see 3 humpbacks that were in the area, going further out to ensure a good sighting. On the way back to the harbor a pod of dolphin were spotted and the captain circled the boat essentially playing with the pod. Also observed during our return was a seal and mako shark. We very much recommend their services and look forward to our next trip.

This was a fantastic tour. We saw several whales much closer than I expected, and the staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable. The boat has an underwater viewing window, which was really awesome. I highly suggest this tour to anyone that wants to experience nature in its own habitat. 5 stars from start to finish.

I have used many different dolphin/whale watching companies but Captain Dave’s continues to be the best. This trip our captain was Gary and he was determined to make sure we all had a great time. That’s the thing I like the best about Captain Dave’s- it’s so personalized. Plus- it’s the one company where I have always seen something exciting on our trip- and it’s the one company where we saw the biggest pod of dolphins the captain had ever seen- a megapod of over 1,000 Dolphins. Absolutely the most amazing experience ever. This time we went on the Fast Cat- and it lived up to its name. It was super fast and super fun! Would highly recommend.

Great staff which contributed to a great experience. We were able to see dolphins which is almost a given but also viewed a whale which I wasnt expecting. Time went by quickly as we were enjoying the trip. If you get nauseous from boat rides like I do, take dramamine or ginger beforehand and focus on the horizon. Also, get there early as parking is very limited on busy beach days.

Best experience ever! Saw so many dolphins & rare experience of the ones that lighten as they get older which only show up about 4 times a year. Some great views. I cannot thank you enough for being so cool & safe. People like you are what makes life experiences like these smooth & memorable for a 12 yr old boy and his mom. Staff is amazing. Definitely going again. They give you tasty brownies for free & offer a collagepic they took of you & pics of safari.

These guys were amazing! We went out in October and they navigate us to several hundred dolphins.Although we really wanted to see a whale the dolphins put on a good show and made the trip worth it. Would definitely use them again! Thanks

Capt Daves was the most awesome boating experience! We got to see more whales and dolphins than one could possibly imagine. The staff was super friendly and very informative. I cant wait to go again!

We arrived early to go out on the Zodiac-style rigid inflatable in order to scatter my brothers ashes at sea and were taken out to a beautiful spot. Our pilot/captain was extremely knowledgeable about the water, the land, the history, and the ecology/environment of the area. I was fascinated by all that he shared with us. The ash scattering was a beautiful and emotional moment and we were allowed as much time as we needed to mourn and grieve, while circling the ashes as they slowly dispersed in the water. On the return trip we got to see sea lions, which we counted as a bonus. I would highly recommend Capt Daves to anyone.

Very fun. Less bouncing and swaying in the waves since its a catamaran. Got really close to a bunch of common dolphins. Saw some baby dolphins, a Minke whale, and a fin whale as well. The underwater pods are a really cool feature as well. Will definitely consider going back.

Incredible!!! The dolphin pods that Capt Marie found were amazing In numbers, activity, jumping, parading in arcs. Never have I seen so many dolphins being so active for such a long time!!! Unexpected and so appreciated. Capt Marie and her crew were professional, knowledgeable, careful and pleasant. Thank you for a memorable birthday experience.

We chose Captain Dave’s to take us out so that I could give my Momma a sea burial and I’m glad we did. The boat captain Marie was amazing. She let us see the seals and pointed out some really cool stuff along the way. Then she was very respectful and kind during the burial. I definitely can’t wait to come back and pay respects to my Momma again. Thank you!

We were so pleased with Capt Daves Dolphin Safari, we would go again tomorrow! We had serious concerns about cleanliness during a pandemic, coupled with a medically fragile child, and this company went above and beyond to accommodate us! Our little one, along with a 6 mo old and 6 adults (even grandma and grandpa), had an amazing time! Captain Tom and Caitlyn were engaging, helpful, and very knowledgeable! If youre on the fence about going, do it! Its worth every penny!

Had a great time watching a whale and many dolphins. The captain and staff were awesome, very knowledgeable, and so friendly. Also loved the free homemade brownies they give at the end! I definitely want to come back again!

Wonderful 2.5 hrs with great staff! Saw plenty of bottle nose dolphin & a couple humpback whales. Captain Steve & Hannah we’re delightful (and funny) while Braydon took excellent pics. The one of our humpback he got with a drone was exceptional! Would highly recommend.

We have been on two tours with Capt Daves crew on their big boat and their Zodiac boat. Both are quite comfortable and we had a great time. We werent seeing much besides several dolphins on our second outing. But our captain stayed out a little longer and fortunately we saw a gray whale which made our day.

Luck is a big factor when animal watching is involved, so this review doesnt include our luck in finding whales/dolphins.Customer service was great. We received a phone call to make sure we found our way to the marina and parking lot and everyone was very friendly.. Captain Marie, Stacie, and Hannah were great. I learned a ton, the boat was positioned to give everyone a great view. We stopped to pull potentially dangerous (to sea life) garbage from the water and the captain and crews commitment to the environment and animals was very clear.The viewing pod was a great experience that I havent seen anywhere else.Mask wearing etiquette was well covered and enforced. The brownies at the end were a fun way to disembark.

Had a great time on captains Dave’s today. Thought we weren’t going to see anything, but they spotted a huge pod of dolphins. We even saw a “dolphin stampede”, which I have never seen before. It was great! Plus, you get a brownie at the end of the tour. Can’t top that!

Employees were very knowledgeable, professional & friendly. Booking, check-in & entire process was easy & convenient. Unfortunately the morning we went, the whales & dolphins did not want to play. We also didn’t expect the week of hot sunny weather to turn foggy & cold, so we weren’t dressed appropriately at all. It was a long trip, kids were miserable & disappointed, but that was no fault to Captain Dave’s. B/c there were no sightings, we were immediately emailed, w/out any paper work or hassle, tickets for another trip out that are good for a year. We look fwd to going back & trying again! We’ll check weather, their siting log & dress better. Thanks Captain Dave’s, our captain & tour guide were both amazing.

My husband and I loved this!!! Captain Daves Dolphin Safari was the best adventure for us! From signing in for the day to leaving the ship with a brownie in our hands the crew was amazing and the sea was full of hundreds of dolphins swimming along side our ship with one whale sighting!!! We even climbed below the deck to lay down in the windowed sea pods to feel like we were swimming with the dolphins! Couldnt have asked for more!! Captain Tom made our trip so interesting with facts about the sea life creatures...we learned a lot too! Great day!! Great memories!! Thanks to all the Captain Daves crew!!

Yesterday we had the opportunity to have a private charter with Captain Chuck at the wheel. Checkin was easy and stress free. The weather was perfect and seas calm. Although we didn’t get to see any whales, we encountered a pod of dolphins. There were 100s of them all around the boat. We certainly enjoyed our morning boat ride and look forward to doing it again.

Unique opportunity to see marine animals up close in the wild. We rode with captain Dave. The boat was fast, smooth, and very exciting. Dolphins were swimming and jumping in front of us as well as the sides. Had a large school that followed us. The brownies they gave us were excellent! Definitely will come back. Thanks Dave and Hannah!

Not only was this so inexpensive and easy to book last minute, but the wildlife we saw was incredible! We saw two humpback whales and countless dolphins. The crew is so friendly and provides you with great info about the wildlife. I went during COVID and everyone wore masks and they provided hand sanitizer. Super safe. They also make sure you’re totally up to speed on who your captain is, the boat, how long you’ll be out, etc. Plus, it’s great that they offer a free visit back if you don’t see anything. But with all the abundance of wildlife off the coast, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see something. I will definitely be back.

I came with my family 3 three adults and my one year old.Due to Covid it’s so hard to find a family activity who follow the regulations of the CDC and provide such an amazing time out of the house. We had a blast! The staff is so friendly and extremely professional about what they do. I’ve already recommended so many friends with families!

This was my fifth trip with Captain Daves and as usual it never disappoints. Fantastic time. Took my granddaughter this time and we went down into the pod for some underwater viewing of the Dolphins. So lots and lots of dolphins and quite a few babies. Saw the famous patches dolphin too. This is the only dolphin or whale watch company I would ever go out with. Always a terrific time.

This was a really nice boat ride they take you out into the ocean and see the whale and dolphins lots of baby dolphins to see . They have plenty of seating to sit down. or you can stand in front of the boat and it is a real nice windy breeze the only thing you need to make sure to wear sunscreen and a hat to wear for not to get sunburned. at the end of the boat ride when leaving they handout brownies . you can get the boat that has the underwater pods the only thing with the underwater pods is that the water is not clear enough to see. maybe unless youre sitting still and the boat is not in movement.

It was an awesome experience. We saw literally hundreds of dolphins. The crew was great! The only disappointment was the underwater viewing that’s advertised. It wasn’t available while the dolphins were there because it was too choppy. When we were allowed, the viewing area was very small and cramped. Barely enough for my 12 year old daughter and myself.Otherwise it was great voyage!!

This was the best experience Ive ever had what watching. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to make amazing memories. Staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. I celebrated my birthday and it was unforgettable!

The staff and crew were knowledgeable and very polite. When we went out to see the dolphins, there were a couple of boats doing the same, unfortunately they were disturbing the pod. And Captain Tom and his crew were very respectful of nature and after a while, they decided to bring us somewhere else as to not add stress to the dolphins. We tried to find other creatures like a shark or a grey whale, but they were not present. The grey whale was somewhat spotted when it exhaled but for us (the untrained eyes) we were not able to catch a glimpse of it.Photos were taken of us including the shots taken of the day as well; and they were impressive. The crew were very keen on making sure that everybody adhered to the covid precautions and they were attentive to the guests who were feeling a little sea sick.Overall it was a pleasant experience, sadly no whales showed up. Will be coming back again!

Boat staff gave us all extra time onboard as they continued looking for whales. Found 2 types of dolphins in large #s. Service was terrific!!! Dont miss an opportunity to go out with Capt Daves.

Great trip, lots of Dolphins. Little early for the whales, but all the guys on the tour made it enjoyable. Will bring the rest of the family back.

Had a blast... no whales this trip, plenty of dolphins... nice to get some fresh air, not too crowded so had plenty of distance... definitely going again.. next time we take the kiddos!!! Thank u

Absolutely amazing!!!!! It was a magical experience!!! They made me feel extra special for my birthday! They made me a card and everything! The underwater viewing pods were super cool! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone! :)

We saw bottlenose dolphins, a fin whale, and then a bunch of common dolphins on our way back to the harbor! The fin whale is the second largest whale in the world, which makes it the second largest being alive on our planet. It was a really enjoyable day on the ocean. Captain Dave’s is always a wonderful experience. And Mrs Captain Dave’s brownies are the topper on the great experience!

Capt Daves whale and dolphin watching was one of the best experiences Ive had. Capt Marie and 2 other girls provided us with so much information on these mammals. We saw 2 pods of dolphins. I think about 5 or maybe more humpback whales. One whale jumped out of the water right in front of us. The dolphins swam with the boat along side and right underneath. If you chose, you can stand at the front of the boat. You can look down in the water and there are countless dolphins swimming with you and jumping in the air. This boat also offers you to climb down lower to look through glass underwater to see them. They also take your picture and by the end of the 2 1/2 hour ride you can purchase it if you want. Whales and dolphins are added in the picture. I will definitely come back and bring the kids next time. It was a magical experience.

I booked the tour online thought it left at 1230 they immediately called me when I wasn’t checked in at 1145 for the noon cruise. They have an excellent staff who is very knowledgeable courteous kind all the way from check in process to the tour and exiting the ship. Was the most amazing 3 hrs spent. We sent over 1000 dolphins in the water. Thank You for the most.amazing time making great memories for my friends

Absolutely had an amazing time on our trip. We were lucky enough to have been guided by Captain Gary on the fast cat. He provided us with a truly unforgettable experience in which we were able to see a plethora of dolphins for the entire 2 hour period.We will absolutely be returning and already excited to do so.

Great experience, got to see dolphins and humpback whale and sea lions. I highly recommend you book here. Chuck, Buck did a excellent job with the guide.

What a great day I had with my Dad and Capt. Dave’s staff made it amazing. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. They even give you a cooked brownie after your trip. Will remember this day forever with great people, dolphins, whales, seals, the Pacific Ocean and all it had to offer.

The staff were very friendly, and very accommodating. The only bad thing is they include dolphins as a whale sighting and I feel that if we dont see any whales we should get a redo....That is my only complaint, but again the staff are very knowledgeable the boats are clean and the experience is beautiful

My wife and I went on the morning excursion on 7/15/2020. The captain and crew were very professional and informative. We had a great time seeing all the dolphins! The photo collage came out great and it was reasonably priced. Thank you for a memorable day! We highly recommend Captain Dave’s Dana Point Whale and Dolphin Watching.Thank you,John and Perla

Capt Dave’s was such an amazing experience. Went for my birthday weekend and loved every minute of it.The customer service was phenomenal, and we were able to see so many dolphins. It was such a beautiful experience; I would 10/10 recommend this spot to anyone thinking about going.

This was a beautiful trip and a great chance to get out on the ocean and see some wildlife. The price was very good and the staff was friendly and professional. Great trip would highly recommend it.

Worth every penny and more! We had ages ranging from 2.5 to 65. All we’re entertained and captivated. The commentary was perfect and the experience was definitely memorable. Highly recommend a small group private charter on Dolphin Safari!!

It was definitely a great day on the boat. We saw wales, we saw dolphins, the staff was great and they gave us a brownie at the end of the trip. Doesn’t get any better in Captain Dave’s

*HIGHLY* recommend. The crew was knowledgeable and created a really relaxed and nice atmosphere on board. It was easy to maintain social distancing and guests respected the rules.Also: saw several pods of different types of dolphins, and one Minke whale. Very very cool.

We had a blast! Very informative, fun and lovely encounter with dolphins and sea lions. We will be back again for sure.

Going on Captain Dave has always and is always an incredible experience. The crew is fantastic and knowledge. Can’t wait for my next trip already !

Captain Dave was a lovely way to enjoy Dana Point. The entire crew was remarkably professional, friendly, knowledgeable, informative and so thoughtful. I was celebrating a milestone and they printed a darling sign which was posted at the top of the staircase. From the lady checking me in to Captain Jim, everyone was a class act. The snacks available for purchase include Maw and Paw snacks which are yummy. The pods, the ability to roam the vessel throughout the journey make the experience so memorable.

Very nice captains and extremely informative. Safe environment and plenty of social distancing room. Comfortable and enjoyable. Second time after going first in 2016- on both excursions we were able to see dolphins and an array of marine life, not to mention the beautiful California coastline. Highly recommend!

I cannot say enough about our experience. These guys made probably the most memorable family excursion we could have ever asked for. They were very responsive to our questions and tailored our experience. We had captain Tom and Caitlin today on our trip and there took us to a huge pod of dolphins.

Captain Steve and the crew were great! We did not get to see any wild animals on our trip out but nonetheless it was a great experience! The kept checking on all the passengers to make sure we were good! We went to celebrate my daughters 9th birthday, they made her feel special and the tour was worth it for a little girl who wants to be a marine biologist! We cant wait to go again!

We had a great time on our whale and dolphin watching trip. We were lucky enough to see both a Minke whale and a humpback whale plus several hundred dolphin. Captain Marie was great and did her best to make sure we could see as many sea creatures as possible. The brownies were pretty awesome too!

Unforgettable!!! I chose them based on the other google reviews which were not wrong. We booked a private boat, Steve was our captain. To summarize, we spent 2 hours surrounded by at least 70 dolphins. It was amazing, truly magical experience. Highly recommended!!!!

Best tour to book in Dana Point. I look forward to going out with these folks every chance I get. Never disappointed; always learn new facts, info.

Hannah and Gary were amazing! So much fun! We celebrated a birthday and it couldnt have gone better. Seeing dolphins and sea lions was spectacular and magical!!! Everyone had such an amazing experience:)

Great tour! Very informational crew is great! Underwater pods are awesome. Wanted to see more whales but saw tons of dolphins!!

Super fun boat to be on! Got to go out front of the catamaran as well as underneath where there was a glass bottom. We saw a huge whale very close as well as hundreds of dolphins! Thanks Captain Dave and crew for a wonderful time!

Really enjoyed the zodiac fast boat. Captain Chuck was friendly and professional. 2 hours was perfect. We saw many dolphin. Next time we will go on the larger catamaran for a different experience.Took 1 Dramamine 45 minutes before departing and had no sea sickness. Highly recommend.

They make it sound like they know where the whales are always. The truth is they have no idea where the whales are. They take their customers on a wild goose chase and after two hours they returned us back to land. They need to invest in a drone or some other technology that could make it easier to find them. I lost $150 dollars and over two hours. All we saw were dolphins. Not to mention i am here visiting from Florida. I dont know if will ever get a chance to return.