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

This was my third time out with Captain Dave’s. Twice on the big boat and once on the zodiac. It is always a magical time out on the water. This time we saw a stampeding mega pod of over 1,000 common dolphins! It was a once in a lifetime experience. We also saw some offshore bottlenose dolphins, coastal bottlenose dolphins, and of course sea lions. Our crew Matt, Hannah, and Daelyn were having just as much fun as us and made sure we were safe and having a great time!

What an unforgettable experience and the perfect way to celebrate my son’s 2nd birthday! Captain Matt and Hannah went above and beyond to make our ride comfortable and ensure we enjoyed the very best of whale watching. We were lucky enough to see two humpback whales, one fin whale, and a whole pod of dolphins. At one point, I mentioned to Hannah that I had never seen a humpback before and that it was my dream to spot one. She and Captain Matt didn’t hesitate—they went the extra mile out on the water and made sure we found one. That moment was truly special. I’ll definitely be back, and here’s a tip: don’t miss out on the brownie onboard—it’s absolutely delicious! 😋

Our captain Gary was great along with the rest of the staff in the yacht. We appreciate all of you for our experiences today! Being from Michigan and not able to experience neat things like this was truly special. Thank you staff... captain Gary, mates Andy and Micheal, and the wonderful ladies Daelynn and Larraina. 💕 😃

Booked a private charter for a party of 14 on the Manute’a - we had a great time! Lots of wildlife and learned a lot about the animals and their habits - Capt Matt and Andy were informative, friendly and very professional. Would recommend! Parking: free parking right behind the check-in station. We got there 1 hour early and there was plenty of parking. Check-in: sign waivers in advance but can also do it if you arrive early. Seating with tables and umbrellas upstairs around the check-in window. Coffee, snacks, warm weather gear and souvenirs available for purchase. Check-in staff were both very friendly (thanks, Kim!) We hit the bathrooms then walked out to the boat. After introductions and safety briefing, we started out on our journey! The boat had a ton of room to walk around and ample seating for our party. Partially covered, but not too important for our trip since it was mostly overcast with intermittent rays of sunshine. We learned a lot about the animals, their behavior and what we were looking for as we cruised around. Andy was a great, informative guide. Overall, we loved the experience and would highly recommend due to condition of boat, quality of staff and the easy booking and check-in process.

I was in town for work and had a day off to explore, so I found Captain Dave’s and decided to go for a boat tour. Captain Maria did a fabulous job taking us on a water adventure to find whales and dolphin pods. First mate Sopha was very knowledgeable on all the marine life. It was an enjoyable and much needed relaxing day on the water. Thank you to all the staff that made it happen. You also have to take the climb up to the top of the bluff, for the spectacular views of the marina. Highly recommended! ~ Carrie Ann Robinson

We had so much fun on this 2 1/2 hour excursion that left from Dana Point. Captain Marie took us towards several hot spots for viewing a plethora of dolphins. The netting on the front of the boat appeared a bit frightening to be on, but as soon as the dolphins starting swimming underneath and alongside, many of us gathered. The boat has two viewing pods in the bottom portion on either side of the nets. It's best to lay down and look toward the other side of the boat to get the best view of what swimming underneath. First mate Janel was awesome and explained facts of sea life. She pointed out the various birds and explained some of their uniqueness, which was very interesting. She was available for any questions and made the excursion exciting throughout the whole trip. Photographer Safa was so sweet. She took photos of each party as well as the dolphins we saw that day. Photos were $15 for one, and $10 for each thereafter. Half of the cost goes towards sealife preservation, which is a total win. The photos were printed before we disembarked and are frameable. The crew are all marine biologists and care about the sealife and its habitats. When we got onto dry land, we each received the most delicious brownie. What a great personal touch! The cost was not so bad, especially for the time on the boat, expertise of the crew, and they have their own parking lot (parking can be hard to locate). You should definitely arrive early so everyone can leave on time. We had a few late comers that Captain Marie waited for, but they could've been left behind as there are no refunds (unless, you get the trip insurance), plus no one wants to be "those people". On the boat, there is plenty of space to sit or stand without on top of others. Plus, it's so beautiful out on the ocean. We went at the 3 pm timeslot and returned right when the sun went down. Bring a jacket as it gets cool. Captain Dave's has a little giftshop when you check in. T-Shirts, snacks, drinks, and souvenirs are available. Overall, this is a great trip for all ages.

The zodiac boat experience was amazing! We enjoyed that we were on a smaller boat with only 4 other guests which also allowed us to have great views & feel as close to the action possible. We were able to ride with a pod of Common dolphins and see two Baleen whales. Special shout outs to the receptionist staff and our two great guides on the excursion (Marie the Captain and a marine biology student guide, she was very friendly & knowledgeable!). Highly recommend!

I chose Captain Dave's recently for the casting ceremony for my parents' ashes. I couldn't have asked for a more kind, caring, friendly, down-to-earth, wonderful group of people to work with. The booking and post-trip procedures were seamless (paperwork, etc.), and our captain (Cas) was knowledgeable, interesting, skilled, and affable. (He even offered to take us to look for dolphins after the scattering, if we'd like - - and it added a wonderful dimension of joy and life-affirmation to the trip.) If you are considering Captain Dave's for an ash dispersal or whale/dolphin excursion, I can't recommend them enough!

It's always a gamble as to what you will or will not see when you go on a trip like this so the focal point of this review is to highlight the superb staff that runs Capt Dave's. Captain Marie, Kaitlyn and Matt - hands down a fantastic crew! Also worthy of praise are the phone and check in crew. The day I booked online (a Sunday), I received a call reviewing my booking. The day before our trip, I got a call suggesting that we move our booking to a later time of day due to inclement weather. (SO GLAD WE DID) We arrived and were happily greeted with a sweet birthday sign for my husband. Restrooms are closer to the dock but plenty of time if you arrive when they tell you to. Captain Marie took us over to the dock and we boarded the catamaran. Pro tip: if you plan to stand at the front of the cat, you will get wet. Wear shoes for that and know that your clothes will be wet. We stood on the hatch and only got a few big splashes. We were given a safety briefing and got underway at the appointed time. Captain Marie, Kaitlyn and Matt are all very knowledgeable about the wildlife that live off our shores. This is a well run, friendly and efficiently run business. What a treat we had when Matt spotted a spout from an orca off in the distance! Captain Marie hustled us over there and we were witness to a rare sighting of a pod of young orcas. The excitement of the deck crew was palpable and made the experience even more memorable. The orcas came right up to the boat, flipping and spraying. I came in to sit for a moment and out the open window swam an orca. I was in the spray zone! They played around the boat and were training a baby orca so we got to see a lot of them. They kept us out on the water a bit longer than scheduled, which was really kind. The cat has underwater viewing pods - be warned - you do need to get on your knees to do it. And if you are claustrophobic, pass. It was super cool and definitely selfie worthy. As we returned to the dock, Kaitlyn uploaded her photographs of each party and presented them to us for purchase. They are $15 and worth the price because she took lovely family photos and combined them with photos of the orcas. The orcas experience was amazing and magical but really, we just got lucky. I am most impressed with the actual business side of the operation because it made the trip so smooth. Well done Captain Dave's!!

This review is solely based on my excursion. Staff and crew were very nice. Vessel: Hoku Naia was nice. Two levels for viewing. Plenty of room. Spotted and followed a few grey whales. Nothing out of the ordinary. No dolphins no orcas. Weather and sea condition were nice.

WOW!!!!!!! First timer here and it was definitely something I will do again. Captain Neil and crew were the best!! We were riding along next to hundreds and hundreds of dolphins. The view from underneath in the "dolphin tube" was tight - fits 2 people at a time but well worth it. It is just another vibe from seeing their world under the water, without being wet. They spotted whales while we were supposed to head in, so the excursion was extended JUST so we could go and catch a glimpse. Surprise Surprise - there ended up being 3-4 whales that were then in that vicinity. What a fantastic day.

What an absolutely amazing time we had on the boat. The crew were all so nice and helpful that it made our time even better. The best part of course was seeing a Blue Whale and a huge number of common dolphins. The whale was enormous and we were just a hundred feet away. The dolphins swam right up to the boat and followed us for quite a while. There were babies swimming along side their mothers. This was more than worth the money.

A blue whale and hundreds of dolphins! What more do I need to say! Except of course that the crew was fantastic and informative, the boat was comfortable and fun, and the whole experience was awesome. At first, it seemed a little pricey, but it was totally worth it. We went on the boat with the viewing pods below deck, but with so many dolphins to see from the deck, I couldn't be drawn away. If you get the chance to visit Dana Point, I would totally recommend Cape Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching tour.

We've gone whale watching several times with Capt Dave and have enjoyed the experience each time. We've gone both on the larger catamaran and in the smaller zodiac boars and prefer to zodiac for smaller group and potentially getting closer to the animals. The larger boat may be better for larger families and is smoother while the zodiac is more "bouncy" so could be rough for those not good with seasickness. The crews have always been super professional and safety is their key concern followed by our enjoyment. In some trips we have seen some whales, sun fish and each trip is different. Although they can't guarantee whales on each visit, you will see plenty of dolphin, seals, and great views of the SoCal coast. They are knowledgeable of the sea and various animals and are true conservationists as they routinely educate about water safety and help with recovering trash or spotting injured animals. They offer discounts for returning guests so we will continue to return each year. Be sure to bring layers and beanies and gloves are my recommendation for those that get chilled.

Captain Chuck and Hannah were absolutely amazing. This was my very first whale watching tour. I had a great conversation with Captain Chuck. Hannah spent time talking to my grandkids from Texas (8 and 10) which was truly a personal touch. At the end of the tour, Hannah handed out these wonderful brownies. My experience was fantastic. THANK YOU for making my tour memorable!

Captain Chuck and Hannah were absolutely amazing. This was my very first whale watching tour. The MAIN attraction was the dolphins, but we were fortunate to meet Kinko the blue whale. I had a great conversation with Captain Chuck. Hannah spent time talking to my grand kids from Texas (Ages 8 and 10) which was truly a personal touch. At the end of the tour, Hannah handed out these wonderful brownies. My experience was fantastic. THANK YOU for making my tour memorable!

My friends and I did a private small group charter to celebrate my birthday and oh my goodness it was the most amazing experience. Our crew was kind, professional, and super knowledgeable -we could not thank Jim and Will enough for making the day what it was. We saw a blue whale!! Absolutely mind boggling! And we were in a dolphin stampede - which I didn't even know was a thing until today. Seriously I cannot wait to come back! And I have no photos to add to this review because I legit didn't touch my phone the whole time!

Our family chartered Capt Dave's for my brother's burial at sea. While we had perfect weather and nice calm ocean, the crew were the best. It could not have been any better. Not sure what was better, the dolphin or the brownies. Thank you all so much.

Absolutely phenomenal trip! Captain Chuck was wonderful! Super friendly and extremely knowledgeable. We WILL be going again, and we will do whatever we need to make sure he is our skipper again! From booking, (and even changing dates at the last minute) Kim and Lizzie were very accommodating and helpful. It was such a pleasure to deal with a company that understands what old fashion customer service does for you long term! What a breath of fresh air to be treated like we were their only customer! Thank you Dave and your entire team! You all are amazing and really "get it" still. This was hands down the single best New Year's Day we have ever experienced!

It was our first time going, we book the Zodiac tour to get closer to the water to see the mammals. We got there early and was able to park right within the lot and bought tickets online ahead of time. The day that we went good the water wasn't so rough, so the boat ride wasn't bad. My kids went and loved it. They gave us information prior to getting on the boat for safety precautions. It was a perfect sunny day, highly recommend you dress warmer especially if you don't like wind. On the mini boat it is super windy until the boat slows down. I love how as we were coming back the team had to stop because they saw gold balloon in the middle of the ocean. And they kindly stop to pick it out if the ocean. Shows how much they also care about the marine environment. That was nice how our tour guide Captain Marie, Stacey and Jacob gave us info our the mammals while boating out. We saw plenty of dolphins swimming and a few hopping. We did get lucky and saw a fin whale and waiting for another 8 mins or so because it took a dive. So we stayed and followed the whale for another round. Was about to get 2 videos. On the way back saw seals.. 2 was being playful which I also got on camera. We enjoyed it!

My sister and I chartered one of Captain Dave's boats for our mom's ash burial at sea. We could not have had a better day! The staff was accommodating and phenomenal from start to finish. In addition to being respectful of the short service, they gave us the best whale watching experience and educated us on marine life. The kids enjoyed going below deck as well to check out the under water viewing pods. We saw so many dolphins (and babies!) and several Fin Whales! It was a magical day and a great start to our Celebration of Life day. My mom would be so pleased! Still waiting to see a great 'breach' but I'll be back again soon! Cindy Ahrentzen

We had a fantastic adventure. No whales but lots of dolphins and a few sea lions. The dolphins were so fun to watch. Capt Marie and her shipmate Caitlyn were wonderful. Caitlyn is a marine biologist, a diver and wears many other hats too. We totally recommend this tour!

A really great tour of the ocean around Dana Point. We saw four whales, countless dolphins and seabirds. We were able to track 3 different fin whales and one other we couldn't identify. The crew was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. It's a really great sea adventure!

As in anything in nature, whale watching is something you do with hopes and fairly low expectations because sometimes no one shows their face - today the ocean was pretty quiet but Captain Alex and Hannah both were determined to do their best to try to find whales for us to see. We ended up spotting a Minke whale and a Fin Whale named Betty. both Captain Alex and Hannah were committed to their guests as well as providing Information about the whales and the eco system - this adventure is definitely family friendly and worth seeing - I will be back

We've been on three trips with Capt Dave's and loved them all. We even saw a humpback whale on our first trip a few summers back with them which is an experience of a lifetime. The trip we took on 8-19-23 was perfect for our occasion. When I learned that Capt Dave's did an ash scattering trip I booked it over other companies. And they did not disappoint. The first cool part is that a hurricane was predicted to come through on our day of going out. I had family flying in from the east coast just for the occasion and it would have been so disappointing to miss the trip entirely because of the storm. However, we were able to work together to change it to the evening before so we could all still enjoy the experience. It turned out to be a beautiful evening--the seas were calm before the storm and the sun even peeked out through the clouds. Our captain, Gary and his assistant Lauren were so kind and respectful. It's not easy losing a loved one and spreading their ashes at sea, but they explained how we were going to do it and allowed our family time to celebrate our loved one in our way and after we finished spreading the ashes we added some biodegradable flowers which ended up floating on top of the water and they circled the area while we all quietly prayed and cherished each other and the moment--It was perfect. Seeing wildlife at sea is not guaranteed, and we always understand that when going out, but it was so lovely to come across some pods of common dolphins swimming alongside before we headed back. We even saw some babies who may not have been more than two weeks old. How amazing to see new life while saying goodbye to a loved one. Overall it was a lovely evening and my entire family of 11 guests loved every moment. Thanks you Capt,, crew, and staff for going above and beyond to make it a perfect occasion for our family!!

The best experience ever! Kaitlyn our Captain was simply amazing. Thank you, Kaitlyn for the memorable experience. We will be back for a different excursion.

It was a great tour and we had a blast. We did the afternoon trip at 1p 2/24, during our trip we saw a ton of dolphins, spotted a whale and ended the cruise with a few seals hanging out on a buoy. It was very cool experience for all andwould definitely recommend.

Awesome trip. Nature gave us a beautiful day with lot's of Dolphins, and 3 grey whales we tracked. The staff Captain Alex, Hannah, Stacy were really great. Not only a wonderful day but educational and fun as well. Their enthusiasm and love of what they do was infectious. Definitinetly 5 star and will return in the summer to see the Blue's.

Captain Neal, 1st Mate Hannah and 2nd Mate Molly you ROCK! My husband and I had a great morning searching for whales and dolphins. Saw many common dolphins and a couple bottlenose dolphins. Unfortunately the whales were shy. Will definitely be returning for another adventure! Thank you for the fun and delicious brownies!!!

Had a great time yesterday during our whale watching trip ! Booked last minute for the 3pm tour and made it just in time ! It was my wife and my anniversary and we took our young daughter on her first whale watching trip and we weren't disappointed ! Saw tons of dolphin and two fin whales and just had a great time getting wet on the boat ! We even got to try their underwater viewing pods which was a big reason for booking with Captain Dave's ! Captain Chuck and Hannah were awesome and the photographer captured some awesome photos and gave us a photo to take home which was really nice ! Will definitely be back in the future !

Took my little sister on a Saturday morning. There's plenty of parking and The waiting area is very cleanly and the check in process was very easy. We boarded right in time and the boat was very nice and very well maintained. It had a ton of cute touches like surfboards for tables and other beach decorations. The staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable. We were able to find a gray whale within an hour and followed him until the end of our trip. Unfortunately didn't see any dolphins or anything else but they do always stop by the buoy on the way in to see the sea lions. Was a great experience and highly recommend.

So fun! Today was my third trip with Capt Dave's. Shoutout to first mate Hannah and Capt Neil. Hannah was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic! She checked on everyone to see if they were feeling ok/sea sick, to take pictures, and to share some fun facts. We saw a ton of dolphins! Can't wait until my next trip with them.

Super fun experience! Would definitely go again. Captain Danny was great and knowledgeable. Took the Fast Cat boat and had a blast. Always felt super safe. Will definitely be returning in the future.

Super friendly staff and some good luck on the water made my first whale watching trip an amazing experience. Will definitely be back!

Amazing whale watching tour! We saw a couple of groups of dolphins at first and looked for whales for a long time. We didn't see anything for such a long time but the crew didn't give up. We headed out for an extended time and eventually spotted a fin whale! The crew were super friendly and helpful. They took great pictures for each group individually as well. At the end of the tour they printed the picture sour together with all the dolphins and the whale and it looked gorgeous! I don't usually purchase those pictures but I couldn't resist to buy it this time.

This date idea was fantastic Great opportunity to see a few grey whales and lots of dolphins Really cool glass viewing below deck

Capt Dave's always does a great job. Friendly, knowledgeable crew and the boat Manutea is very comfortable. The brownies are amazing!

Captain Gary took us out on a private charter aboard The Orca. What a fantastic voyage with the kids. 2 blue whales, hundreds of dolphins, fish we've never seen before, and sea lions galore. Captain Gary also patiently entertained the kids endless questions. Highly recommend if you are in or near Dana Point.

BUYER BEWARE There was a scheduling mishap when booking with their system, it gave me a reservation for the wrong time, I called to sort out but available didn't work out. I was told I would get a refund, but they only PARTIALLY REFUNDED ME. Also lied and said I didn't call until after the reservation which is just not true.

Amazing experience at Captain Dave's, the small boat was very fast, we saw at least 2 different types of whales. The brownies given by the Captain were fantastic!!

We had an AWESOME experience on our 3/29/24 11am Zodiac Dolphin Whale Watching Safari! The Captains were friendly, knowledgeable & we saw several species of whales and several hundred++ dolphins. We had been wanting to go whale watching for a long time and glad we chose Captain Dave's in Dana Point to do it! Highly recommend this company. While you can't predict where wildlife will be they'll make every effort to find them! Great experience!

Hannah is a LEGEND. So knowledgeable and passionate. We saw so many whales. Also great job captain Danny! Will be coming back with friends.

My husband and I really enjoyed our 21/2 hour safari on Manute'a was very enjoyable. The day was perfect to be on the water. While on our tour we only sighted two gray whales and the whales never really came out of the water. For whatever reason today they stayed right below the surface of the water. Not the fault of our crew but a little disappointing since we've read other safaris with Captain Dave experienced QCuhhu whales right beside the boat. We only observed a little of their blowhole spouts from afar. The highlight of our trip was a pod of about 30-35 pacific white sided dolphins that swam right beside our boat! What a joy to watch them!played all around our boat. The crew and captain Marie were such a pleasure and we will definitely return in hopes of sighting more active whales and other marine life.

We decided to book a private charter for two on a zodiac boat in honor of a birthday. Booking and payment was easy online and they called to confirm the details as well. We arrived about 30 mins early as instructed and the check in process was super easy. Parking is available behind cones for their customers, but it is a smaller lot and first come first served. Definitely plan ahead for time to park if the lot is full. If you noted that you were celebrating a birthday or other special event, they make an effort to acknowledge it with signage and a button which was cute. They will also give you a chance to use the restrooms before you depart. We got Capt. Gary for our charter and he was SO awesome! He gave us a quick rundown of all of the safety equipment on board as we headed out, then shared fun facts about the gray whales we were hoping to see and all of the other wildlife we encountered. We really appreciated how friendly he was and he made us feel right at home. Overall, the experience was everything we hoped for and more. We got to see two gray whales, bottlenose dolphins, white sided dolphins, sea lions, and a few different birds. It was worth every penny. I'd highly recommend taking a tour through them and also highly recommend Capt. Gary! Moments after our trip was over we were already talking about potentially returning in the summer. Five stars!

The crew was amazing! Our naturalist Hannah's excitement rubbed off on everyone! Both Hannah and Captain Chuck were so knowledgeable of the animals and area. I had an amazing time on AllSwell and will definitely be going again.

We had an excellent zodiac trip to see whales and dolphins. We saw 3 fin whales and hundreds of dolphins. It was the highlight of our trip to Laguna! Highly recommend the trip and especially our wonderful Capt Marie!

I have been on several tours with Capt Dave's. This one was special - lots of dolphins at the beginning of the trip, then we voted to go out and look for whales. Lots of nothing until another tour found 3 fin whales. Captain Chuck, Caitlyn and Matt took extra time to go to the site, where 3 fin whales were diving. They waited for them to come back up, and it was right next to our boat. Very exciting!!! The whales cruised with us for about 5 minutes - what a thrill!! Beautiful calm day and hosts going the extra mile made it worthwhile.

10 stars! Couldn't have had a better boat trip- than the one we had as a family on nye with Capt Dave's whale and dolphin safari. Captain Chuck and Crew were exceptional- really caring about everyone on board. We saw a beautiful enormous pod of dolphins, and toasted the new year at sunset. The whole experience was very comfortable, magical, and extremely professional and well run. We loved the viewing pods, to see and hear the dolphins with my daughters, Capatain Chuck was patient, and kind, helping everyone comfortably use the viewing pods. We got to stand at the front of the boat, watching dolphins play, we got lucky with the weather, but the boat would have kept us warm and dry if it hadn't been so lucky. Brilliant, highly qualified crew- lead the trip- and we have great memento photographs to remember our trip by. It was my daughter's 9th birthday- and everyone made her feel special as she arrived and on board. TYSM Captain Dave's! Cant wait to come out again.

05.05.23 I had my very first whale watching excursion experience on March 25, 2023. It started from one of those morning decisions to make - "what could I do today or that weekend"- "what could I do for my birthday weekend" - So glad I tried Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari experience! I booked online and luckily me - off to new experience! Excellent follow through after I booked online, i.e., I received a phone call to confirm my reservation and tips/how to prepare for my experience. That was really good follow through! . On the day of excursion, I definitely appreciated the checking in call because I was running late. That call totally helped because I didn't know where exactly was the place or where to park. I didn't make notes of the tips ... Totally awesome experience! Customer service at check in, the really nice birthday greeting sign and clip, captain's greeting (Captain Chuck I think - I'm lousy in remembering names). Clear announcement and instructions, Matt and Hanna's expertise on board - their knowledge - sharing their knowledge and expertise about the marine mammals, their environment, habitat, etc., made the excursion totally worth it. We got to see at least four grey whales, tons of dolphins, sea lions, just absolutely amazing experience. I'll definitely do it again and highly recommend taking time out to enjoy nature, especially out there in the deep waters although above water Best tip here after listening to the information during the excursion - call to find out when is the best month or time to do this type of excursion and they'll tell you. Why? So you can guarantee a great experience.

We do a whale watching trip with Captain Dave's every year. Every. Year. We used to go out on the big whale watching boats that are totally impersonal. They are cheap and, frankly, they suck. Captain Dave's is a little pricey but it's worth it. Once you do this tour, you'll never go back to the cheapo companies. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The experience is completely intimate because the boats are very small. You will probably see whales and you will almost certainly see dolphins. Hundreds of them. Some of them will be just a few feet from you. You read that right. Sometimes you get what pay for. This is that place.

Honestly I can't say enough about this Dana Point, CA, outfit. I highly recommend Capt. Dave's especially for first-timers, however, we were aboard with several repeat customers. So the day before the last day of 2021, my young daughters declared that they wanted to go out with a bang and I agreed. That night, I bought an adult ticket ($66.75) and 2 child tickets ($45 apiece) for the Friday, December 31, 2021, at 11:30am-2:00pm safari. Plenty of free parking near the top of the building where checkin was. Our boat, the Manute'a was equipped with two restrooms, underwater viewing pods, cushioned seats, shaded areas, and plenty of space for those that needed to view the horizon. I was so glad I dressed us all in plenty of layers as it was a bit chilly when we started picking up speed. For several minutes, we saw two glorious gray whales swimming alongside the Manute'a. It was the highlight of our safari which went approximately 4 miles off the coast in 3-feet swells. For an extra $15 (plus fees for using a credit card) I purchased a photo collage of us and some of the wildlife our on-board photographer, Janel, was able to capture. We wouldn't trade this experience for anything. If you love wildlife and Instagram, you must follow @captdaveswhalewatching for some amazing photos and videography. #CaptDaves #CaptainDavesDolphinSafari #CaptDavesWhaleWatching #DanaPointHarbor #PacificOcean #GrayWhale #CommonDolphin #LeaveNoTrace #YelpOC #jenniinsocal

Definitely recommend! From the customer service provided by the ladies that answers the phones to Captain Jim that operated our boat, it was a wonderful customer oriented service all the way! We booked their private yacht charter (can seat up to 6 passengers) for a whale and dolphin watching tour after having read their wonderful reviews and their history of being featured on several tv shows as well as award winning book, which shows their expertise in the whale watching industry. They have a log/diary on their website that shows their recordings of sighting daily. We were aware that we might only see one or the other and not necessary both whale and dolphins. Captain Jim brought us to see whale in the beginning of the trip and we get to see it pretty up close. It was lovely. When we went to look for dolphins, the captain looked for their sighting based on their gps location where they were last spotted half an hour ago, but captain couldn't seem to find them anymore. Captain Jim really helped us look for the dolphins! He looked and looked and looked. He could have given up since it was toward end of our trip but he was persistent and found them! And the sight of the 20 or so dolphins all swimming next each other was amazingly sight to behold! We were very close to the dolphins and they were swimming synchronized to each other beautifully! My daughter started naming each one, mommy, daddy, baby, grandma, grandpa, Uncle, Aunty, etc. lol On our way back, Captain Jim also stopped for a few minutes for us to look at the lazy loungy sea lions lying on each other bathing in the sunshine. One of the sea lions was circling continuously around the buoy trying to find a space to hop on but had no luck. It was really an adorable sight. The yacht itself has fridge, microwave, bathroom, kitchen sink, mattress, seatings inside and outside, so it is very convenient outing if you have kids or like to do a small birthday gathering or special occasion celebration. They let your bring your own food and drinks. However, you do need let them know heads up Re: using fridge etc so they start the generator for you. Lastly, I have to commend Captain Jim's respectful manners accommodating our covid safety requests and his superior quality customer service reminds us of the pride of a good captain taking care of the ship and its passengers. The homemade brownies at the end of the trip was a nice touch! It tastes really good warmed up in an air fryer---tastes like Ghirardelli brownies. Thanks for the memorable experience!

Thank you for a very memorable and special morning facilitating an ash scattering for a loved family member. The crew went above and beyond, they were accommodating and kind. They made the day a huge success. Communication was excellent from the very first call. Thank you!

When on 5-27-23 cruise with the Surf's Up band which had Father ,Son and grandsons playing in the band!!! They played Beach Boys songs that sent me back to my teen hood!!!We had a fun time!!! We had cheese burgers that had all the trimmings to make it taste very good!

Whale watching and dolphin excursion was EPIC!!! We saw tons of dolphins and killer whales! A once in a lifetime experience! The staff was amazing! Captain Jim and Mike were awesome! Super knowledgeable and so friendly! It was an epic day and I can't recommend them enough! Thank you Captain Dave's for a wonderful day!

Very attentive crew and knowledgeable we had a great time. They sell coffee, snacks and have a bar on the boat we were pleasantly surprised. We did the 8:30 am excursion and saw two blue whales and tons of dolphins.

The trip was so much fun. Captain Tom and first mate Todd were fantastic. We saw a humpback Whale and sea lions.

Was cold as can be,wished we could of had a sunny day. The crew was nice and happy to accommodate.