Oceanside Adventures

My son and I took a ride with Ocean adventures on October 5, 2025. It was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had in my life. The dolphins were putting on a show for us that day, it was so amazing, it made me cry. We will never forget this experience and thank you to everyone on board for making us feel so comfortable.

It exceeded all my expectations. The crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. And you can tell that these guides are conscious and smart. The amenities were awesome. The organization was superb. It was a great time. We saw hundreds of dolphins and 3 whales. Amazing.

Crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. We didn’t see any whales but we saw THOUSANDS of dolphins! They stayed with the boat for a long time. It was cool!!

We had so much fun today!!! We didn’t see whales, but we did see a pod of dolphins and a sunfish. The crew were very knowledgeable and super friendly and helpful. The boat is extremely clean and in good repair. I was impressed with the trip. I’ll be back!

We had a great trip! We were able to see many common dolphins…they were so beautiful to watch! They were so close …to watch them swimming next to the boat was a real treat. There were no whales to view but it was still super fun. The boat was clean (as well as the bathrooms). The only thing is I would have liked was if the guides gave more informative facts (plus it was difficult to hear what they were saying). We would book another trip though for sure, Oceanside was beautiful! The parking situation wasn’t horrible but it wasn’t great either. It was confusing to know where to go…we kind of landed at the 2 hour parking. We went to the 9:30am tour so it wasn’t super crazy when we got there. Thankfully we didn’t get towed. We recommend eating at Dominic’s right by the boarding ramps! They are the real deal! 👍🏼

By far one of the BEST experiences I have ever had. Yesterday was a beautiful day to be out on the ocean. The captains and deck hand were very helpful and informative. We got to see many animals. Would do it again in a heartbeat!

Fantastic trip with a fantastic crew. Got to see several whales and a lot of dolphins. The captain talked just the right amount with good information and the crew was helpful and friendly. Snacks onboard were reasonably priced.

Fun & great experience! Got to see hundreds of dolphins while on an Oceanside Adventures tour. The boat was comfortable and spacious, our narrator did a good job providing information and knowledge to us. The boat staff were nice and checked in with guests and were attentive to a sick child aboard. Snacks for purchase were a plus!

Great experience. Great crew. Super fun. Would go again. Ocean gets windy, so if you get cold easily, bring appropriate clothes.

Although this was a sad occasion the crew of Oceanside Adventures made it lovely. First off the boat was really nice. It had covered seating as well as seating on the bow. The boat was clean and it also came with snacks for our 25 minute ride out to sea and back. Not sure if he was the first mate or the captain and I'm probably spelling his name wrong (Tolcan) was super attentive to our group. The ride was what could be expected on the ocean. A super plus was all the dolphins that we saw. This crew and the young lady at the sign in booth made this a very nice family event. If you are in the market to charter a boat, this is definitely a company I would look into.

Love these guys! Definitely worth it and its absolutely beautiful out there! There was literally, HUNDREDS of dolphins and they hung out with us for most of the 2 hour trip. This was my second time using them and will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in Cali.

Oceanside adventures is our go to for whale watching in San Diego for the last nine years. Incredible captain, crew, and boat!

Such a beautiful evening for a wine tasting cruise! This company partners with Beach House Winery to host such a cruise--check website for times/tix. I do get the comments about the crew mostly interacting with each other, and in this case, the winery folks and it was also someone's birthday (George!) within their inner circle. But I was able to mingle with a lot of people and someone had made birthday cupcakes (made with merlot!), and they were offered to everyone and it really all added to the experience. I generally do my whale watching in Santa Barbara, but I will try it with this group at my next opportunity! I also want to visit the winery. Thanks for a fun time!

It was easy to book our whale watching and dolphin viewing adventure. The process was seamless in terms of location and directions to parking, etc. Chris was a fantastic captain. Given his heads up anytime we should be on the lookout for wildlife in the ocean highly recommend.

A lovely voyage, not too many folks, sea lions barked as we headed out. We soon spotted a lone Humpback and escorted it to a small kelp island, where it stirred up the avian occupants and flipped its tail several times. AND, to the Captain's credit, we chased down and relieved the ocean of a despicable mylar balloon! A lovely way to spend an afternoon! Thanks again!

Best boat trip ever!!! Went out on a whale watching tour with Oceanside Adventure luxury cruises and saw the most amazing pod of hundreds of dolphins all around us. It was incredible and a memory I will never forget

I was invited by a friend on this adventure. Although we didn't see any whales on this ride we saw pods of Common Dolphins frolicking. What a sight to see these beautiful creatures play in the deep blue. This experience was a pleasant beginning with the check-in at the booth. Because we were part of a group we had to wait for everyone to be present so that we could all head out to the vessel after signing a waiver. Although we were part of a group there were still room for other's that had made a reservation. After boarding and sailing off, our captain introduce himself and the crew and gave the run down of the tour. The tour is about 2 hours. A single restroom is available on the boat. There are light snacks available for purchase. Outside liquor is prohibited but they do have some for purchase on board. The boat itself is spacious with front (uncovered) of the boat. The seating along the sides are covered above, so provided good shade. It did get a little chilly when the sun was on the other side of the boat. I saw sweaters being passed by family members. We sat towards the back. Dress accordingly at least a sweater to take the chill off. It was a smooth ride, no rough waves. The two young crew graciously answered my many question's. I would definitely suggest this business to friends and family. I will return in the future.

Oceanside Adventures rocks! This was our second time out with them. Staff is super friendly and courteous. Excellent bar drinks. They really go out of their way to give you a great time!

What a great day for whale watching. We saw lots of dolphins and a blue whale. The crew was awesome.

Went for a whale watching trip today spur of the moment. Had a fabulous day. Went on The Nala, which is a new vessel. Great layout and plenty of room for everyone to have a great view. Plenty of shade or sun available. The crew was very laid back and great to be around. They made sure you had everything you wanted and was able to answer every question people had. This is not a trip with someone narrating the whole time. It was a wonder day on the water. We did not see a whale, but we saw A LOT of dolphins and a sunfish. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours l

Staff was very nice and friendly. For the first 1 and half hour, no whales or dolphins were seen, that is nature and can be expected. What looked like a bust, the captain finally found a mother and her baby humpback whale! He shut the engine off, and the whale was at our side of the boat. We were able to take great photos and video of the whales. Because it took so long to find whales, and there was not an afternoon cruise planned for the company, Captain extended our tour beyond the 2hr limit. Highly recommended Oceanside Adventures.

Incredible afternoon. With the Oceanside Adv crew! They were polite, friendly and knowledgeable! The boat was clean and we felt safe. We were so lucky to see four fin whales (second largest whales in the world) and two types of dolphins! One of the whales Swam under our boat. It was so neat! Fantastic fun with our family!

We did a 9:30am cruise on June 23rd. Not even a half hour out of the harbor we saw 2 blue whales. Got to see them do 4 deep dives which was awesome. One of them was huge. We also saw a sunfish and crazy enough we even saw a shark jump out of the water. The only thing we didn't see were dolphins but we've seen those on every other boat trip so that wasn't really sad. Chris was our captain and even he seemed surprised that we had such great luck on our tour. We had a great time and would highly recommend.

My first whale watching tour and we saw a blue whale!! The largest animal on earth! What a treat and apparently not a common siting when whale watching around here. Even the boat captain seemed pretty excited. We also saw a giant sunfish...I've never seen one before and was amazed by its unique appearance. Also got to observe a very large pod of common dolphins...striking color, graceful and fast. So it was a very successful tour and I would recommend everyone go at least once in their lifetime. The guide/captain was very informative and the ticketing/ boarding process was a breeze. The boat felt safe/secure/stable, minimal rocking but it was a pretty calm sea...even glassy at times. There is a bathroom on board as well as a small snack bar (I didn't use either). You are free to walk/sit/stand anywhere, there is some shelter from the wind inside behind clear vinyl sheeting. I was up front the entire time and the wind was not bad at all. Definitely dress in layers, secure your hat, wear shoes with traction. Other things to pack...sunscreen/water/chapstick/sunglasses/binoculars/camera.

I've gone whale watching with Oceanside Adventures more than a handful of times and every single time has been fantastic. We've seen countless dolphins, whales & sunfish. The crew has always been super sweet and knowledgeable. Only once did we go on a tour without seeing any dolphins/whales and we were able to come back another for free as a result.

This was a great whale watching cruise and I honestly can't wait to do it again. The staff was super knowledgeable & friendly. Bring cash to tip or have a little drink.

I have been going whale watching with Oceanside adventures multiple times a year since they opened. The staff is so great! The last few times going I have had Captain Chris and Saxon, both of which are amazing and always provide a great time!

Best whale watching tour I've ever been on! We saw multiple blue whales and had a great view from all sides of the boat. Shannon was very helpful checking us in and Saxon was very knowledgeable of the ocean and whales. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. Clean, new catamaran boat was large and comfortable so no one experienced seasickness. We'll definitely be back!

I've been coming twice a year for years on the same free pass (if they think you don't see enough, you get to come back), but today I'm happy to report, I lost that perk (though I will get 25% off my next trip!). Everyone's mileage will vary on these tours, but me personally, even if I don't see anything, I'm just happy to be out. I learned today that dolphins don't have a set mating season, and will mate just for fun. Hence the babies swimming about all year long. I saw three species of dolphin this trip! And you can see the differences in the way they look, in my photos (which is why I posted so many instead of my usual collages). Pro tip: bring cash to tip! These guys are knowledgeable and passionate about what they do, and work so hard for us. I'm mostly including this tidbit so I remember to do so myself. PS- check the videos on here for a swordfish I saw one trip! Super cool.

The crew is always super friendly and knowledgeable and if there is wildlife to be found they are going to deliver! We go year after year to enjoy the ride and beautiful Oceanside weather. This year 2024 we were surrounded by 800+ dolphins! Thanks for the amazing day for me and my girls!

This was a beautiful experience. The ship was clean, safe and very comfortable, the staff were great and it was a wonderful experience to be in the middle of hundreds of dolphin and gorgeous seabirds. Mother Nature is unpredictable and we did not see a whale on this trip. However, the gorgeous ocean, fresh ocean air, the frolicking dolphin and other creatures we saw all made for a memorable day. One of the things that I liked best about this excursion, which departed from Oceanside at 5:00 pm, was that there was no music playing or anything else to distract from the joys of nature and the participants on the excursion enjoying their time with each other.

Take a fun adventure on the beautiful Oceanside coast. As a Carlsbad resident I was looking for the perfect way to spend the morning of my wife's birthday and Oceanside Adventure did not disappoint. Beautiful views, tons of dolphins and a great crew made for a wonderful experience. Highly recommended for locals and tourists alike.

We took a dolphin and whale watching tour this Sunday during our anniversary trip to Oceanside. We got discounted tickets at the Visitor Center and the ladies over there booked it for us and gave me a cool tote (you can get one w. Yelp check in). I got a confirmation email from Oceanside Adventures right away. I also called their office and they were very nice and together and went over a few things. They have 2 tours daily at Noon and another one at 2 pm. We took the Noon one, you have to check in at the Harbor 30 min - 45 min. ahead at their cute kiosk. Nice, easy process. We had a decent number of people on board (about 20), but not crowded. The boat is not big, clean with many seating options based on what you prefer, what sat under the canopy to avoid the sun. They sell snack and drinks on board. We got to see dolphins in the Harbor before leaving on our adventure. We saw lots of birds, pelicans and a super pod of dolphins, hundreds of them, coming close to the boat. It was a great feeling to see so many cute dolphins around! Amazing, it was worth taking the cruise just for that! Captain Chris was nice, knowledgeable, he knows where to take you, stops the boat to enjoy the wild life and take photos. He explains everything to you without talking the whole time, which I prefer. The crew is nice and energetic, Aubrey was cool as well. We were excited to see a minky whale (didn't take photos since it was going under the water and coming our in other areas). Captain Chris managed to spot it and even spend more time in the area for us to enjoy it. I wasn't sure we'd see a whale, it's not a guarantee, I was hoping since it's the migration season. So we were thrilled to have that experience! Nice, smooth ride, beautiful views of the harbor, the Pacific and of the coastline! Wear sunscreen and a few layers, it gets cold out in the water! We got coupons for a next trip at the end and we hope to do it again! Smooth sail!

I had such a great time with Oceanside Adventures, so much so I went back a second time! Sadly the first time we didn't see whales but it wasn't really the season. We saw sooooo many dolphins though. The crew was also fabulous!

Me, my husband and our 23 year old son went on Oceanside Adventures this past Tuesday (January 18, 2022). It was a few days after the tsunami advisory. Luckily for all of us, there was only about 10 other people on boat. Captain Chris was enjoyable, informative and not only was he so knowledgeable about finding whales and keeping the distance so not to chase them away, but we followed one grey whale for almost an hour. The whale would dive deep for about 5 or 6 minutes and then resurface with 3 or 4 shallow dives and then showing off it's tail before deep diving again. The other 2 bottom members were friendly, helpful, funny and informative also. We have been whale watching many times before and besides Hawaii, this was the best experience we have had. Thanks so much Captain Chris and rest of crew and staff at Oceanside Adventures. Definitely telling all our friends.

We had a great time on the whale and dolphin cruise! We saw dolphins, blue whales, a humpback whale, a mako shark, and a bunch of sea lions. But even if we didn't see that much it would have still been a great time. Chris and Saxon were very knowledgeable and told us where to look but also taught us about the animals. They answered all of our questions and were a blast! Drinks and snacks were available on board (cash only) which we also enjoyed. The instructions in the conformation email were perfect. We followed them and had no issues with parking and checking in. Would recommend this tour to anyone. We are already planning on going back and bringing more friends.

Best whale watching trip I've ever experienced. Saw 10 whales! Chris and T were awesome!

We had such an amazing time! The captain and crew were super knowledgeable and friendly. We saw SO many dolphins! If you are ever in Oceanside, this is a must!

Saw at least 5 whales and a dolphin, wasn't that expensive and wasn't overly crowded. Definitely worth the trip. Also booked on the website, easy

Absolutely best experience we could have imagined. This is only the 3rd yelp review I have ever given over 15 plus years but it was that amazing of an experience. We got to see a momma dolphin help her baby take its first breathes, tons of large fish, and more then one school of dolphins, the last group had upwards of 500 dolphins. I not only have sent their info to everyone I know but will most certainly take the tour again next time I am visiting the area and can't wait. Fantastic experience!

This is our go to place whenever we have guests from out of town come to visit. The crew is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly; the captain keeps you informed of what is ahead. On our many trips out, we have seen dolphins, sea lions, and humpback whales. Even on the trips where no whale is seen, you can be assured of dolphin sightings and not just one hundreds. It's an easy check-in and both vessels are comfortable and well equipped. Remember to bring a jacket...it can get cool at sea and enough cash for any snacks or drinks you want. And please don't forget to tip. These folks work hard to make it a pleasant 2 hours! So don't be cheap!

Really great crew that made our cruise adventure lots of fun! Highly recommend! We would do it again for sure!

Trip went swimmingly--tickets easy to buy online, boarding was organized--OA doesn't overcrowd the boat. We enjoyed Nala, their new catamaran--while we didn't see whales, bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins loved racing the boat, and swimming in the open center of the craft. It was a joy to see these super fast, intelligent creatures close up. There were several young calves with the bottlenose, and the antics of the common dolphins were wonderful. Swimming upside down, and jumping into the air.... Crew were great, and overall experience excellent.

Amazing afternoon with Captain Chris and deckhand Tikhon watching a young humpback whale in glassy seas. The captain even stopped and turned the boat so everyone could watch the epic winter sunset. Boat was clean, crew friendly and they even have drinks and snacks for sale.

So worth the price. Nala was a treat to go on. Though we didn't see whales we saw and were surrounded by a superpod of dolphins which was amazing! About 800 of them by the Captain's estimate. Really friendly staff on board, clean boat, nice ride! Get there extra early for parking.​

I went on the tour with my family and we all loved it! I highly recommend! It's amazing to see the huge pods of dolphins and other sea life. The kids and myself also enjoyed the little educational segment presented by staff as the boat took off from the harbor. Awesome staff, awesome activity, & they have drinks and snacks available for a minimal fee! On another note, I'm that person that get dizzy on swings and trampolines and gets car sick easily. I took my non-drowsy Dramamine before we headed out and I was 100% fine. Some other people onboard audibly were not... The waves definitely move the boat up and down the entire time (but not aggressively).

This is my third time going on Oceanside adventures over the course of twelve years or so, and I just love it. I have yet to see a whale, but I've never not seen hundreds of dolphins- and the tour guides are so lively, knowledgeable, and fun. The banter and jokes don't feel canned; they are all genuine human beings that just enjoy being around other human beings. We giggled the whole time. They're also supreme customer servants. My daughter was cuddled up shivering at one point and one worker hurried to bring her a jacket. My nine year old son kept up a steady stream of questions and another worker never tired of answering them. Hugely impressive and applause worthy. And the dolphins, of course, get a standing ovation! There's nothing quite as magical as hundreds of dolphins jumping along mere feet below, joyfully catching the wake.

This was my second trip with Oceanside Adventures and I plan to keep going! The staff is great - thanks to Chris, Texan and Ivy for an unforgettable whale-watching experience!

First the good: Clean boat Saw a few dolphins Saw one sun fish Then the bad: Two hours on the water and only saw a few dolphins during the first thirty minutes. The rest of the time motoring around. NO WHALES (check their log of sightings at the office before you book) The guide was the guy behind the wheel who you could hardly hear over the PA and was giving you the bare minimum. Wake up!! The only staff visible was the girl at the snack bar selling beer at 8 bucks a bottle and a guy holding a tip box as you got off at the end of the trip. Five of us each paid $64 for little more than a boat ride. I found it to be an over priced tourist trap. Pass this one up.

fun and educational outing, super friendly staff! have taken 3 trips out with them, always a good experience.

All of the staff was friendly and knowledgeable! We had an amazing time on our tour and will definitely be booking again!

We saw lots of whales and dolphins. So fun. Beautiful boat too. Knowledgeable staff.

I've been living in Oceanside for over 5 years now and I've enjoyed my experiences while whale-watching with Oceanside Adventures. I've been out on the ocean on 3 separate trips and each one was a pleasure. On my very first trip, I was fortunate enough to see dolphins, seals and some whales. This was such an awesome adventure being able to witness such massively majestic creatures breach in their own habitat. The crew know their craft and have good experience with sea creatures and I like all the fun facts and knowledge gained on these trips. The boat ride alone is peaceful and it is calming just being in the open water being able to look back on Oceanside. If soloing, it makes for great self-reflection time and reconnecting with your thoughts. Kids will love it just because SEA ANIMALS!! Definitely a fantastic family outing! Pros: The vessel is spacious and safe. The crew is friendly and knowledgeable. The prices are affordable and if you check Groupon, you'll probably find a discount. There's beverages & snacks for sale. Cons: Not guaranteed to see whales on every trip. Although you will most likely see dolphins and if you're lucky see a playful pod! One thing that would be cool is if passengers were incentivize to take return trips if they didn't see any whales on their voyage and could have an automatic 10% on their next booking. Overall, I recommend taking a ride out with Oceanside Adventures and enjoying the sea and don't forget to keep your camera battery charged full

I had never been dolphin or whale watching. Growing up in the SF Bay Area, I had seen plenty of Sea Life in Santa Cruz, or Half Moon Bay. But, since we were staying right by the harbor, I decided to go "Full Tourist" and book the family a 2 hour ride. We are a family of 6, and it's not always easy to find something to entertain all of these humans at once. I called with a few questions, and then booked online. I'm so glad we did this , it was just beautiful, I had a tasty vodka cran (Thanks Ollie), we were able to watch and boat next to a very large pod of dolphins. The staff were so accommodating and friendly, it was like hanging out with people I've known all of my life. I would describe the crew as talkative, informative, welcoming, professional, funny, and entertaining. Chris explained a few things here and there, but there was not a script or drawn out marine life lecture, the kids were never bored. Sorry my photos aren't impressive. The dolphins were leaping in and out of the water, but I eventually just put my phone down and enjoyed being in the moment. I'll definitely do this again. I'm grateful for the experience and I wish it would have lasted 4 hours instead of two. In fact, my kids have already asked to come back. Thank you Ollie, Chris, and Tichon.

OMG I'd give these guys 10 stars if I could! Chris and Cindy took us out Wednesday to follow (at a respectful distance) a pod of FIVE grey whales! It was a glorious day we will never forget. It was our 2nd time with Oceanside Adventures; this time we brought my sister-in-law and niece. They adored it! We loved being close enough to HEAR these magnificent creatures as they were breathing (in set rhythms), fluking, diving, repeating. Chris explained it as we went. Cindy fished two metallic balloons out of the water to prevent whale injury/death...she said that was 5 total balloons for the day. It was nice they do this good deed for these spectacular creatures. Thanks for the absolutely unforgettable day!!!

Chris, TConn and Samson were amazing! Always patient with our never ending questions. We were treated very well! We saw super pods of dolphins on 2 of our 3 trips! We will be back!

Great Experience. Will try again later with family at different season. This time saw only whales, need to see dolphins