Whale Watching Flourishes in San Diego
San Diego’s whale watching season traditionally occurs from December through April when California gray whales journey from the chilly Alaskan seas to the warm water lagoons of Baja California, Mexico – offering visitors a majestic sight as these peaceful giants of the sea glide through the water making their way south, along with other species of whales and dolphins.
Several whale watching companies have expanded their range of sea outings, and visitors now have the unique opportunity to glimpse a menagerie of marine life on cruises and kayak adventures departing daily from San Diego Bay, Mission Bay and local beaches.
Guests on a winter cruise can witness thousands of California gray whales come within a few miles of the San Diego coastline on their 5,000-mile southern voyage to Mexico to birth and rear their young. Their journey is one of nature’s most extraordinary events and is the longest known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis.
In the spring, summer and autumn months, whale watching excursions also tout the opportunity to see blue whales – the largest animals on earth, which have been frequently spotted off the San Diego coast in recent years – humpback, fin and minke whales, along with exciting year-round sightings of bottlenose, Pacific white-sided and common dolphins. With 70 miles of coastline, San Diego makes an ideal location for viewing this impressive parade of marine life.
