Incredible Whale Watching Experience with Friends

Whale watching was planned for 10th July 2018 at Dana Point .As on Friday 6th I got to know 35 blue whales were off from San Diego and they said they had seen many blues whales. We Kicked off preparations as we dint had much time. On Tuesday morning I saw on local news that on Monday people had seen 33 blue whales, so on Tuesday I caught the 12:00 P.M. boat.

In the morning on the 10:00 A.M trip we saw two blue whales in southwest of the harbor. On the 12:00 P.M. trip we saw two blue whales above the harbor off of the Strand. On the 2:00 P.M. trip we found the same two whales up off of north Laguna and followed them up to Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. We did not get back for the 5:00 P.M. trip until just before 5:00 P.M. On the 5:00 P.M. trip Captain Steve received a radio report of blue whales off about El Moro Canyon and Irvine Cove.

We first saw at least 5 whales, three to our 11 O'clock and two to our 1 o'clock. There was one exceptionally a large blow to our right. After about a half an hour we realized that whale was coming up all around us and we were surrounded by whales. One whale just surfaced close to us on the port side as we were just floating watching the show. There were two pairs and lots of singles. Towards the end, we had at least 5 whales off the port side. Three of the whales came together and dived together. The final estimate was 10 to 12 blue whales that were staying in a wide area about 3 miles off the coast. They were not staying down for long periods so we thought that they were not feeding. They did not seem afraid of the boat that stayed close to us on the port side surfacing and blowing. We finally had to leave them. Here you go for the pictures taken by us from time to time.

One of two blue whales flukes during the 12:00 P.M. trip as it goes on a deep dive. The whales were staying down about 8 minutes underwater. They were slowly moving up the coast. Here you can see three white marks on the underside of the flukes which will make this an easily identifiable whale if photographed again. It may already be in a catalog.

A blue whale surfaced and then slowed down. Here it is just off the bow of the Sea ExplorerA blue whale flukes as it goes on a deep dive. We saw several blue whales fluke during the trips.

A blue whale flukes as it goes on a deep dive. We saw several blue whales fluke during the trips.

A blue whale surfaces as another boat comes in to join us watching the whales. You can see Fashion Island, Newport Beach in the background.

A blue whale surfaces and blows close to the boat.

The head of another blue whale as it blows. During the 5:00 P.M. trip there was one whale with a huge blow that was much bigger than the rest.

Another blue whale blows as we follow it.

This whale was one of the 10 - 12 whales we saw on the 5:00 P.M. trip. It has an unusual dorsal fin. Part of the dorsal fin is missing and there is a large notch in the dorsal ridge behind the dorsal fin. Should be easy to identify in the future.

Another head shot of a blue whale blowing. You can see the water washing off the back as the whale surfaces.

A blue whale flukes during the 5:00 P. M. trip. The blue whale will not always a fluke. They will arch their back and tail stock but then drag their flukes down with them.

Another shot of the back and dorsal fin of another whale. Here you can see the gray mottling on the side of the body and tail stock. Individual blue whales can be identified by the shape of their dorsal fins and by the pattern of the mottling on the side of the body.