Rare Blue Whale Spotted Off Dana Point Coast

DANA POINT, CA — What's that shape in the water? While marine life enthusiasts aboard Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari often enjoy the sights of fin whales, minke whales and humpback whales, on Saturday a rare breed of whale was spotted: an endangered blue whale.

The whale was spotted by a young, eagle-eyed passenger aboard the catamaran Manute'a, a Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari spokesperson said in a statement. The whale was seen just off the Headlands in only about 400 feet of water, according to the statement.

This marks the first time in ten years a vessel operated by Capt. Dave's spotted a blue whale in November. Generally, blue whales are seen off the coast of Southern California from May through October.

Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari has brought residents onto the water for over twenty years, providing the community with the chance to connect with dolphins and whales in life-changing ways.

Endangered blue whales are the largest known animal to have ever lived on earth, and they are likely the gentlest giants our ocean water has. The whales migrate to waters off the U.S. west coast to feed on krill, a tiny shrimp-like crustacean. They are a protected species after being almost hunted to extinction in the early 1900's.