Shamu Sighting Off Dana Point; Whale Watching Tour Spots Killer Whales

DANA POINT, CA — It was more than a three hour tour, but a group of whale watchers on a 62-foot catamaran operated by Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari were treated to an encounter with a pod of orcas, commonly referred to as killer whales.

"We knew the killer whales were already way up the coast," Capt. Dave said "We asked our passengers if they wanted to go for it and turn a 2.5 hour safari into a 4 hour or more trip, and it was unanimous, which of course it needed to be."

Offshore killer whales are rarely seen in coastal waters and not much is known about them according to Captain Dave Anderson. The pod seen Thursday was estimated to 40 animals.

Local orca expert Alisa Schulman-Janiger said that one of the killer whales seen Thursday was a male known as "Scoopfin." The tagged orca was first documented in 1992 and is often seen near British Columbia. His last visit to Southern California was this past January.

"God blessed our efforts when I spotted the 'puffs of smoke' from a few miles away," Anderson said. "Soon we were with about 40 beautiful killer whales."

The trek 25-miles up the coast and 25-miles back brought the group of whale watchers home after dark.

"I think most of the whale watching Captains I know we're surprised we went for it," he said. "In fact, I won a breakfast in a bet with one that we wouldn't catch the whales before dark! It was a costly trip for us in fuel and time. But happy people got off our boat and I was one of them."

For twenty years Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari has offered year round, Eco-friendly, dolphin and whale watching excursions aboard unique, high-tech catamarans with exclusive features including Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods.

This time of year, gray whales are also cruising the coastline, so be sure to book your next whale watching tour soon.

Photos by Craig DeWitt/DolphinSafari.com