Worth Watching Sea Show at Dana Point

Dana Point is one of those places where you feel like visiting again and again. Last time I came here with my friends and I must say that it was an amazing experience. I wanted to visit it again with my family especially with my kids because I’m sure they’re going to love this place too. As we planned for our trip to Dana Point, there was a big shopping list already prepared which had all the things to be taken there. We decided to order most of the items online from food and departmental, and babies and kids stores. Luckily we got good discount on our purchase as we used saving coupons, and at some stores we even got free shipping. We also ordered some stuff from apparel stores as we wanted some cool clothes for the kids and sunglasses, sunscreen and other accessories as our eyes and skin will be exposed to sun-rays.

Dana Point is located in Orange County, Southern California. It is a place where you see dolphin and whales jumping off and showing their moves. We left for the beach early in the morning. It was a bright sunny day. My kids were very excited to see the dolphins from such less distance. As we reached the harbor, there were other families and groups too, to watch the show.

First on Dana Wharf Whale Watch we saw two Blue whales off of Dana Point Harbor and Capistrano Beach about 3 miles offshore. They were moving back and forth parallel to the coast. There was one smaller whale and a very big whale. We saw these two blue whales and a couple pods of common dolphins on all four trips. Hopefully they will be there tomorrow. On the Sunset Cruise trip we had one close encounter with one of the whales as it surfaced and dived between the Dana Pride an another boat.

Sea lions on the green buoy off the Dana Point breakwater.

A common dolphin surface next to the Ocean Adventures during the 2:00 P.M. trip.

One of the two blue whales surfaces and. blows. These two whales stayed in the same area off the harbor all day.

The head of a blue whale as it blows. The splash guards and the rostral ridge on the head can be seen.

The back, the dorsal fin and the tail stock of one of the two blue whales. The whales would arch but neither one of them would fluke. This has been the best blue whale season off of Dana Point ever.

Dana Wharf Whale Watch 7/14/2018. Today we saw four different dolphins. On the 8:00 A.M. trip, we saw a pod of about 25 Risso's dolphins 5 miles off the beach on south of the San Clemente pier. We also saw them on the 10:00 A.M. trip. They were spread over a wide area and two of them were in a pod of common dolphins that we saw first. Then we found the scattered pod. On another trip we found a pod of about 20 offshore bottle-nose dolphins about 2 miles off the harbor moving up the coast. On our 6:00 P.M. trip, we spotted a pod of common dolphins below the harbor and then about 4 coastal bottle-nose dolphins in the harbor entrance leaving the harbor. The Dolphin days of Summer.

A Risso's dolphin surfaces off the starboard side of the Ocean Adventures. You can see the melon, the eye the back and the dorsal fin. They were scattered over a wide area and two were seen in a pod of common dolphins that we approached first.

Another view of a Risso's dolphin as it passes the boat. The dolphin surfaces and blows.

A Risso's dolphin surfaces next to the boat. We could follow them just below the water as they swam alongside and very close to the boat. My kids were bit scared at this point when the dolphin was so near but then they enjoyed this moment too. Here you can see the loss of black pigment in the skin, the extensive scarring on the body and the dorsal fin. The adults turn almost all white on the body and head. Individuals can be identified by the scars on the dorsal fin.

Another Risso's dolphin surfaces pushing a wave of water ahead of it as it surfaces and blows. Here the extensive scarring can be seen on the body and the dorsal fin. Risso's are considered to be Winter Residents and are rare in summer. They feed on market squid in Southern California and in Monterey Bay.

The back and dorsal fin of another individual. This animal appears to be a younger animal with less white scarring and more black on the body. The dorsal fin is scarred with numerous white spots. You can see these spots if you pass by close to them.

A common dolphin swimming under water, alongside the Ocean Adventures. The dolphin has started to exhale underwater starting on the left and continues to exhale before surfacing to blow and taking a breath.

California sea lions resting on the San Juan Rock buoy just off of Dana Point.

Sunset at the Strand Beach. The Sunlight reflects off the windows of the home on the Strand. Taken during the 6:00 P.M. Sunset Whale Watch Cruise.

This picture was taken when we were leaving Dana Point and coming back to the harbor. This was the time we all we tired and exhausted but all of this was worth-it as we had a lifetime experience observing these creatures from so close. My kids also enjoyed and they intent to come back here soon.

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