Dana Point's premier water adventures - whales, dolphins, and coastline thrills.
Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching Dana Point offers memorable Dana Point experiences on the water, with fishing charters and whale-watching tours aboard the Dana Pride and other vessels. The crew is praised as knowledgeable and friendly, delivering safe, engaging trips. Guests report dolphin and sea-lion sightings, occasional whales, easy check-in, snacks on board, and Tuesday half-price tours.
34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629, USA
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2-4 hour guided tours to spot gray whales, humpbacks, blue whales, and more with expert naturalist commentary and guaranteed whale sighting or return ticket.
Half-day and full-day fishing trips targeting local species like yellowtail, calico bass, and halibut with all gear provided and crew assistance.
Excursions focused on observing bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, sea lions, and other coastal wildlife in their natural habitat.
Customized boat rentals for special events, corporate outings, or family gatherings with dedicated crew and flexible itineraries.
School field trips and group tours with marine biology-focused guides, perfect for learning about ocean ecosystems.
Overall rating
Kamelia Sadeghi
It was an amazing day! January in California is gorgeous. We saw two fin whales (possibly mating), common dolphins, bottle nose dolphins, sea lion feeding, the whole show with a sun setting! Glorious day I will not forget on a spacious catamaran!!! The staff was amazing too!! Thank you!
David Oakes
My wife and I had a great time today going whale watching with Dana Wharf! Unfortunately, we didn’t see any whales on our 2 hour trip, but we came upon a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins and it was incredible! The crew were great and extremely knowledgeable and safe. They even gave us a 30% discount for a future whale watching tour because we didn’t see any whales. The check in was super easy and the ride on the Dana Pride was super smooth and fun. There is a great coffee shop and restaurant next to them so we were able to grab coffee and danish beforehand and lunch afterwards. We went on the 10am tour and it was pretty chilly. I highly recommend wearing a warm jacket and bring binoculars. They offer snacks, hot chocolate and coffee on the boat but remember to bring cash because it’s cash only for snacks on the boat. We will definitely be returning to use our discounts! Pro Tip: Go on a Tuesday when they offer half price tours! Overall a great and unforgettable experience!
Arnold A
Man, I went whale watching out in Dana Point thinkin’ I was about to see some giant ocean daddy rise outta the water like the Lord himself was rebooting Free Willy. But nah… Them whales must’ve been on a smoke break or dealing with some personal stuff. Didn’t see a single one. Not even a tail. Not even a splash. Not even a “my bad, bro.” But the dolphins, dude… They pulled up like they’d been training for this moment since the Bush administration. We’re talkin’ 30, 40 of these little sea ninjas, jumpin’ around, racin’ the boat, showin’ off like they were tryin’ to get drafted to SeaWorld’s varsity team. One of them did a flip so aggressive I’m pretty sure he’s got beef with gravity. The crew was cool too — real laid-back folks. They’re tellin’ us facts about marine life while I’m standin’ there thinkin’ “If I fell in the water right now, these dolphins would either save me… or steal my girl.” They’ve got that kind of energy. But honestly? Great trip. Beautiful views. Fresh air. Saw more dolphins than an energy drink commercial. And even though the whales didn’t show up, I kinda respect it. Sometimes you just don’t feel like going to work, man. Even if you’re 80,000 pounds and live in the ocean. I'd go again for sure. Next time, maybe the whales will clock in. But if not, the dolphins will still be out there actin’ like they own the place
Wendy Wabel
We went out on Whale Watching Tour today. We saw many birds, dolphins & a humpback whale. At the point we were in the middle of a dolphin stampede with dolphins everywhere. It was amazing to see. We also learned the humpback we saw today, Dec 7, was last seen Nov 9. We were able to spot it several times and got several pictures of it's tail. On the way back we saw a sea lion & her baby. It was an awesome day. Can't wait to go again.
Jasmine Burch
Dana Wharf whale watching is an amazing experience! I would highly recommend! I took my aunt who was visiting from Ohio and she had a blast. It was a beautiful day, the weather was great, and the crew (Captain Emily, and Austin) was awesome! They were kind and very knowledgeable of the water and the different animals. We didn’t see any whales on our particular trip, but we saw lots of dolphins and sea lions. I would definitely do it again!
