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GRAY WHALE
SEASON...December through April!
Blue
Whale Season ****May through October****
(Balaenoptera
musculus)
Photo taken by Capt. Dave Anderson on July 12th, just off
the Dana Point Headlands
The Blue whale is, and always has been, the largest
animal ever to exist on earth. This whale can grow to a length of 33m
(110ft) and weigh 200 tons, about a ton per foot, but on the average it is
much smaller. The Blue whale is called a "rorqual" a Norwegian
word for "furrow" and refers to the pleated grooves running from
its chin to its navel. The throat grooves, in addition to streamlining the
shape of the whale, allow the throat area to expand tremendously during
feeding, and can hold 1,000 tons or more of food and water when fully
expanded. By taking tons of water into its mouth and filtering out the
fish or krill with its baleen plates a medium-sized Blue whale can eat
over four tons of krill a day.
Before man's intervention there were 228,000 Blue
whales. Between 1904 and 1978, whalers hunted the seas for this huge
cetacean, most were taken in the southern hemisphere, many against the
law. Current figures suggest that less than 12,000 animals are left.
Now on the endangered list, the Blue Whale is protected (since 1967)
worldwide by international law. It is not to be hunted by anyone for any
reason at all. It is believed that some populations may never recover.
Several
Trips to Choose From
| Prices |
2½-hour
Safari
$55 per adult
$35 (3-12
years)
2 and
under are free!
Come alone, bring a friend,
or plan a party!
We can accommodate
groups up to 49 persons,
or more upon request
Please call for more information.
|
Departure
Times
(Departure times vary during whale watching and in the
summer months) |
Daily
trips are available
Call for exact times
Or book a private charter at a time of your choice |
To
Book your
own Safari: |
(949)488-2828 |
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Reservations are necessary
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Please
note, once reservations are made, we do not accept cancellations.
For
more info |
Prices are subject to change without notice.
Please call the company directly to verify current prices.
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Frequently
Asked Questions
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| What Should We
Bring?: |
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 Think
of your trip as if you were coming sailing with a small group of
friends. What would you like to have along? Sodas? Crackers
& Cheese? Wine? Feel free to bring it aboard. We do recommend
plastics cups.
Other items you might
like to have with you:
Cameras. Extra film. Binoculars. Sunscreen. A jacket or
windbreaker. You get the idea!
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How should
we dress?
It's generally about 10
to 15 degrees colder out on the water, so a good idea is to layer your
clothes. A shirt, sweatshirt and jacket make a winning
combination. Whenever possible, wear tennis or deck shoes,
preferably with non-marking (non-black) soles. |
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Is there a
bathroom on board?
Yes, it is below deck so
you must be able to climb down a small boat ladder - three rungs - to
get to it. |
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Can I
video tape?
Of course! |
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How far
out do you go?
Usually no more than 3
miles. We can go up to 8 miles from time to time, depending on
where the dolphins are. |
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How old
does my child have to be and how much will it cost?
We don't have an age
limitation, however, we do notice that most children under 3 years old
get bored or fall asleep. We do go out of our way to make the
trip more fun for them using miniature scale models of the whales and
dolphins, as well as letting them see and touch actual whale baleen
and whale vertebrae. We even let them take a turn at steering
the boat! We also have life vests for
children, but you are welcome to bring your own. The cost for children
is $35. |
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How far
ahead of time should we check in?
Generally, 10 to 15
minutes is plenty of time. Allow a little more on busy weekend
afternoons to find a parking spot.. |
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What
should I do about sea sickness?
If someone in your group has had
problems with motion sickness in the past or you are concerned,
consult your pharmacist. There are some new and improved ways to
avoid this and they should be able to help you. If you do decide
to take something, make certain that you do so at least one full hour
prior to the trip's departure. Eat lightly beforehand, avoid
spicy foods, carbonated beverages, get plenty of sleep the night
before and avoid alcohol the night before. |
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What's the
best time of day to locate the whales and dolphins?
It's just about the same on each
trip. The morning trips are calmer because there is less wind, so we
can spot disturbances in the water more easily. However, the later
trips have the advantage of knowing the history from the prior trips.
It's really up to you! |
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What if
it rains or gets foggy?
If it's safe, we go! Fortunately,
we don't usually get much rain here in Southern California. But for
those times, the captain will make a decision as to the safety of the
voyage just prior to departure time. You should be prepared and at the
dock, ready to go! We do keep a few rain ponchos on board, but
feel free to bring your own. We have a dodger (a type of canvas
windshield with windows) and a salon below where you can go to stay
dry.
Can
I cancel my trip?
No. However, if you do
notify us that you will not be able to make your reserved time, we
will make every effort to fill your seats. If we're
successful, we'll issue a credit which you can use at a later time.
If we aren't able to assist you in filling your seats, you are
responsible for your tickets. |
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Will I get wet?
No, there is no water coming over the sides, or 'tipping' of
the boat. Folks who stay in the cockpit will be quite dry.
You CAN get wet if you want to, no extra charge for that!
The forward deck and trampoline of the boat is low to the water so
that you can get closer to the dolphins, but that means that you will
almost definitely get wet. |
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What if we don't
see whales or dolphins?
Then you'll have had a great 2 1/2 hour adventure aboard a
sailboat, seen the beautiful coastline, enjoyed the fresh air and had
a wonderful chance to relax and be refreshed! If you
decide to come again, and we don't see whales or dolphins on that trip
either, then you can keep coming at no charge until you do!
Remember that Capt. Dave locates dolphins well over 85% of the time
throughout the year on our Dolphin Safari's, and during the whale
migration, we have even more to see!
Should we tip the Captain?
Gratuities are never expected, but always appreciated!
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Call us at (949)488-2828 or
email us at
captdave@cox.net
for additional information.
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Use
the valuable coupon for 10% off, must mention coupon when placing reservation.
| Region |
Cost |
| Orange County, Southern California
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$35-$55 |
 |
Contact:
Captain Dave's Dolphin Safari
34451 Ensenada Place
Dana Point, CA 92629
Phone: 949.488.2828
Email: captdave@cox.net
Directions:
Map courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing
From the Los Angeles
area, take the Interstate 5 Freeway South and exit at PCH North.
Proceed on PCH North and turn left at the second traffic light which
is Dana Point Harbor Drive. Proceed down Dana Point Harbor Drive.
About one mile later, turn left at Ensenada Place, located just before
the Youth & Group Center. Our Dolphin Deck, located on the second
floor of this small BLUE building is easily visible from Dana Point
Harbor Drive. You'll see a crow's nest, lots of blue umbrellas
offering shade at our lovely tables and chairs where you can relax,
sip a cool drink and even have a sandwich, while waiting for your
trip. Parking is free in the lot, and there is plenty of street
parking close by.
From the San Diego Area: take the Interstate 5 Freeway North
and exit at Beach Cities North. Proceed on PCH North and turn left at
the second traffic light which is Dana Point Harbor Drive. Proceed
down Dana Point Harbor Drive. About one mile later, turn left at
Ensenada Place, located just before the Youth & Group Center. Our
Dolphin Deck, located on the second floor of this small BLUE building
is easily visible from Dana Point Harbor Drive. You'll see a crow's
nest, lots of blue umbrellas offering shade at our lovely tables and
chairs where you can relax, sip a cool drink and even have a sandwich,
while waiting for your trip. Parking is free in the lot, and there is
plenty of street parking close by.
From Newport,
Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, etc.: travelling south on Pacific
Coast Highway, turn right on Golden Lantern, then right on Dana Point
Harbor Drive. About 1/2 mile later, turn left at Ensenada Place,
located just before the Youth & Group Center. Our Dolphin Deck,
located on the second floor of this small BLUE building is easily
visible from Dana Point Harbor Drive. You'll see a crow's nest, lots
of blue umbrellas offering shade at our lovely tables and chairs where
you can relax, sip a cool drink and even have a sandwich, while
waiting for your trip. Parking is free in the lot, and there is plenty
of street parking close by.
Although you've reserved your trip with a Visa, MC, or AE, we don't
process that unless you don't show, because we do not accept
cancellations. You can pay by Visa, MC, traveler's check, or cash.
You'll get a ticket and can give that to the Captain once you're on
the boat.
If you have any last minute questions, please feel
free to call us at (949)488-2828.
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address above.
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