Gone Whale WatchingMission Bay · San Diego
San Diego's most intimate, Coast‑Guard‑inspected whale watching — fast, low‑to‑the‑water boats that get you within inches of wild whales and dolphins. Right now, the bay is thick with dolphins year‑round.
Low-profile 6-passenger boats — plus the 36ft "Hana Hou" catamaran — for 360° unobstructed views and no bad seats. Less than the big boats that pack 100+.
The longest range of any boats in San Diego — we cover twice the water in half the time.
"The best sightings percentage of any boat in San Diego."
Daily tours, year-round, on U.S. Coast Guard inspected vessels. The whales are always here — so are we.
Seven genuinely distinct trips — from the daily Signature run to a 5-hour extended whale watch and a 5-day Maui expedition. Real seasons, real odds, the right boat for each.
Year-round · 365 daysThe bread-and-butter — daily, year-round. Aboard the flagship "Hana Hou" catamaran (run at ~32 for intimacy) or a small 6-passenger boat. Sea lions, seabirds, dolphins by the hundreds, and whales along the San Diego coast.
See tour & book →
Winter / Spring · 6 guestsThe egalitarian budget option. Gray Whales and Pacific White-Sided Dolphins migrate close to shore, so a shorter trip works. "Every single human being deserves to experience these amazing animals up-close with no crowds."
Passports required$190 +taxRuns into outer Mexican waters. Winter–spring: Gray Whales by the dozen (some trips 100+), Humpbacks likely. Late summer–fall: Blue, Humpback, Fin, Bryde's, Minke + exotics; peak Humpback Oct–early Dec.
May – August"The very best opportunity in the world to see Blue Whales." 100% success finding Blue Whales late May through June since 2019; July well over 90%; over a 97% chance overall.
Late summer – fallDrones and a raised spotting platform locate the sharks, tied to a recently discovered local Great White nursery. Conditions-dependent (needs minimal swell). Private charters available if your date isn't listed.
See tour & book →
By arrangementAny tour above, by arrangement. Book by email or phone with your desired date and time and we'll check availability. The boat to yourselves.
See the trip →
Limited to 18 guests$2,300 ppA partner trip with Ultimate Whale Watch n Snorkel — 20+ hours on the water across 5 days. Includes a welcome dinner, snorkel with sharks & turtles, photography advice, a highlight video edited by Capt. Dom, and one free San Diego ticket.
See the trip →Not sure which trip? Answer three quick questions and we'll point you to the right boat for your month and budget. Two real published prices: $190 + tax (Premium 5-Hour) and $2,300/person (Maui); every other tour's dates & pricing live on the booking calendar.
Find your trip → Explore all 7 toursProximity and wildness — the thing a single photo can't carry. Every frame is real, shot on these waters off San Diego.
San Diego is a year-round whale coast. Here's the honest season-by-season breakdown — odds framed as real probabilities, never guarantees.
Southern California has arguably the most dolphins anywhere on earth — a ~95–98% chance of dolphins on every single trip.
Signature 2.5-Hour Tour →Peak Gray Whale season — roughly 20,000 grays migrate the California coast, close to shore.
Discount Winter/Spring Tour →Transition season, lots of variety: Gray, Fin, Humpback — even Blue Whales possible.
Signature / Premium 5-Hr →The largest animal to ever live — peak Blue Whale season. June has been the best month the past five years (numbers fluctuate year to year).
Extended Blue Whale Tours →Blue, Fin, Humpback and Bryde's all possible. Blues become much less likely on 2.5-hour tours by late July.
Extended Blue / Premium 5-Hr →The calmest seas of the year and prime Humpback season (Oct – mid-Dec). Exotics more typical; Gray Whales begin arriving around Christmas.
Signature / Premium 5-Hr →Common Dolphins (hundreds–thousands), Bottlenose, Pacific White-Sided & Risso's Dolphins · Blue, Gray, Humpback, Fin, Minke & Bryde's Whales · Beaked Whales*, Killer Whales*, False Killer Whales* · Sei Whales**, Pilot Whales**, Sperm Whales**.
* Rare — usually 5×/year or less. ** Exceptionally rare — once every few years.
Read the full month-by-month sightings guide →
Capt. Domenic Biagini · Wildlife Filmmaker
Gone Whale Watching is the pride and joy of Captain Domenic Biagini — a San Diego wildlife filmmaker and drone pilot who has spent years chasing whales for the world's biggest natural-history productions. His footage has appeared in the BBC's Blue Planet, National Geographic's Oceans with David Attenborough, Apple TV+'s Big Beasts, and NBC's The Americas (narrated by Tom Hanks).
That's the difference: this crew scouts, films, and knows the water. "Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our crew, we've locked in the various and ever-changing offshore summer habitats of California's Blue Whales." It's an enthusiast's operation that happens to take paying guests — conservation-minded, family-run, and proudly San Diego. "Family is the foundation we are built on."
The honest answers to the real booking questions. Anything else? Call (858) 500-2568.
See the full FAQ →Private charters, the 5-Day Maui Experience, group trips, and mission trips (like our Whale Watching for Cancer Research days) all book directly with us — not the online calendar. Tell us what you're after and we'll get back to you with availability.