Whale Watching in San Diego

Gray whales are the type of whale that is most commonly found in the San Diego area. As the name implies, gray whales are gray with light white patches. Gray whales also like to swim closer to the shore than their blue counterparts, so they are often easier to spot.

Gray whales spend their winter months near southern California and migrate north for the summer. The gray whale’s migration pattern is one of the longest of any animal on earth.

Blue whales are another species of whale that pass through the San Diego area, usually in the summer. Blue whales are currently highly endangered, with only a few thousand left in the world. However, they like to migrate through the San Diego area because the area is full of krill.

Blue whales are extremely large - they typically weigh between 100,000 and 300,000 pounds and can be up to 100 feet in length. Their migration patterns can vary and are sometimes difficult to track, but they migrate south to the tropics in the winter and north to the Arctic in the summer. It’s during the transitional migration period that they pass through San Diego.

The humpback whale is a unique species that is known for their distinct shape. Their heads have a grooved, bumpy texture, and they are a deep blue color with white markings on their stomachs. Humpback whales are also known for jumping out of the water and are more likely to do this than other whale species.

Groups of humpback whales pass through the San Diego area during their migration process. Humpbacks spend their winters in the tropics, where they have their calves, and their summers in the Arctic, where they feed on krill and other prey in the area.

The fin whale is another whale species that is found in San Diego throughout the year. They are the second largest whale in the world, after the blue whale.

Fin whales are very sleek and are also capable of traveling very fast, sometimes as quickly as 30 miles per hour. They are also known for their unique coloring, which is white on one side of the jaw and black on the other.

Minke whales are rare in San Diego, but there is a small group that occasionally passes through the area. They are small and relatively fast, and are typically found on their own. They have a dark gray and white color pattern.

Orcas are often known as killer whales and are known for their distinct black and white color pattern. They have large teeth and are known to occasionally attack calves of other whale species. However, they are not dangerous to humans. Although they are called killer whales, orcas are actually part of the dolphin family.

Orcas tend to live in groups and are very social, developing close bonds with their families. Orca sightings in San Diego are incredibly rare, but they do happen a few times per year.

There are a number of dolphin species that live in the San Diego area. Some of the species you may see on a San Diego whale watch include the bottlenose dolphin, the common dolphin, and Pacific white sided dolphin.

Dolphins are very social, so you’ll typically see them in a large pod. These pods can sometimes have hundreds of dolphins in them. They use echolocation to find their prey, which normally consists of fish.

Dolphin species can swim very quickly, often reaching speeds well over 30 miles per hour. If you’re lucky, you may even see a dolphin jump out of the water! Many dolphin species live in the San Diego area year-round, but some migrate here during the winter because of relatively warm water temperatures.

While not as majestic as whales, sea lions are still an integral part of San Diego’s marine wildlife. You’ll typically see them laying out in the sun at La Jolla Cove, but you may also see them swimming and playing in the water.

Sea lions are very social and like to spend their time in large groups. When they do decide to swim, they can dive as far as 900 feet underwater. They are very vocal and tend to have charming and friendly personalities.

San Diego has a huge population of leopard sharks, a species of mid-sized fish that are known for their spots. Their name is somewhat of a misnomer - they are actually harmless to humans and will hide from loud noises. While you’ll typically need to go snorkeling to see leopard sharks, you may see them on a whale watch if they’re swimming in a large group.