let's go whale watching!
WITH OCEANSIDE ADVENTURES
Contributing Writer & Photographer: Jordan YounisÂ
There’s no shortage of things to do in Oceanside, but the fun doesn’t stop on land. Discover even more entertainment waiting just off the city’s pristine shores.
Your adventure will start in the Oceanside Harbor on the city’s north end, where a flurry of tour boats and charters depart daily. There you’ll find Oceanside Adventures, the premier whale watching and dolphin cruise company, and their two luxury vessels.
- Nala – A brand new 63 foot, state-of-the-art catamaran with one-of-a-kind custom wrap designed by internationally renowned marine life artist & champion of the environment Wyland. His larger than life graphic masterpiece features visuals of a blue whale mom and baby. Nala is complete with a bar for refreshments and a raised platform for optimal 360 degree viewing.
- Oceanside Adventures – Their signature 45-passenger catamaran, also boasting a Wyland masterpiece featuring depictions of local wildlife, has both covered and uncovered seating and is wheelchair accessible.Â
Their most popular tour lasts two hours and shuttles everyone from individuals, to families, to private parties straight to the vibrant ecosystem just a few miles off the coast. Once you’re underway, you’ll hear from an expert captain and naturalist, who will narrate your experience and tell you about the wildlife around you. You may relax inside the covered portion of the boat or stand at the bow or the sides as you make your way off the coast.
Oceanside is situated along the migration routes of several majestic species, so you will have the chance to spot pods of dolphins, diving whale tales, blowhole spouts, and even—if you’re lucky—breaching whales. You’ll have the opportunity to see minke whales, fin whales, and humpbacks year round. Grey whale season runs between November and April, and between May and October, you may catch a glimpse of the blue whale, which is the largest whale species on earth. Orcas and sharks may also be spotted on occasion, and you’re sure to see dolphins gliding through the blue waters as they do at all times of the year here since they don’t migrate.
What can you see?
November to April
- Gray Whales
- Minke Whales
- Humpback Whales
- Fin Whales
- All 4 species of dolphins
- Sea birds
- Sea lions
May to October
- Fin Whales
- Blue Whales
- Minke Whales
- Humpback Whales
- All 4 species of dolphins
- Sea birds
- Sea lions
Other Potential Sightings
- Killer Whales
- Pilot Whales
- Sea turtles
- Sharks
- Large fish and other marine life
Luckily, whales and dolphins are active at all times per day, making this a very schedule-friendly activity. Be sure to book your visit in advance as tours can book up quickly for this magical, up-close experience of our amazing marine ecosystem.