Whale Watching

Birch Aquarium Daily
Whale Watching

619-234-4111. Witness the gray whale migration with the experts of world-famous Birch Aquarium at Scripps during daily whale watching trips. Scripps naturalists are aboard every cruise to help you spot the whales and other interesting sea life. Naturalists will also share whale artifacts and specimens with you and you'll receive a take-home packet plus a "Whale-of-a-Savings" coupon to harbor attractions and restaurants. Call for information on Birch Aquarium's whale expeditions to Mexico, too. 858-534-FISH.

H&M Landing

619-222-1144. Cruises range from three to five hours in the waters off Point Loma and the Coronado Islands, Mexico's marine wildlife sanctuary off the San Diego coast. View seabirds, sea lions and elephant seals and enjoy the interpretive narration by the trained and knowledgeable staff. Appeals to both children and adults. Whale sightings are guaranteed on all trips! Once you've sighted a whale, you'll receive an official H&M whale spotter certificate. Dec. 17 to mid-March. Discounts for seniors, juniors and military.

Hornblower Cruises
Whale Watching with San Diego Natural History Museum Naturalists

619-686-8715. 1066 North Harbor Drive. See gray whales, sea lions,four species of dolphins and more marine life on this 3.5 hour adventure on large, safe, stable boats. Included are a narrated harbor cruise and commentary from Captains and trained museum naturalists. An educational whale exhibit includes fossils and video. Available: Binocular rentals, souvenirs and elaborate snack and beverage bar. Discounts for children,seniors, military, and groups. www.hornblower.com Sightings guaranteed. The gentle giants of the sea migrate along our coastline from now through March. They've left the frigid Arctic to visit the warm, sheltered lagoons of Baja California in Mexico. There, some will mate, others will give birth and all will take advantage of plentiful food sources.

San Diego's whale watching cruises offer you many options to experience the whales up close. These include smaller, intimate sailing vessels and spacious yachts. Both offer advantages for unique experiences on the sea.

What to bring:  Camera and/or camcorder, binoculars, Dramamine (for sea sickness), windbreaker, rubber-soled shoes, sunscreen and any necessary medications.

Time of outing: Approximate 2-3 1/2 hours.

Fact: Dress in layers. Whale watching is an ocean voyage. These outings will take guests about five miles off shore. You'll want to stay outdoor to see the sights, so dress in layers complete with a warm jacket. You can always peel off items as the sun warms you up, but it is at least 10 degrees cooler on the water than on land.

It takes about 25 minutes to get out to the whales. The scenery is beautiful. You will see the magnificent San Diego skyline, Coronado Island, all the surrounding marinas and the famous Point Loma Lighthouse and Cabrillo National Monument.

Fact: Look for cruises that have trained naturalists or experienced captains narrating; they will provide the necessary context to the amazing experience of seeing the whales.

Other wild creatures we observed were seals, sea lions, gulls and dolphins.

Fact: The travel companions of gray whales are dolphins and porpoises. Whale watchers have seen many varieties of dolphins on the cruises. The brown pelican, an endangered species, is a common sight on the cruises, along with harbor seals and sea lions.

Fact: The gray whale population neared extinction in the early 1900s. Through education and environmental action, the population is thriving again. The larger whale watching yachts offer three- to five-hour expeditions and accommodate over 200 passengers. They include outdoor and indoor seating, galley lounges with hot food, beverage service, and restrooms on board.

If you prefer to view the whales from a large vessel and a higher vantage point (about 25 feet above the water), the following companies offer daily whale watching cruises through March; H&M Landing, Hornblower Cruises, San Diego Harbor Excursion and Islandia Sportfishing.

Fact: Seeing the gray whale is an adventure. If you bring the proper equipment you can capture many whale behaviors on the cruise such as a spout or a fluke up or fluke down. (If the tail is brought straight up so you can see the ventral (bottom) side, it's called fluke up. At other times, the flukes may clear the water but remain turned down, or fluke down).

The cruises occasionally capture a whale breaching, the ultimate in all whale watching. Breaching occurs when a gray whale powerfully leaps out of the water, generally clearing the surface with two-thirds of its body or more and then falls back with a resounding splash.

Whether you're an adventurer and seek an up close whale watching experience from a smaller vessel or you prefer the comfort of a fully-powered ship, you can enjoy whale watching tailored to your specific needs in San Diego.