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TOUR COMPANY Capt. Dave's Whale & Dolphin Safari Southern California, CA Dolphin Safari Website

Get Personal with Dolphins and Whales

While visiting Southern California, a memorable experience awaits your family. Climb aboard Captain Dave’s hi-tech sailing catamaran and take part in a Whale or Dolphin Safari along the Orange County coast. At the helm is Captain David Anderson, who is Coast Guard licensed and a qualified marine naturalist. Captain Dave’s goal is to give his guests an unforgettable experience that is enhanced by sharing his wealth of information about local marine and mammal life. Excursions usually last a generous two and a half hours. However, if it’s time to head back to the dock, and dolphins or whales have just been sighted, Captain Dave is known for staying out longer so guests can thoroughly enjoy the trip.

A memorable experience awaits your family

The 50-foot sailing catamaran Manute’a can take up to 49 passengers. If the wind is right, the sails are hoisted and passengers can enjoy the quiet thrill of sailing too. The vessel is designed especially for dolphin and whale excursions, and is completely outfitted with the latest in communications systems, global positioning satellite (GPS) equipment, digital video camera, hydrophone, underwater speakers, and a protected cockpit area, making the outing a complete sensory experience. The coast just off Dana Point in southern Orange County is home to a number of dolphin and whale species. Offshore, Bottlenose Dolphin have been sighted in pods up to 100, the Pacific White-Sided Dolphin in pods up to 50, the Risso’s Dolphin in similar pod sizes and the Pacific Common Dolphin in mega-pods numbering as many as 5,000! From December through April, approximately 500 to 700 California Gray Whales migrate past Dana Point. In the summer months, giant Blue Whales, the largest animals to ever road the planet, are frequently spotted. From time to time, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, Orcas, Sperm Whales, Fin Whales and Dahl’s Porpoise might also be seen.

Scale models of Cetaceans as well as actual whale baleen, authentic whale teeth, actual 18th century harpoon, Fin whale ear bone and a variety of other items can be found in Captain Dave’s onboard micro-museum, adding an exciting and educational dimension to the dolphin and whale safari experience. A trip aboard Captain Dave’s hi-tech sailing catamaran includes many unique features, including:

• A specially designed underwater video camera that offers one of the most exciting experiences available on the water. View dolphin underwater from the cockpit’s color monitor as they swim, feed and play beneath the boat.
• A research-quality hydrophone enables passengers to hear underwater sounds of the mammals, such as clicking, whistling and other echolocation sounds.
• A special transducer system approved by the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) lets Captain Dave play low-frequency sounds underwater, such as piano music or the voice of a child sitting in the cockpit.Just forward of the cockpit area, the vessel has a special “Tram Net” designed to let guests suspend themselves just inches from the water, where they can almost touch the dolphins as they play directly below on the wake of the catamaran’s dual bows.
• Triple-fudge brownies sent along by Mrs. Captain Dave!
• A special collection from around the world of whale and dolphin items; Gray Whale baleen, Sperm Whale teeth, shark teeth, vertebrae, scale models of the various cetaceans we see, and other artifacts used during our “Dolphin & Whale talk” on the ride back home add an exciting dimension to the trips.
• The world's only Eye to eye Underwater Viewing Pod where you can see whales up-close, and be one of the pod!