07/22/2025
🐋 1 Humpback Whale, a Dolphin Trifecta, and 2 Mola Molas!
Beneath this morning’s overcast skies, the day began with a pod of ~30 Risso’s Dolphins actively feeding 5.3 miles off Laguna Main Beach. South of the Dana Point Harbor, multiple pods of Common Dolphin, many with calves in tow delighted our passengers.
As we departed the harbor at noon, Captain Steve spotted the blow of an adult Humpback Whale just 3 miles offshore. This whale had a consistent dive pattern, surfacing for 3–5 blows before sounding for 4–6 minutes. Occasionally, it surprised us with split dives, resurfacing after just 1–2 minutes and fluking before every dive. We then headed southwest and found a Megapod of Common Dolphin 4 miles off the San Clemente Pier. Stretching more than a mile wide, these dolphins displayed a variety of behaviors with some groups hunting with sea birds overhead, others raced over to bow-ride the Ocean Adventure, while others were leaping high into the air. Surrounded by thousands of dolphins and seabirds like Pelicans, Gulls, and Terns, it was an incredible encounter. As we returned to the harbor, a pod of 8–10 Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins, including a calf decided to bow ride as the group cruised south and then turned back north.
On our final trip of the day, we headed north to catch up with the Humpback Whale near Laguna Main Beach, which still maintained its earlier dive pattern. We spotted several more pods of Common Dolphin on our return south. Likely same large male California Sea Lion was lounging on his usual rock inside the inner jetty this afternoon.
Report & 📸 Laura Lopez
Drone 📸 Gavriel Berghouse
