whale watching tour oceanside

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Oceanside Dolphin Adventures

We are Oceanside Dolphin Adventures , North County San Diego’s top-rated luxury whale and dolphin watching company located in front of the historic Lighthouse in beautiful Oceanside Harbor offering daily tours all year round.

Come out with us for an awe-inspiring dolphin and whale watching adventure in Oceanside, CA. Our trips are two hours long and are great for families, couples, private parties, and corporate events; for anyone and everyone who loves the ocean or the wildlife we may encounter, our adventure is perfect!

Each trip is narrated by an expert captain, a certified naturalist who loves whales and dolphins just like you do. View our calendar and book your adventure!

DOLPHIN & WHALE WATCHING

Excursion overview.

• View Dolphins, Whales and Sea Lions. Occasionally we observe other marine life as well, such as Mola mola, Swordfish or Sharks!
• Take incredible photographs of marine life.
• The excursion takes 90 minutes once you leave the dock.
•  We carry a maximum of 6 passengers to keep your experience more intimate.
• A USCG Licensed Captain and accredited biologist will be guiding your tour.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Private charter.

Avoid the crowds and climb aboard vessels that allow you to have a closer look. Experience all our ocean has to offer from the comfort of your own party.

Sportfishing

Oceanside Sea Center has 5 boats to meet your needs.  We offer fishing, whale watching and burials at sea.  Please contact us for a private charter.

In addition, we would like to say that all of us here at OSC are thrilled that COVID restrictions have been relaxed, but out of caution, we are still running trips at limited capacity. 

Our tackle shop and office remains open to purchase fishing licenses, tackle, bait and supplies. We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

This Months trips!

Sheepshead Tournament Starts March 1st! Win a Free Punch Card! 

See our instagram for more details

Daily 1/2 days 

Friday & Saturday Twilights on the Chubasco 2 

Keep a lookout on our schedule for spots and special trips!

Looking for a private boat? Charter trips are available for booking, and we will do our absolute best to accommodate your needs.

Questions? Check out our FAQ or, Give us a call!  (760)-450-0403

Floating Science Programs

Come abord the Sea Star with Captain Joe and learn about Marine life!

Please inquire about our Floating Science Programs.  We can help teach youngsters about Marine Biology and our Oceanside Harbor marine environment.

TACKLE SHOP

 WE ARE OPEN!!  The Oceanside Sea Center tackle shop is a fishing license sales agent that has the privilege of selling them onsite. Our tackle shop carries everything that the pier/bay fishermen would use to the angler that has everything in his tackle box. Izorline mono/fluoro carbon, Hookup baits, AA plastics, Candy Bar lures, Mega Baits, Mustad, Owner, Gamakatsu hooks, live and frozen bait to name just a few and of course the exclusive Oceanside Sea Center apparel. If you love to fish and you are in Oceanside this is a must stop.

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REVIEWS- CLICK LINKS BELOW

YELP REVIEWS

TRIPADVISOR

Captain Joe Cacciola aboard the Sea Star on one of his floating marine biology science labs showing some of the students the catches made from the otter trawl net.

Unlike any other landing experience, we have put our emphasis on highlighting marine stewardship through a partnership with the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER), a non-profit research group based in Oceanside that supports sustainable recreational and commercial operations.

The Sea Center brings together Captain Joe Cacciola of Sea Star Charters and Captain Ernie Prieto of Chubasco Sportfishing to develop a new landing experience in Oceanside Harbor. The landing will continue to offer traditional open party sportfishing trips with an emphasis on customer service, community involvement and the consistency you deserve.

Capt. Joe Cacciola

Capt. Ernie Prieto

Fish Reports

The Sea Center will also offer an array of activities for all age groups, including whale watching trips, eco-tours and floating science programs. The Center will place emphasis on highlighting marine stewardship through a partnership with the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER), a non-profit research group based in Oceanside that supports sustainable recreational and commercial operations.

Oceanside Whale Watching, Sailboat Rentals, Sunset Cruises

WELCOME TO SUNSET SAILS!

Oceanside, California Sailing Tours Sailing Daily, All Year Round Se Habla Español

Join us for a leisurely Sunset S ail , or whale watching cruise . Our sailboats are meticulously maintained and designed to ensure that you will enjoy your experience while aboard in comfort and confidence. We enjoy year around sailing spotting dolphin, whales and sea life just offshore.

Designed for your enjoyment, our sailboats include all the amenities one could ask for. Sit back and relax in the oversized fully cushioned cockpit.  Experience first hand the feeling of coming about, or sailing downwind, floating along in comfort and confidence. Witness the annual migration of the California Gray Whale as they travel south to the birthing lagoons of Mexico. These whales feed in shallow water and it is common to observe them close to our shoreline. The dolphins are very friendly and often come to our boat to say hello and ride the bow wave.

Rare Sighting on Whale Watching Tour

What began as a beautiful Southern California day for a whale watching trip, suddenly became a once in a lifetime experience for all those aboard the Oceanside Adventure’s catamaran on Friday, November 4th.

1st Mate, Joe Tripiciano, recalls the events that happened during this extraordinary cruise:

Our 12pm trip provided a first time experience for both the Captain and myself: the sighting of a humpback whale and her newborn calf. We first spotted the pair about three miles North of Oceanside Harbor, and three miles off the shore of USMC Base, Camp Pendleton. Typically, we spot a whale’s vapor plume long before the whale itself. However, it was the mother’s large foot print – the slick spot on the surface created by the displacement of water by her fluke – that first caught our attention. When the mother did come up for a breath it was obvious that this was easily the largest humpback we’d seen all summer.

We changed course to follow the whale. Each of her vapor plumes were very pronounced, indicative of the type of deep breaths that follow a deeper dive, yet she maintained an unusual cycle of only two breaths per surfacing. Once she finished her short breathing cycle we spotted the extremely small calf she had in tow. The tiny whale’s dimensions, between ten and twelve feet in length (similar in size and weight to a bottlenose dolphin) led us to believe that we had stumbled upon a brand new addition to the humpback population. Its exceptionally small size meant that we were able to catch a glimpse of the whales face the same way we do with dolphins when they come up for air. We even witnessed a few breathing cycles of the mother where she came up right beneath the calf as to aid it to the surface with the top her head so that it could breath.

Our newborn’s breathing cycle was much shorter than the mother’s. For every two breaths the mother would take, at approximately 8 minute intervals, the calf would only stay down for about a minute. It’s short, white pectoral fins were clearly visible from the surface. Their pace had been considerably slow and we can only assume it was in order to compensate for the smaller whale’s recent introduction to the ocean. We clocked them at 1.5 knots (nearly two miles an hour) as they swam down the coast in 50 fathoms (300 feet) of water. We also observed the calf emerging on either side of its mother over the twenty minutes we were able to follow them. While it’s only speculation, the alternating pattern of movement suggests that we were watching the calf come up for air between nursing sessions.

Needless to say, the entire event was as uniquely entertaining for ourselves as it was for the passengers on board. Watching an animal the size of our vessel dwarf her newly born offspring (who in turn dwarfs even NBA athletes) was a very special and unexpected surprise.

Oceanside Adventures Luxury Cruises offers daily, year-round whale watching and dolphin tours from Oceanside Harbor providing the perfect adventure for anyone and everyone that loves the ocean or the wildlife they may encounter! Tickets can also be purchased at the California Welcome Center – Oceanside .

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Amazing Things to Do in Oceanside, California

A seaside oasis of outdoor recreation and beautiful sandy beaches. This is Oceanside , San Diego County’s northern-most Pacific Ocean coastal town. So much positive change has come to this beachy paradise in the last few years, that it truly puts the “oh….” in Oceanside! And it’s considered San Diego’s hottest beach town yet very family-friendly to boot. 

With an average year-round temperature of 72 degrees, three-and-a-half miles of sandy beaches, world-class surf conditions, a historic wooden pier, and a Cape Cod-style harbor village, what’s not to love about this quintessential Southern California coastal community? So many things to do in Oceanside will keep you busy for a day trip, or better yet, a weekend getaway (check out these fantastic Oceanside vacation rentals or recommended Oceanside Hotels here>>)

The town’s laid-back, “live and let live” attitude sets the stage for a relaxing, historic, cultural, fun-filled coastal escape. And believe me, the food and brew scene alone is well worth the visit. What is there to do here? The better question is, how will you fit it all in? No worries, however, as this local San Diego writer who happens to love this town is here to suggest the not-to-be-missed jewels of Oceanside.

Amazing Things to Do in Oceanside

Oceanside pier.

There’s no better place to watch surfers and local fishermen than the bustling Oceanside Pier , the longest over-water wooden pier on the West Coast. 1,942 feet long, this easily walkable promenade is ideal for catching the sun disappearing over the horizon and lighting up the evening sky with a myriad of colors.

Plan to spend some time exploring the oceanfront strand, as Wheel Fun Rentals located just below the pier has a great selection of traditional, tandem, and surrey bikes. You can choose to ride along the promenade or pedal all the way to Oceanside Harbor. But guaranteed, you’ll be stopping for spectacular photo moments, and you’ll love the pier views from multiple vantage points.

Head to an Oceanside Beach

Oceanside’s beaches are some of the widest in San Diego County. With lots of shorelines, there are plenty of places to find your ideal spot. Beach days on Harbor Beach and Oceanside Beach include more than just swimming, playing in the ocean, and building sandcastles. Activities like Frisbee, volleyball, and kite flying are immensely popular. 

If you’re into bringing your own food, Harbor Beach has picnic tables and barbeque grills. And of course, there’s nothing like the warmth and distinctive scent of a beach bonfire.  Just add the S’mores and you’ve got a real-deal SoCal beach experience.

Oceanside is home to countless professional and leisure surfers for whom surfing is more than a passion; it’s a way of life. Known as one of Southern California’s most consistent surf spots, the city has hosted numerous surfing competitions. Its southwest-facing coastline and perfect ocean swells create world-class surf conditions with strong appeal to wave riders of all ages.

Oceanside Harbor and Village

One of the most photographed spots in this coastal town, the Oceanside Harbor and Village is located just a few miles north of the pier. The picturesque New England-inspired harbor village is absolutely charming.

You’ll find local seafood restaurants serving as no surprise, the freshest of fish and seafood. One eatery even sports its own lighthouse. And the village’s boutique shops offer goods from surfing gear and swimwear to an array of beach and nautical items. 

Whale-Watching-Dolphin Trips

If you’ve never been out to the open Pacific seas in search of dolphins and whales in Southern California, you have to do it. Oceanside Adventures , located in the harbor offers guided private and small group catamaran tours. These sailings cover the history of Oceanside and its fascinating marine life while heading to areas where the dolphins and whales are most prominent. 

All throughout the year, different types of whales can be spotted along with turtles, sharks, sea lions, and sea birds. And the best part of taking these trips is that if no whales are spotted on your outing, Oceanside Adventures will take you out again at a future date at no cost. We were fortunate to see many whales on our last year’s trip. Get your tickets here>>

Other Recreational Water Fun

Deep-sea sport fishing trips also depart from the Oceanside Marina Harbor. Oceanside Boat Rentals here offer a myriad of water activities to choose from. Kayaks, jet skis, and stand-up paddleboards are available as well as sailboats, electric boats, and powerboats. Our first time renting an 18-foot Duffy-boat electric yacht was a great experience. The boats are in top-notch condition and we couldn’t have picked a more picture-perfect day to relax and explore the bay and waterfront.

California Surf Museum

Address : 312 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA 92054

Phone :  (760) 721-6876

Oceanside’s surf culture is joyfully celebrated at the California Surf Museum, which chronicles the surfing lifestyle from its origins to modern times with an impressive collection of rotating exhibits and surf memorabilia. Though the museum isn’t large, it’s certainly big on surfing history, past and present sports culture, and impressive displays. And if this museum inspired you to try surfing yourself, you can book surf lessons at one of the best surf spots in the world.

The museum’s most popular exhibit, Courageous Inspiration, relates the heroic story of professional surfer, Bethany Hamilton. On display are her shark-bitten surfboard and the bathing suit she wore that fateful day when at the age of thirteen, she lost her left arm to a 14-foot tiger shark on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The injury threatened to end her career as a rising surf star, but, just three weeks after the attack, she bravely returned to the water and within two years won her first national title.

Oceanside Museum of Art

Address : 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA 92054

Phone :  (760) 435-3720

The Oceanside Museum of Art located in the heart of downtown offers contemporary exhibits showcasing the finest Southern California art. Paintings, sculptures, architectural glass, and diverse thought-provoking themed creations are just some of the fascinating pieces found within the walls of this modernist building.

This cultural three-leveled jewel located in downtown Oceanside also sports a view of the Pacific Ocean and historic Oceanside Pier. If you come, plan to spend some time exploring as the artwork here is so impressive.

Hit the Breweries

Oceanside has breweries. Lots of breweries. A visit to Oceanside isn’t complete without sampling the award-winning craft beers coming from its local entrepreneurial brewmasters. We’re glad the craft beer craze cruised north up the coast from San Diego as we’ve relished our beer tasting experiences here in Oceanside, affectionately known as Hops Highway.

This is a town where beer aficionados gather, and each time we visit, we make it our plan to hit another one or two to try out either a newbie on the scene or some new craft offerings. We love their creative brews but also their really cool names like Black Plague Brewing, Belching Beaver Brewery, Kilowatt Brewing, or Pure Project, and more.

Take in a Farmers Market

The Oceanside Morning Farmers Market is held year-round every Thursday morning from 9 am to 1 pm. Located on the corner of North Coast Highway, this outdoor marketplace features local produce, fresh flowers, nursery items, artisan bread, and baked goods, organic honey, homemade dips and sauces, and olive oils. It’s absolutely amazing but go early, as the locals take their “farm fresh to you” market very seriously, and come with their shopping bags ready to fill. 

If you are more of a night market lover, then stay a little longer and go to the night market, which focuses on food and craft vendors.

Buena Vista Audubon Society

Address : 2202 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054

Phone :  (760) 439-2473

As a chapter of the National Audubon Society, Oceanside’s Buena Vista helps foster knowledge of the local plants and wildlife making up the natural ecosystem of the community and its environs. A primary focus of the group is providing nature education for children, offering numerous class outings to their Nature Center throughout the year.

The chapter also offers birding opportunities as well as a dedication to the preservation, restoration, and enhancement of the fragile habitats within the county. Visitors to the center can explore interpretive wildlife displays, walk the ¼ mile nature trail, and spend time in the native plant garden. We love heading to the viewing deck on the second story offering incredible panoramas of the picturesque Buena Vista Lagoon. 

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Address : 4050 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92057

Phone :  (760) 757-3651

The largest of the California missions, San Luis Rey is known as the “King of the Missions” due to its expansiveness and stunning architectural beauty. 

With its hand-carved doors, bright colorfully-painted wall murals, and an original hand-hammered copper baptismal font made by Native Americans, the mission oozes history and culture. You can almost feel the presence of the Franciscan friars and Native Americans who once inhabited the mission more than two hundred years ago. 

Mission San Luis Rey provides both guided and self-guided tours, and a special behind-the-scenes tour. The sanctuary of the church is simply splendid, and the mixture of Classical and Baroque architecture is extraordinary.  Get your tickets here>>

If you haven’t been to Oceanside recently, we highly recommend a visit. Whether you’re here for the day or for a local getaway, we promise that you’ll be so impressed with this splendid SoCal beach town with its motto “O’Side Beats Inside” – any time!

Last Updated on July 5, 2023 by Maria Haase

The post Amazing Things to Do in Oceanside, California appeared first on San Diego Explorer .

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Travel Guide

Enewsletter sign-up, cape cod travel guide, deals + ​packages, whale watching on cape cod.

Cape Cod is a world-class destination for whale watching and seal watching. Go whale watching along Stellwagen Bank, one of the world’s finest whale feeding grounds located off Cape Cod Bay. Seal watching cruises are another fun on-the-water experience, putting you right up close with these adorable mammals. Daily whale watch and seal tour excursions are offered in season, led by experienced naturalists!

When is the Cape Cod whale watching and seal watching season?

Whale watching season on Cape Cod begins mid-April and runs through October. Peak migration period for the whales is from June through September.

Why is whale watching such a popular activity on Cape Cod?

Cape Cod is a world-class destination for whale watching because of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground just off of Cape Cod that attracts a large percentage of the world's whale population annually. Stellwagen Bank consistently ranks among the top 10 places on the planet to see whales in their natural habitat.

How much does a whale watch on Cape Cod cost?

Rates range from $40 to $70, depending on passenger age. Tours typically last 3-4 hours and are led by professionally trained naturalists.

Where do whale watch and seal watch tours leave from?

Whale watch excursions leave from three local ports – Barnstable, Provincetown and just over the bridge in Plymouth. Seal watch tours operate locally out of Harwich and Chatham.

What should I bring with me on my Cape Cod whale-watching or seal-watching trip?

Suggested items to bring include sunglasses, sunscreen, a jacket, binoculars, a book for the downtime, and most importantly, a camera!

Cape Cod's own White House

Spoil yourself at The Inn At Cape Cod, a luxury 4-Star boutique hotel in the prestigious Cape Cod Bay Historic District.

Fast, fun and friendly golf

The meticulously-maintained Blue Rock Golf Course in South Yarmouth is open to the public as well as members.