If you google “best whale watching in America”, California’s Newport Beach is always on the shortlist among San Diego, Alaska & Maine. In the summer, you can see blue whales. Or if you go December through April like I did, you can see gray whales as they migrate from Alaska to Mexico. With the longest known migration of any mammal, these gray whales will travel nearly 12,000 miles each year from where they feed in the Arctic seas to where they raise their calves in the much warmer waters of Mexico. And Newport Beach happens to fall on the “gray whale highway” as they migrate south!
Davey’s Locker Whale Watching & Sportfishing
If you’re looking for an affordable tour to see these majestic beauties, check out the tours offered at Davey’s Locker in Newport Beach! Just one hour south of Los Angeles, it’s an easy half day trip from the city. And compared to other whale watching excursions, their tours are a real bargain. And the wildlife spotted is incredible, check out their Instagram here!
Check out Davey’s Locker here. Or call (949) 673-1434 to book!
DEPARTURE TIMES
| DATES | CRUISE #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov – Feb (Mon – Fri) | 10:00 am* | 1:00 pm* | n/a | n/a |
| Nov – Feb (Sat & Sun) | 9:30 am* | 12:00 pm* | 2:30 pm* | n/a |
| Mar – Oct (Daily) | 10:00 am* | 1:00 pm* | 3:30 pm* | 6:00 pm* |
PRICES
| AGE | WEEKDAYS | WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (Ages 13–59) | $34.00 | $38.00 |
| Juniors (Ages 3–12) | $28.00 | $32.00 |
| Seniors (60+) | $28.00 | $32.00 |
| Toddlers (Ages 0–2) | $2.50 | $2.50 |
Great for families, couples, groups or solo travelers!
The boats are quite nice and there was a wide mix of ages onboard. From families with little kids sipping hot cocoa to adults visiting the full service bar – there was diverse and very fun atmosphere on the boat!
Plan to arrive 45 minutes before your tour to allow for traffic, parking, check in and boarding.
Especially if you’re coming from the LA area, allow plenty of time for traffic and parking. Newport Beach is a pretty small and quaint town, so it’s not difficult to find Davey’s Locker but you don’t want to miss the boat’s departure! I recommend coming over early and having breakfast or lunch at one of the restaurants nearby first.
And prior to your tour you’ll have to sign a waiver acknowledging that high heels, leather soles, platform shoes, wedge style shoes, novelty skate shoes and bare feet aren’t safe on the boat and are prohibited.
Once the tour begins, keep your eyes peeled for the telltale sign of whales- their spout!
As the boat departs and pulls out of the harbor, the crew onboard will announce to start to looking! Everyone gathers on the edges of the boat- both the top and lower deck- and the fun begins. People were quick to spot dolphins almost immediately. Not long after, people spotted the spout of a gray whale from the upper deck. The boat changed directions and went to follow the whale whose spout we had just seen!
The group environment makes it even more fun!
I knew I would love seeing the animals in the wild. But what I didn’t expect was the awesome dynamic of the group. A dolphin appears and everyone cheers! Or a whale breaches and everyone starts clapping! It’s wonderfully fun when the whole crowd is gasping and cheering together every time an animal is spotted!
Rent binoculars for $5
When you arrive and check in- there will be binoculars available for rent. Personally, I would recommend getting a pair and just enjoying the experience fully. Then you can purchase the photos from the excursion afterwards!
Professional photos of your trip are available for purchase
Truthfully, capturing high quality photos without a huge zoom lens can be quite difficult. So if you want to sit back, relax and really enjoy the trip without being pulled out of the moment- purchase the incredible photos by the wildlife photographer onboard for just $20.
Photography Tips for whale watching
For those who would like to try their hand at photographing these beautiful creatures, here are a few tips!
- Clear enough space on your SD card. In order to capture the whales or dolphins in the few moments they appear above water- you’ll need to snap a lot of photos in rapid succession which means you’ll need plenty of space on your SD card!
- Invest in a zoom lens. Again, without a zoom lens , it can be difficult to see the animals clearly in photographs.
- Set your camera to take multiple shots. If you’re shooting with a DSLR, adjust your settings to take a series of photos with each click! You’re much more likely to capture the perfect moment if you are shooting photos in rapid succession.
Fun, exciting and informative- I’d love to go out again!
Overall the whale watching trip with Davey’s Locker was a wonderful experience, I can’t recommend it highly enough! From the informative staff onboard, to the excitement of the crowd- I left wanting to immediately book another whale watching tour with them.
And thank you Delaney Trowbridge for contributing additional wildlife photos from our excursions. You can follow her Instagram here.
Shop my camera gear
Thank you to Davey’s Locker for hosting me, as always, the views and opinions expressed are my own.
Want to read more about my marine life experiences? Check out: SWIMMING WITH WILD WHALE SHARKS: 10 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
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