Oceanside, California Whale
Watching
There’s nothing like
seeing a breaching whale up close in person or the cheer from
the crew “thar she blows”. We specialize in small groups on the
Bueno,
no large crowds or noisy engines
will ensure a very
personal experience as you witness the annual migration of over
twenty thousand, gray whales, humpback and blue whales
that swim in our
local waters during their annual migration through Oceanside,
CA.
Gray
Whales
The mature Gray Whales average 30 to 40 feet in length and can
be found in shallow waters close to shore while
feeding. They pass
our shore twice each year during their southern migration and
again while heading north back to their homes in late
summer. They can be
identified by their white and gray markings along the snout and
the 3 to 5 shallow baleen plates that run along the lower jaw
and the absence of any dorsal
fin. Back in the early 19th century up to 1000
Grays passed  our shoreline each day, they were susceptible
to hunters because they are slow swimmers, stay close to
shore and have a predictable breathing pattern. Captain
Steve will carefully keep a safe distance while navigating
along their course anticipating their next
blow. These
whales often take 3 to 4 short breaths before submerging
for 4 to 6 minutes. They will show their flukes prior to a
deeper dive and can stay under up to 15
minutes. Calculating their speed and course is
very important for successful whale
watching.
Hump
Back
 The Hump Back can be distinguished from the
Gray by its dorsal fin, large ventral pleat area along the
lower jaw and overall is much darker in color. Their fins
or flippers are very long in comparison and can run up to
one third the length of its body. They range up to 50 feet
in length, feed close to shore and are very active with
breaching, blowing and showing their flukes prior to
sounding. Hump Backs are just as common as the Gray, and
much more so than the Blue whales that also migrate along
the same route.
Fin
Back
These whales are long and slender; their head is relatively
flat and has paired blow holes.They are named after their pronounced dorsal
fin which is their most obvious characteristic located two
thirds the distance back from their
head. Fin Backs are
longer and bigger than Grays and Hump Backs, they range up to
80 feet in length, one of the largest whales in our waters
which aids in identification. The Fin Back is also one of the
fastest whales capable of swimming over 20 miles per hour. They
rarely show their flukeswhen sounding, dive deeper and stay
down longer than other whales, perhaps because they feed on the
giant Humboldt squid that is found at deeper depths. They are
second in size only to the Blue Whale.
Blue Whales
 The largest mammal in the world is truly a site
to behold, they average over 80 feet with the largest recorded at
over 100 feet and can weigh as much as 150
tons.Their large
triangular flukes are clearly visible when
sounding;they are
blue in color hence the name and are more often found in
pairs. Captain
Steve is most exited when encountering the great Blue;
they are unmistakable due to their size and the blue halo
emanating from their bodies. Not as common, the Blue whale is truly
an awesome site to see. The unique blowholes are set in a large
raised hump that acts as a splash guard; the blow is
taller, over 20 feet high and straighter than other whales
helping to identify them from a
distance. Their
cruising speed is 12 miles per hour and they can go as
fast as 30 when they are in a hurry!
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