There is not a time of day that we routinely see more whales and dolphins than another; all times are very good. That being said, we do prefer earlier in the day. Mornings are our favorite time of day because sea conditions are usually smoothest. Calm seas allow us more than just comfort - they allow us no hindrance in speed or direction of our pursuits to find you the best wildlife. We are fortunate to have predominantly mild weather in Newport Beach, and many afternoons are delightfully smooth. Afternoons are more susceptible to the possibility of breezy conditions.

NO! You are more likely to suffer sea sickness or motion sickness when riding on larger boats versus our smaller stabilized vessel. Large boats pitch and roll slowly, which is what triggers being sick. Our smaller 26’ vessel responds quickly to ocean conditions, reducing potential for motion sickness, combined with our Seakeeper vessel stabilizer which reduces side to side movement up to 92%, and we have nearly eliminated the chances of getting sea sick. There is also what we refer to as the ‘domino effect’ - when one person gets sick on the larger boats it triggers everyone susceptible to motion sickness. We are NOT immune to motion sickness, though percentages are near zero, if you have a history of motion sickness, best to be proactive and take something just in case.

We are not wheelchair accessible - there are 2 larger steps onto our dock and a step on/off of our boat. If a person is semi mobile out of the wheelchair with assistance of the crew, we would love to have you join us. Once on the boat, we have very comfortable seating for you to enjoy the tour.

Please consult your physician regarding your particular situation. There are a multitude of injuries that likely would be harmless to be on a boat with. Though our sea conditions are very mild most of the time, it can occasionally be bumpy on the water - risk of re injuring or doing more harm is and should be avoidable. Anyone suffering a back injury, spinal trauma, post back surgery, etc. should not be on any boat until fully healed with doctor’s authorization.

Unfortunately not, we cannot accommodate groups of more than 6 persons despite size or age per USCG regulations. We are terribly sorry and wish we could accommodate larger groups but we do not make the rules. We do have to abide by them. No exceptions.

Best to dress warmly. Everyone should bring an extra jacket or sweater beyond what you think you will need. It is chillier on the water and the wind chill when traveling to the wildlife can be brisk. Best to be prepared with an extra layer or two if you need.

We unfortunately do not allow food on our tours anymore - being on the ocean going fast to find you the best wildlife opportunities is not conducive to food/eating. We go out of our way to deliver the best sightings and most fun on your tour. We do not want to cut your trip short because food flew everywhere and have to clean up before the next group . We understand that kids may need a snack, and in this situation food is ok. We only ask that make it a ‘neat/non messy’ snack such as carrot sticks or apple slices.

There is not a bathroom on the boat. There is a restroom next to our dock that everyone uses prior to departure. For at sea emergencies, we have a few options for guests that work well but the amenities are minimal.

Yes, but there are a few requirements necessary.

• • We require all guests wanting to use their drone to book the VIP Private Group Tour. This is for safety measures and allows us to customize the tour based on your goals as a photographer.
  • You must be appropriately licensed based on your flying intent. These are federal drone laws mandating drone operators to obtain their recreational 44809 or Commercial Drone License Part 107.

We are completely spoiled here in Southern California boasting opportunities year round to see whales and dolphins. Understanding these whales movements and why they are frequenting the waters off Newport Beach (feeding, migrating, breeding) is vital.

January - April is our gray whale migration, peeking in February and March.

April is the month to view mom and baby pairs migrating close to shore north bound to Alaska. Outside of the gray whale migration, we have opportunities to see feeding whales (blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, and minke whales).

Blue whales are focused on from May - October.

Fin, Humpback and minke whales can be seen year round when concentrations of anchovies and krill are prime.

Our favorite months for humpback whales are September through December.