Blue Whale Watching

June 9 through October 20, 2013

Join the San Diego Natural History Museum Whalers on a 6-hour cruise to see these magnificent creatures on an offshore adventure in partnership with H&M Landing.

Blue whales, the largest mammal and possibly the largest animal to ever inhabit Earth, can be spotted swimming and feeding off the coast of California from mid-June through October. 

All cruises are narrated by an onboard volunteer naturalist, trained by the Museum, who provides information about whales and other marine life. Trips include a visit to Los Coronados Islands to view elephant seals, harbor seals, sea lions and thousands of birds in their summer breeding grounds. In past years, humpback, fin, sperm, and minke whales, and hundreds of dolphins have been observed.

To Purchase a ticket voucher call 877.946.7797 (9:30 AM–5 PM daily) and redeem at H&M Landing.

To find out more about the cruises, see the FAQs.

Dates/times:

Thursday and Sunday; June 17–October 21, 2012.
Cruises: 10 AM–4 PM
To purchase a ticket voucher call 877.946.7797 (9:30 AM –5 PM daily) and redeem at H&M Landing.

Pricing:

Whale-watch cruise only (Museum Members):

• Adults:   $75   
• Youth (ages 13-17): $50
• Children (ages 2-12): $35

Combo Package for Non-Members (includes Museum admission and whale-watching cruise; 3D films not included):

• Adults: $80   
• Youth (ages 13-17): $55
• Children (2-12): $40
• Photo I.D. required for all adults

Did You Know?

• Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are long and slender, having a remarkably streamlined shape for such a large animal. They are the largest mammal on Earth, some as long as 100 feet and weighing 150 tons or more.
• Blue whales are found in all oceans of the world and sighted off the coast of San Diego each summer. They mate and calve in tropical-to-temperate waters during winter months and feed in higher latitudes during summer months. The largest population in the northern hemisphere is found along the west coast of North America and the high level of productivity off southern California seems to attract a number of these animals each year. It is estimated that there are 10,000–25,000 blue whales worldwide.
• Blue whales are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In 1966, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned all hunting of blue whales and gave them worldwide protection. Recovery has been extremely slow, and only in the last few years have there been signs that their numbers may be increasing. It is estimated that blue whales once numbered about 275,000 worldwide.• Blue whales are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In 1966, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned all hunting of blue whales and gave them worldwide protection. Recovery has been extremely slow, and only in the last few years have there been signs that their numbers may be increasing. It is estimated that blue whales once numbered about 275,000 worldwide.

(Source)