San Diego Whale Watching

It's no secret to anyone that the coast of San Diego

is the ideal place to watch the annual migration of

the gray whale. Looked upon as one of nature's ultimate

spectacles; the migration of gray whales is nothing

short of breathtaking. The coastline of San Diego is

one of their migratory points as they travel from the

waters of the Arctic to the warmer regions of the Baja

(California), where females also give birth.

Every year, roughly 26,000 gray whales will make the

long journey of 10,000+ miles from the Arctic to the Baja

and back. If you look at this journey and compare it to

any other mammal, you'll notice that the gray whale by

far has the greatest amount of traveling at hand.

If you've never experienced whale watching, you'll be

happy to know that anyone will find it memorable - young

or old. Spotting a gray whale along the coastline is

something that is truly a memorable moment, making you

stop for a second and truly appreciate these awesome

mammals.

If you ask the Birch Aquarium in San Diego, you'll find

that gray whales are seen most frequently from December

through March. While they travel in dozens normally,

it's nothing to see pods of them (2 - 3) as they travel

during migration. Throughout the coast of San Diego,

you can easily spot these whales as they are somewhat

slow swimmers.

During their swimming, they will normally dive to a depth

of 100 feet or more for a few minutes, then surface and

blow. Then, they will do a few shallow dives, before

making that deep dive again. When watching whales, figuring

out this pattern makes the success of watching them all

the more fun and exciting.

While there are many common places to watch whales,

nothing seems to compare to the excitement of watching them

from aboard a cruise. There are many cruises that take

place in San Diego, many of which offer unbeatable deals.

From H&M Landing to the Birch Aquarium, cruises are some of

the best ways to see the beauty and tranquility of the

traveling gray whales.

The beauty of the gray whales can also be seen from many

points of the San Diego coast, including the Cabrillo

National Monument on Point Loma or the cliffs of Torrey Pines

State Beach. Along these points, you can see the whales as

they make their travels.

Whether it's a cruise or just watching from the coast, whale

watching in San Diego is something you truly have to see to

appreciate. You can take your kids, family, or even your

friends. Whale watching can definately be exciting, all you

have to do is plan your day and enjoy everything that the

beauty of the gray whale will provide you with.