Capt. Dave's Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari - Dana Point, California

Ellie P.

If you’re looking for a place to have an intimate ceremony to honor your loved one and release their ashes at sea, Captain Dave’s is the place for you and your family.

We had a small group of five and went out on the orca with Captain James Lauren. They were warm, loving and so supportive. Perfect for us and our shaky emotionally Pummeled group. They even made us laugh and went out of their way to make our day extra special for my dad. If I could give Captain Dave’s a 10, I would.

When you start calling places, it’s a very difficult and we were well taken care of by Lizzie and the team at the office. They were patient, compassionate, kind, and flexible. Everything you need when you’re trying to migrate this time during loss. They answered all of our questions and more. They have packages you can choose from to make the day very easy for you so all you have to do is show up With your loved ones ashes and your permit. If you have problems with your permit, they’re happy to help you. They really go above and beyond behind the scenes. Some small points of mention are that they validate your parking, And they include the gratuity upfront so you don’t have to deal with it later. Something I prefer.
They also have packages you can choose from: we got a celebration package that included flowers, water, and champagne/cider - However, they do allow you to bring your own flowers, your own drinks, etc. We just didn’t want to have to think about that. The roses they provided us to honor my dad were absolutely beautiful.

The day of the ashes scattering everything went so beautifully, we could not ask for anything more. Captain James and Lauren guided us And showed so much care and compassion for our loss and for our loved one who we were bringing to the sea.

It was a very smooth ride and the perfect day… It’s truly indescribable how special this day was for my dad and for us🥹🙏💜

We were not rushed in anyway, in fact afterwards, Captain James shared with us that there was a school of dolphins on the way back and if we’d like we can see them. This added a special bit of magic for my dad and for us on this day of honoring.

If you’re looking for a family style business to help you and your family with the scattering of ashes at say I highly recommend Captain Dave’s Service. If you have a small group, the ORCA is perfect.

Thank you again to everyone at Dave’s for making a difficult day one filled with magic.

*** please note if you do have larger groups they do have other boats. You can just ask them about this when you call them.

Madison C.

I can’t emphasize enough how great this experience was. My best friend and I went on their dolphin and whale safari for our birthday. They started on time and the staff was super friendly. After about an hour of cruising, we saw some dolphins which is always fun. We then proceeded to get mugged by two humpback whales, it was the most special experience of my life. They hung out by the boat for almost half an hour, and we got a once in a lifetime moment with them. The staff made sure the whales were protected and the encounter was entirely on the whales terms. We didn’t leave until after the whales had swam far enough away from us for the boat to be safely turned back on. They took amazing photos of the whales and their excitement also added to the experience. They even got a very special photo of me looking at one of the whales (you can see just how close they were) and gave it to me for free. I will never forget this day as long as I live and I will continue to go back to Dave’s every whale season!! Highly recommend!!!

Charissa H.

Mommy daughter day in Cali (while Tyson was working hard) we jumped on a boat with Capt. Dave's Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari and it did not disappoint!!!

Our Captain Alex and First Mate Hannah were the best we could ask for! Their genuine excitement for what we were there for was infectious and pumped up all of the passengers!

Alex was diligent in keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins and Hannah kept everyone safe, while also being informative about what were we’re seeing. She helped my baby move around the boat to get a better look (her balance is incredible!)

We saw thousands of common dolphin that raced with our boat and stayed with us nearly the whole time we were out as well as creating a HUGE dolphin stampede that came right at us. Stunning to witness!

But the best part was the Fin Whale (2nd largest animal on the planet!!!!!) that we were able to follow around for a while and kept popping up to say hello. Truly thrilling!

Then the brownie at the end of the trip was the cherry on top!

If you’re ever in Dana Point, CA I very much recommend them!

Armando M.

What an awesome time!! Once in a lifetime experience having dolphins swim with the boat! Hannah was so amazing! Very educated and passionate about what she does and the love she has for the ocean and its marine life was heartfelt and truly adorable! I will definitely come back and I will recommend this boat tour to anyone who will listen! Keep up the great work Captains! And never lose that passion Hannah! It was a pleasure touring with y’all!

Harriet B.

We've been on five cruises with Capt. Dave's. It's the best! This time we saw Risso's dolphins for the first along with Bottlenose and Common dolphins. I also learned about what look like jellyfish but are Velella, Velella. We learn more each time we go out on one of their cruises. They seek out dolphins and whales as best they can and really educate us on what we see. The staff are all professional and friendly. I highly recommend them!

Rob H.

Great for all the family. Three hour tour that's well worth it. Great boat ride, great staff. The whole crew for today's March 21 voyage at 10am was fantastic, very helpful and very friendly. A lot of knowledge of marine life and just great all female crew were remarkable. I definitely recommend it. I will personally take my wife and three daughters again.

Lisa S.

Great cruise with Captain Maria & her crew! We rode along with a super pod of several hundred dolphins, saw a seal swimming, and a couple of sea lions up on a buoy. Also saw the elusive Minke whale who seem to really enjoy swimming around our boat! The dolphins alone, were worth the price of admission. I highly recommend this cruise.

Erin M.

Our family of 20 was looking for a boat service that would assist us in the process of scattering our loved ones ashes in the ocean. After much research, we chose Capt. Dave’s, and it was 100% the right decision. From easy booking to assisting with the correct permits and being extra accommodating, we are so pleased with our experience.

Captain Chuck and June were absolutely amazing and helpful. They were respectful and kind from start to finish, and really made our large group feel comfortable, safe, and thought of during a sensitive moment. We even had the privilege of spotting dolphins after we scattered the ashes, and the captain took time to follow their swim pattern so we could all have a precious moment with the wildlife. We absolutely recommend this wonderful company, and thank everyone at Capt. Dave’s again for such a beautiful morning during an emotional time for our family.