Cooper and I frequently take trips to the beach in the summer to escape the sweltering Coachella Valley heat. Recently, we spent a week at the spectacular Sunset Cliffs. I wanted to take Cooper out on the ocean during our vacation and found Next Level Sailing, the only company offering dog-friendly whale watching in San Diego. Read on to find out more.
Where to Find Dog-Friendly Whale Watching in San Diego
A quick search on Google brought me to Next Level Sailing, the only dog-friendly whale watching excursion in San Diego. They are located at 2050 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego CA 92106. Check-in is across from the Island Palms Best Western Hotel and is super easy. Once everyone arrives, a quick five-minute walk brings you to the majestic yacht America, a replica of the yacht that won the historic Royal Yacht Squadron’s 100 Guinea Cup race in 1851.
Tours are from 3.5-4 hours long and start at $85 per adult on weekdays. Well-behaved pups are welcome, but must remain on a leash throughout the voyage. Dog life vests are not provided, so bring you own. Our whale-watching tour was sold out, but there was still plenty of room to stretch out!
What Do You See on a Whale Watching Excursion?
Next Level Sailing boasts the highest success rate of whale sightings in San Diego. They even have a whale watching guarantee. If you don’t see a whale on your trip, your next one is free!
What type of whale you encounter depends on the time of year. The good news is that it is whale watching season all year long in San Diego! From mid-December through April, expect to see gray whales. By March, the humpbacks start to appear followed by the fin whales in April. Summertime brings the massive blue whales to San Diego, the largest mammal on earth!
In addition to whales, be on the lookout for other sea life and birds. On our voyage, we spotted two blue whales, both common and bottle-nosed dolphins, sea lions and pelicans. Blue whales are endangered. It is estimated that only 1% of the human population will ever see one, so we felt quite lucky.
It takes about two hours to travel to the area where the whales are. On the way out to sea, our friendly guide pointed out landmarks and ships and shared interesting tidbits about each one.
Other Things to Know About Next Level Sailing
- Enjoy complimentary water, soft drinks and lite snacks (chips and granola bars) onboard. Beer and wine is available to purchase. Preorder sandwiches from Blue Water Grill at the time of your booking. Feel free to bring your own beverages (including alcohol) and food, but please nothing red or in glass bottles.
- There is a restroom on the yacht for humans. If bringing your dog, make sure to take them on a good walk beforehand as there is no puppy bathroom.
- Next Level Sailing has a seasickness guarantee. Their statistics show only one out of 400 of their guests suffers from seasickness on the America. If you happen to be the unfortunate one, you will receive a $25 gift certificate.
- Dress in layers. It can be quite chilly once you get out to sea. They do provide blankets to help keep you warm. Closed-toe shoes are recommended.
- Next Level Sailing has cool t-shirts, hats and sweatshirts for sale.
- They offer private charters for weddings, birthdays, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and more.
Cooper and I had so much fun that we have booked our next dog-friendly whale watching excursion with Next Level Sailing in December. Who wants to join us?
To plan a complete dog-friendly Ocean Beach vacation, check out my suggestions here.