Whales

The ocean has its share of fascinating wildlife. The blue whale is the largest animal known to live on earth, even larger than the dinosaurs. Here’s how to imagine the size of a blue whale: It’s as long as three back-to-back school buses, around 100 feet—that’s a 10-story building. The average weight of a blue…

If you are a San Diego resident or visiting, you may be wondering if orca sightings are possible today. The good news is that you may spot these marine mammals, also known as killer whales, off the coast of this fabulous city. Orca Sightings in San Diego San Diego is a popular place for whale…

If you are wondering when the San Diego whale-watching season is, the good news is that you can see whales at any time of the year. The warm coastal waters attract different types of whales at various times of the year. So, the best strategy is to decide what kinds of whales you want to…

Decades of overhunting and a changing environment have left many species of whales facing extinction. Many of the whales seen on Next Level Sailing trips face some endangerment. That could be from rising climate change, pollution, or collisions with boats in an increasingly congested marine environment. Learn more about these endangered whales and what conservation…

Recently, there was a rare sighting of orcas in San Diego off the coast and other areas off the coast of Southern California. Although they are also known as killer whales, orcas are members of the Delphinidae family and are the largest of those species. Orcas are one of the sea creatures that the Marine…

In December 2023, scientists and researchers off the coast of Alaska had what they describe as a 20-minute “conversation” with a whale named Twain. The experiment was a collaboration between the University of California, Davis, the SETI Institute, and the Alaska Whale Foundation. The endeavor was not only an experiment in whale communication but also…

Another name for the orca is the killer whale, a misnomer. Orcas are not technically whales but dolphins. While they are carnivores who kill their prey, they usually don’t hurt people. The few recorded incidents in which orcas have harmed people took place when the whales were in captivity under stressful conditions. Conservation efforts are…

Fin whales are the second-largest whale species in the world, so it was devastating news when a massive 52-foot-long one washed up on a San Diego beach. Lifeguards towed the young female out to sea on December 10, 2023, where her body sunk to the bottom. While it is common to see a beached whale…

In March 2023, whale-watchers spotted a right whale in Monterey Bay along the Northern California coast. Because of the scarcity and elusiveness of right whales, sighting them is rare. Nevertheless, the Monterey Bay sighting is among a handful of recent sightings to take place along the Pacific Coast. These sightings give hope that the critically…

When you live in or visit coastal California, the gray whale is one of the most impressive sights you can see. These massive mammals were near extinction before the 1930s and 1940s conservation laws prevented their demise. This protection was further extended by regulations that ended whaling in the mid-1980s. To see these fantastic creatures,…