Newport Coastal Adventure
Orange County’s most exciting dolphin and whale watching while exploring from Newport Beach to Laguna or venture to Catalina Island!
Our whale watching segment takes place two to eight miles “offshore” in search of dolphins or whales. While sightings are not guaranteed, these waters are typically very productive for viewing Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, and Pacific white-sided dolphin, along with Gray, Fin, or Blue whales depending on the season. Our 23′ boat, with its air-filled pontoons, makes interacting with dolphins and whales a comfortable and close up experience. Leaning over the side of the boat, you can almost touch the dolphins as they playfully ride our bow wake. And because our engine is quiet four-stroke, we don’t annoy the whales with loud noise, enabling them to get comfortable with our boat.
– What To Wear
Because our Zodiac boat travels at 20 plus miles per hour, there is a wind factor that can bring a chill. Layering with a jacket is your best option, with jeans or pants also being a wise choice. Our boat is a very dry ride in the majority of conditions, but its possible to catch a few drops of spray on a windy day.
– Before You Arrive
Please visit the restroom before you get onto the boat. There are no bathrooms onboard and the excursion lasts 2 hours. Also, allow for time to find parking, as Balboa Island has residential street parking. Another option is to park on the Balboa Peninsula and take the Balboa Island Ferry over as a pedestrian.
– What if I get sea sick or don’t know if I get sea sick?
If you have experienced sea sickness before, it was most likely on a large boat slowly pitching and rolling on the waves, confined in a stale interior space. Newport Coastal Adventure is just the opposite…. We move fast and in the open air. Most likely you’ll be having too much fun to even think about it. But if you experience chronic motion or sea sickness, this may not be the trip for you.
– Who Should Not Go
Our Zodiac is equipped with soft cushion seats with backrests but even so, if you are pregnant, have a weak back or neck, or if you do not like going fast over the water, you should not go. Children must be 5 or older to ride.
Because our Zodiac boat travels at 20 plus miles per hour, there is a wind factor that can bring a chill. Layering with a jacket is your best option, with jeans or pants also being a wise choice. Our boat is a very dry ride in the majority of conditions, but its possible to catch a few drops of spray on a windy day.
– Before You Arrive
Please visit the restroom before you get onto the boat. There are no bathrooms onboard and the excursion lasts 2 hours. Also, allow for time to find parking, as Balboa Island has residential street parking. Another option is to park on the Balboa Peninsula and take the Balboa Island Ferry over as a pedestrian.
– What if I get sea sick or don’t know if I get sea sick?
If you have experienced sea sickness before, it was most likely on a large boat slowly pitching and rolling on the waves, confined in a stale interior space. Newport Coastal Adventure is just the opposite…. We move fast and in the open air. Most likely you’ll be having too much fun to even think about it. But if you experience chronic motion or sea sickness, this may not be the trip for you.
– Who Should Not Go
Our Zodiac is equipped with soft cushion seats with backrests but even so, if you are pregnant, have a weak back or neck, or if you do not like going fast over the water, you should not go. Children must be 5 or older to ride.
Your Newport Coastal Adventure also includes the following highlights:
– We start with our passage through Newport Harbor and its impressive waterfront homes.
– Entering the ocean and picking up our speed, the first highlight is the unique coastline of Corona del Mar with its beautiful keyhole rocks, coves, and the notable 22,000 square-foot seaside “Portabello Estate”. Moving south, we’ll show you the historic cottages of the Crystal Cove enclave and State Park, which still stand as a reminder of the vintage and carefree OC beach lifestyle of past.
– Crossing into Laguna Beach, the Abalone Point headland anchors the beautiful and exclusive Irvine Cove, home to OC’s largest harbor seal colony on the inter-tidal rocks, with stunning cliff side mansions overhead.
– Around the point is Emerald Bay’s pristine half-mile long private beach, followed by an offshore rock that’s home to dozens of California sea lions in their natural habitat.