San Diego Grey Whale Watching - An Ideal Place to Watch the Annual Grey Whale Migration

It's no secret. When visiting San Diego you'll find one of the best free things to do in San Diego is watch the annual grey whale migration.

Seen as one of nature's ultimate spectacles, the grey whale migration can take your breath away.

Dive Watch

Where do the whales come from and where are they going?

Traveling not too far from the fabulous San Diego beaches, this coastline is one of these great creatures migratory points as they travel from the cold Arctic waters to the warmer waters of Baja. It is there where the female grey whales give birth.

Every year approximately 26,000 grey whales make the 10,000+ mile journey from the Arctic to Baja and back. This is the longest journey made by any mammal on earth.

If you've never been grey whale watching you're missing a fantastic experience. Spotting a grey whale along the coastline is something truly memorable. It makes you stop for a moment and appreciate the grandeur of these remarkable mammals.

When is whale watching season?

Stop off at the Birch Aquarium in San Diego and you'll learn that whale watching season is usually from December through March. These are the same months that whales inhabit the waters off Hawaii.

Usually they travel in groups of a dozen or more but at this time of year, as they migrate, it's not unusually to see pods of two or three. You can easily see these great creatures up and down the San Diego coast as they are somewhat slow swimmers.

Can you spot their patterns?

Whales often follow a set pattern. During their swim they will usually dive to a depth of 100 feet or more. They'll be beneath the surface for several minutes. Then they will breach the surface and blow. After that they'll usually do a few shallow dives before making another deep dive.

When you're grey whale watching it makes it all the more fun and enjoyable if you can figure their patterns out.

Some of the best places to watch whales

If you're in the whale watching season and are visiting San Diego, one of the most memorable things to do in San Diego is watch the grey whale migration from aboard a cruise ship.

There are many unbeatable deals and many cruises that embark from San Diego. 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.

You can also see the beauty of the gray whales from many points along the San Diego coast.

You may want to venture to the cliffs of Torrey Pines State Beach or Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma to enjoy seeing the whales as they make their annual journey.

So if you're aboard a cruise ship or watching from the coast, watching the grey whale migration in San Diego is something you really have to see to appreciate. Take your family, go with your friends, venture forth with a loved one.

Whale watching is inspirational and exciting. And all you have to do is plan your day to relax and enjoy everything that both nature and the beauty of the gray whale provide.

San Diego Grey Whale Watching - An Ideal Place to Watch the Annual Grey Whale Migration