About the Blue Whale Expedition in San Diego
Net Zero Expeditions runs a small-group Blue Whale Expedition out of Mission Bay, San Diego, from mid-May through August every year. The trip is a biologist-led offshore expedition built around a single goal: finding and observing the blue whale, the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth.
Each summer, blue whales migrate to the deep waters off San Diego's coast to feed on dense krill blooms produced by seasonal upwelling along the continental shelf. The Nine Mile Bank, Coronado Canyon, and the offshore waters beyond La Jolla are some of the most reliable blue whale feeding grounds anywhere on the planet between June and July, the peak of the season.
Our expeditions run on a low-profile RIB Zodiac with a six-guest cap and a marine biologist aboard every departure. Trips last four to six hours and range up to 100 miles offshore, depending on conditions and where the whales are feeding that day. Along with blue whales, our guests regularly encounter fin whales, humpback whales, common dolphins, offshore bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and California sea lions.
All viewing is conducted from the boat in compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. We are USCG-certified and have maintained a 100% safety record across every season.
The Blue Whale Expedition is $375 per guest, all-in, with a private charter option available for whole-boat bookings up to six guests at $2,250.