Premium San Diego whale watching, snorkeling, and offshore trips. Roomy boats, creature comforts, no crowds.

Embark on a private Ocean Safari through La Jolla, the Coronado Islands, or the Pacific with fully customizable snorkeling and wildlife charters—or join our public Coronado Islands trips for an unforgettable sea lion snorkeling experience. With a personable, nature-loving crew and top-notch amenities, we create a unique adventure tailored to your exploration goals, going far beyond typical whale watching tours.

san-diego-whale-watching
san-diego-snorkeling-tour
whale-watch-san-diego
whale-and-dolphin-watching-san-diego
snorkeling-la-jolla
Included

Captain and tour guide

Snorkel gear

Hot soup, snacks, bevs

Sea sickness help

Curated coordinates for sites of interest.
BYO wetsuit or rent from us.
Boats depart from 1617 Quivira Road.

Ammenities

Hot shower

Enclosed galley

Full marine bathroom

Second deck for views

6-guest fast boat: no hot showers or restrooms.

Price range (per guest)

$55 - $113 (La Jolla private)

$76 - $189 (half-day offshore private)

$90 - $189 (Coronado Islands private)

$105 - $248 (all-day offshore private)

$283.50  (Coronado Islands public trip)

All fees included in quote
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Boats are priced per activity, not by guest

JANET MARIE ORTIZ
JANET MARIE ORTIZ
Long overdue review! My boyfriend and I were in town and booked Waterhorse Charters for a private scuba lesson for him, since he recently got certified and wanted more practice and wanted to feel more confidence. I was also looking to do more freediving and breathwork training, and from the very beginning Karina was amazing! She walked me through our options, answered my 101 questions, and was super accommodating to what we both wanted to do. Everything felt easy and well-organized. My boyfriend’s instructor, Brandon Wiese, was patient, knowledgeable, and really helped him feel more comfortable scuba diving, which helped him be a better diver. My freediving instructor (the blonde fella!) was awesome! He helped me with my breathing and I was able to master the duck dive. I loved that he’s an active freediver/spearfishing and with his help, i was able to beat my own record in static apnea!! Overall, such an amazing experience- Thanks guys!
Josh Lee
Josh Lee
10000% worth the time. Friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff. Would go again!!
M. Smith
M. Smith
As always Waterhorse works to maintain a loyal customer base. They do it by providing a consistent, reliable and safe service. They have always given a bit "extra". Taking a moment on the way to/from the dive site to observe breaching whales was that "extra" this trip. Great job guys!
Tony Drake
Tony Drake
Amazing crew, great energy
Chris Curl
Chris Curl
Captain Brandon and crew were very friendly, helpful and professional. This is the second dive trip we’ve done with Waterhorse and both were great experiences.
Shawn Gustaw
Shawn Gustaw
These guys rock. I'm sure there are other good shops in San Diego but if we're down that way we'll definitely be booking with Waterhorse again. We had booked the Coronado Islands trip back in October but it got cancelled due to weather so we went on a local trip with them and still had a blast. Got some amazing pictures of nudibranchs on that trip which was super cool because we don't have that many up in the LA area. They recently opened up another Coronado Islands trip and we jumped at the opportunity and we were super happy we did. Diving with the sea lions was such a surreal experience, and Zach, Brandon + crew were as always super helpful and friendly. The absolute best way to celebrate your birthday :). Whenever we get around to doing the Yukon, we'll be back. See ya guys then!
michael filippini
michael filippini
I love this vendor, simply the best and friendliest crew and ship that takes you to local tours. I'm always happy when I use water horse charters. I do feel; however, as it was mentioned on the lobster trip on Sunday 11/23/25 that Zack should consider a night trip to point loma kelp beds as it is a great spot for lobster!
Matt Nachtigal
Matt Nachtigal
We had such an amazing time diving the HMCS Yukon. The crew and guides were awesome and made the whole experience unforgettable. They gave a really clear safety briefing before the dive so we always felt safe and well taken care of. Underwater, the guides pointed out so many cool creatures we probably would have missed on our own. The wreck itself was incredible, and the entire trip ran so smoothly. The hot soup and hot shower on the boat after diving were an absolute game changer. Highly recommend diving the Yukon with this crew. We can’t wait to go again!

FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE: Our ocean-going fleet includes three boats: one for up to 6 guests, one for 21 guests and another for 24. For smaller groups, we suggest our public Coronado Islands trips.

EXPERT GUIDANCE: Our crew is made up of experienced scuba divers who know the ocean inside and out. Their advanced safety training will give you an insightful and secure experience.

WELL SUITED FOR: Wildlife photographers, marine researchers, educators, birdwatchers, shark, whale, and dolphin enthusiasts, and snorkelers seeking a hassle-free alternative to shore-based tours.

Ocean Safari Seasonal Highlights

Sea Lion Season

Coronado Islands, Mexico

Our favorite time of the year is here: world-class Baja California sea lion snorkeling. The pups are curious tweens ready to check you out!

$275 (public trip)

Requires valid passport

Underwater Park

La Jolla

The clearest visibility of the year is here, and as the only San Diego snorkeling boat, we’ll bring you to prime sites with minimal kick-out.

$55 - $113/guest (private charter)

Boats are priced per activity, not by guest

Ocean Safari Activity Options

(5 hours)

24-guest boat
 $1,936 - $2,701

21-guest boat $1,310 - $1,843

🧑🏻‍✈️ Crew tip: Fall offers the best local visibility, and snorkeling by boat is a treat you won't find anywhere else in San Diego.

swim-with-sharks-san-diego

Half-Day Offshore

(5 hours)

24-guest boat
 $2,904 - $4,529

21-guest boat $1,513 - $2,064

👨🏼‍✈️ Crew tip: This trip is ideal if you're open to spotting dolphins, whales, mola-molas, and birds without focusing on any specific species.

(7 hours)

24-guest boat
 $2,904 - $4,529

21-guest boat $1,799 - $2,299

👩‍✈️ Crew tip: Visit the islands from Sep - Dec when sea lion snorkeling and San Diego whale watching is world-class!

san-diego-shark-diving

All-Day Offshore

(10 hours)

24-guest boat
 $3,195 - $4,953

21-guest boat $2,100 - $2,760

👩🏾‍✈️ Crew tip: This trip is ideal if you're ready to commit to finding specific species or venture far into the ocean, experience recommended.

All in one Mission Bay shop
Check-in, rental gear fitting, boat boarding

san-diego-whale-watching-tours

We'll keep you safe
Crew trained with quarterly drills and safety debriefs

We'll treat you right
Kindness is contagious is our life and work essence

We'll make it easy
Help with gear and guiding you to the best spots

San Diego Whale Watching & Offshore Marine Life

private-whale-watching-san-diego

WHALE SPECIES
Blue whales (May - November)
Gray whales (mid-December - April)
Humpback whales (year-round)
Minke whales (year-round)
Fin whales (year-round)

SHARK SPECIES
Leopard sharks (summer months)
Blue sharks (rare)
Mako sharks (rare)
Thresher sharks (rare)
Great white sharks (extremely rare)

whale-watching-san-diego-ca

DOLPHIN SPECIES
Long-beaked common dolphins (common)
Short-beaked common dolphins (common)
Pacific white-sided dolphins (common)
Bottlenose dolphins (common)
Risso dolphins (rare)

san-diego-dolphin-watching

OTHER SPECIES
California sea lions (common)
Mola-molas (common)
Elephant seals (rare)
Harbor seals (rare)
Green sea turtles (rare)

bird-watching-san-diego

SEABIRD SPECIES
Pelicans (common)
Cormorants (common)
Seagulls (common)
Terns (common)
Black skimmers (common)
Brown boobies (rare)
Albatrosses (rare)
Shearwaters (rare)

Destinations

Fleet

Makai

6 guests

Fast and covered, our partner RIB center console ensures private and thrilling wildlife encounters.
Learn more +

private-whale-watching-tour
san-diego-private-whale-watching
san-diego-private-whale-watching

Orion

21 guests

Cozy and private, our Newton 38' provides for an intimate experience and indoor comfort.
Learn more +

san-diego-wildlife-cruises
snorkeling-san-diego
orion-deckhouse

Humboldt

24 guests

Comfortable and safe, our Newton 46' Special flagship is a local favorite that ensures easy entry and exit.
Learn more +

san-do
swimming-with-sharks-san-diego
shark-diving-expeditions-san-diego

Money back on weather cancelations
Full refund up to 30 days

"Fulfilled my dream of seeing sea lions! The boat is very nice, snacks, lunch. Everything is amazing, I highly recommend it!"

Joy Augusto
San Diego, CA