Close Encounters of the Whale Kind

Passengers aboard Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari in Dana Point, CA signed up for the excursion to hopefully see some sea creatures in the open waters. And boy did they get their money's worth!

The group was blown away when they got up close and personal with a gray whale swimming with a pod of bottlenose dolphins.

The whale was traveling on its annual migration from the chilly waters of Alaska to the warmer climate in Baja, CA. It took a break from its road trip (ocean trip?) to say hello to a catamaran filled with awed passengers.

"Without a doubt, this is the best we've ever seen of a gray whale underwater," said Captain Dave. "The water was so clear and the whale was actually playing with us and with the dolphin. This was an extraordinary encounter."

More of the Good News:
Two Fishermen Save a Killer Whale's Life
Penguins, Seals and Whales: Photos of Antarctica's Amazing Wildlife
Whale Sneaks Up on Kayaker