Whales of Summer in Full View off San Diego Bay

Contact: Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216

Blue whales, Humpback whales and dolphin pods – a close encounter with these mammals is all just a short cruise away from San Diego Bay.

H&M Landing, in partnership with the San Diego Natural History Museum, is offering blue whale cruises through mid-September. The trips leave daily from America's Cup Harbor in Shelter Island, through September 12, 2010.

Blue whales, some as long as 100-feet long and weighing up to 190 tons, have been spotted nine to 30 miles off the San Diego coast.

This blog posting from Sunday, August 15 by one of the museum's on-board naturalists, known as "whalers," describes what cruisers can expect:

"As we cruised along the nine-mile bank Captain Ben looked on the fish finder for signs of krill, the favorite food of the blue whales. And we spotted the first blue whale. And then several more spouts, with some whales venturing close to our vessel to check us out! Shortly after, a humpback whale showed off his tail fluke. We spotted a total of eight whales."

Mike and Jenny Feverly of Las Vegas said they came "specifically to see the blue whales," and agreed the cruise was the "best experience we've ever had."

Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth. Between 10,000 and 25,000 of them are believed to still swim the world's oceans. Off the San Diego coastline, it is has not been unusual to spot several whales within a relatively small area.

Among the other animals that have been spotted on the cruises are finback, humpback, minke and killer whales.

H&M Landing's Blue Whale Cruises are 6-hours long and depart at 10 a.m. Thursday and Sunday through September 12.

Tickets are $80 for adults and $55 for children. Cruises include commentary and interpretation by the San Diego Natural History Museum's trained volunteer staff of shipboard naturalists.

For more information and reservations, visit H&M Landing's website at www.hmlanding.com or call 619-222-1144. H&M Landing is located at 2803 Emerson Street, San Diego, 92106.

H&M Landing is a tenant and partner of the Port of San Diego.

Photo Courtesy: BrianOrca via Flickr.com