Whales, Dolphins Frolic In Crystal Clear South OC Waters

DANA POINT, CA —Ideal weather conditions turned south Orange County waters into a living aquarium, with a glassy surface ideal for viewing the multitude of marine mammals who call this area home. On a recent whale watching trip off the coast of Dana Point, two Gray Whales were spotted swimming in the crystal clear blue water, Dana Wharf Whale Watching tells Patch.

The below video is definitely a zen moment, as two whales swim below the glassy sea.

Since January 2nd Dana Wharf's whale watching vessels have spotted Fin Whales with common dolphin and Bottlenose with Patches, our local favorite dolphin known for its unusual markings.

This week, whale watchers have seen Fin whales, a Gray whale, a Minke whale, a Bottlenose dolphin, including Patches, and more common dolphins.

Local wildlife photographer Laura Lopez captured the shot of Patches the dolphin, together with Fin Whales, taken from headlands of Dana Point.

Lopez and crew spotted a southbound Gray whale off the coast of San Clemente, Tuesday morning. They also spotted Patches, a Bottlenose dolphin, along with about 40 other offshore Bottlenose dolphins and their calves. All appeared to be feeding off Monarch Bay, Lopez says.

Several very playful pods of Common dolphins were also found throughout the day.

As whale watchers wrapped up their trip, two more Fin whales passed close to shore off the Dana Point Headlands.

"We ended the day with a spectacular bottlenose dolphin show as many breached several at a time in our wake," Lopez said. "To top it off, we saw a rainbow."

The drone pilot commented that it reminded him of an aquarium, Donna Kalez, CEO of Dana Wharf Whale Watching says.