Stunning video shows a large pod of false killer whales swimming together and going right up to a boat in Dana Point, and the humpbacks, gray, and blue whales will likely show up here any day now.
Listen 9 min A Humpback Whale in front of Dana Point Harbor. Photo by jacksnipe1990, via Flickr
People come from all over to whale watch from the shores of Dana Point. The city in Orange County is a hub for sea life, thanks to its harbor and protected marine area. Gray whales, humpbacks and orcas can all be spotted from the shore, as well as many different dolphin species as they migrate to Mexico.
Dana Point is also now the first Whale Heritage Site in the U.S. The designation is a recognition for areas known for having important, cultural ties to marine life, like whales and dolphins. There are only three other Whale Heritage Sites in the world: Hervey Bay in Australia, the Bluff in South Africa, and Tenerife-La Gomera Marine Area in Spain.