In the past few weeks, Blue Whales have been regularly spotted of the coast of San Diego. Soon, Hornblower Cruises & Events will offer Whale Watching cruises that head out to sea in search of Blues and other baleen whales. Our summer whale watching cruises begin June 29 and run from Fridays to Mondays through the end of summer.

Why are Blue Whales so exciting to watch? These giants are the largest animals on Earth, reaching lengths of 100 feet (about 2/3 of the length of the Adventure Hornblower) and weighing up to 150 tons (slightly less than the weight of the average American house). The Blue Whale’s blow/spout can be 30 feet tall, letting our captains and naturalists spot them from far away. When a Blue Whale surfaces, you typically see the spout first, then the head, then the bluish-gray body, then the tiny dorsal fin, and finally, if you are lucky, the tail flukes lifted above the surface.

Hvad bringer Blues til de lokale farvande? Om sommeren giver de næringsrige kystvande i det sydlige Californien ofte tonsvis af krill. Og de mange rejeagtige kriller er magneter for sultne hvaler på jagt efter føde. Ligesom gråhvaler og andre bardehvaler har blåhvalen børstelignende barder i munden, som den bruger til at suge krill og andre bittesmå klumper af byttedyr ud af vandet. En voksen blåhval kan spise op til 4 tons krill om dagen!

Join us this summer for a chance to see the magnificent Blue Whales (Summer Whale Watching Cruises) and visit us online at our Blue Whale Page to learn more about these and other ocean animals.