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.

O que traz o Blues às águas locais? No Verão, as águas costeiras e ricas em nutrientes do sul da Califórnia fornecem frequentemente toneladas e toneladas de krill. E a abundância de krill do tipo camarão, são ímanes para baleias famintas em busca de alimento. Tal como as Baleias Cinzentas e outras baleias de barbas, a Baleia Azul tem na sua boca barbas em forma de escova que utiliza para esticar o krill e outras presas minúsculas em grupo para fora da água. Uma baleia-azul adulta pode consumir até 4 toneladas de krill por dia!

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.