RARE SIGHTING
Pygmy/dwarf sperm whale
Kogia spp.
Small, blunt, shark-like head; floats motionless like a log. Cryptic and easily missed.
Stats
At a glance
LENGTH
8–11 ft
WEIGHT
300–1,000 lbs (NOAA: dwarf up to 600 lbs, pygmy up to 1,000 lbs)
LIFESPAN
Up to ~23 yrs (NOAA: dwarf 22 yrs, pygmy 23 yrs)
DIET
Squid, octopus, crustaceans and fish, located by echolocation on deep dives
RARITY
Very rare — celebrate
SEASON
Sporadic
Length/weight/lifespan/diet: NOAA Fisheries species page →
How to ID
What to look for
Small, blunt, shark-like head; floats motionless like a log. Cryptic and easily missed.
BEHAVIORS TO WATCH FOR
When
Best months to see
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Archive
Last 30 days
This chart includes numerical reports only. Uncounted sightings do not appear in its totals; see the daily archive for presence reports.
Numerically reported
0
Days with counts
0/30 reported days
Last numeric report
None recorded
DAILY SIGHTING COUNTHOVER A BAR
OCT 25
Book
Where to go (operators publish dated sighting reports)
We monitor public trip reports across Newport Beach, Long Beach, Dana Point and San Diego. Reporting schedules vary; summaries show the latest available report. Newport's shared feed is counted once.
NC
Newport Coastal Adventure
from $84 · priced as of 2026-08-03
1,100 common dolphins · report 2026-10-25
Booking handled by newportcoastaladventure.rezdy.com
NW
Newport Whales
from $41 · priced as of 2026-08-03
1,100 common dolphins · report 2026-10-25
DL
Davey's Locker
from $41 · priced as of 2026-08-03
1,100 common dolphins · report 2026-10-25
HB
Harbor Breeze
from $35 · priced as of 2026-08-03
12 orcas · report 2026-10-25
DW
Dana Wharf
from $55 · priced as of 2026-08-03
Common dolphin: Present, count unknown · report 2026-10-25
SD
San Diego Whale Watch
from $58 · price not verified recently
500 common dolphins · 13 humpback whales · 3 bottlenose dolphins · report 2026-10-25
Booking handled by fareharbor.com