Tours and Experiences
Whale and Marine Life Tour
2.5 hours
Join the crew of the Research Vessel Sea Explorer for a Whale Watching experience you will never forget. See whales, dolphins, sea lions, and more as you explore the Pacific Ocean. Our cruises are safe and fun for the entire family, and everyone will learn something new about our oceans and the life within.
**Included with ticket purchase is general admission to Ocean Institute’s indoor facilities for the day.
Sunset Sails
Set sail aboard the schooner Spirit of Dana Point and experience California from the perspective of an early tallship explorer. Join the crew to help raise sail, handle lines, and steer the ship, or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the majesty of sailing the seas aboard a tallship.
**Included with ticket purchase is general admission to Ocean Institute’s indoor facilities for the day.
Adventure Sails
Set sail with OI for an unforgettable family adventure! Start with a muster and dive into hands-on activities like raising sail, navigation, helmsmanship, and bow watch. Enjoy a thrilling demonstration of the ship’s cannon as our crew showcases naval gunnery. This exciting program is perfect for families looking to create lasting memories on the open water. Join us for a day of adventure and fun!
**Included with ticket purchase is general admission to Ocean Institute’s indoor facilities for the day.
TIDE POOL HIKE
2-hours
Only scheduled during low tide. Please click button below to see available dates.
Join the Ocean Institute for a tidepool hike led by one of our expert naturalists.
The hike will take us into the rocky Marine Protected Area located directly behind the Ocean Institute. Families can explore the area and search for snails, crabs, sea stars, and other animals that make the tidepools their home. The winter months are the best time to explore these magical marine ecosystems!
Please sign-up in advance as space is limited. Walk-ins will only be allowed when space is available.
BEHIND THE SCENES: AQUARIUM TOUR
1 hour
Explore the inner world of the Ocean Institute! Go behind-the-scenes in our aquarium with over 140 different species and learn more about their care and feeding from our expert guides.
KAYAK HARBOR TOUR
Summer months only
2 hours
Explore the ocean from the water!
Join the Ocean Institute for a 2-hour interactive kayak tour around the Dana Point harbor. Learn about the history of the harbor and its unique ecosystem.
GUIDED SNORKEL TOUR
Summer months only
2 hours and 45 minutes
Join our semi-private guided snorkel tours and explore the stunning marine life of Shaw’s Cove! Your expert guide will meet you and lead you through Southern California’s beautiful kelp forests. Enjoy 45 minutes in the water as our guide introduces you to the beauty of Southern California’s kelp forests and their marine life. All gear provided—just bring your sense of adventure!
Bioluminescence Night Cruise
Summer months only
2 hours
Bioluminescence Night Cruises are only offered during summer months.
There’s a luminous underwater world just waiting to shine! Learn about the remarkable ability of some marine animals to glow in the dark and witness this curiously beautiful phenomenon.*
Come aboard the R/V Sea Explorer and join us at night off the coast of Dana Point to explore the nocturnal world of marine birds, sea lions, and bioluminescent plankton. A meter net is deployed 600 feet deep to capture thousands of these drifting organisms which have the ability to make their own light. Also, witness the food chain under our deployed squid light–from the tiniest of plankton, to fish and squid–and at times the sea lions and dolphin who feed on them!
*Please be advised that forces of nature determine the abundance of bioluminescence at any given time.
