On May Day, this year's first whales made a splash at Dana Point.
Three blue whales appeared about 2.5 miles from the Dana Point Harbor. The sighting was made by Capt. Dave Anderson, who owns Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari. Coincidentally, a gray whale startled snorklers at Laguna Beach when it popped its head out of the water close to shore.
The sighting of whales is new enough in this area to still thrill residents, because it was still rare until as recently as 10 years ago. The whales in the last few years have come as early as April and as late as June, but the general consensus is that the whales are on average showing up earlier and staying longer.
Capt. Anderson caught the triangular formation of whales on film from a drone he launched. Whale watching has been beneficial to Dana Point's economy, as well as other nearby cities. Among the local businesses that have benefited are photographers who utilize postcard printing services to turn their photographs of whales frolicking in the water into postcard for tourists to send home.
The number of blue whales has steadily increased since 1999; a year in which newspapers reported 12 sightings. By 2006, the number had jumped to 440, and 947 last year were seen. Despite the increased sightings, these giants are still on the endangered species list.
