See This Rare Blue Whale Swimming Off Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — There is nothing more captivating than the sight of a blue whale skimming the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Orange County's first blue whale sighting of the year happened over the weekend, according to a Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari spokesperson.

The leviathan was spotted occurred near Three Arch Bay, according to Giselle Anderson, to the surprise and delight of passengers aboard a whale-watching cruise.

"This sighting marks Dana Point's first blue whale of the year," she says. The drone video, captured by drone pilot Matt Stumpf, shows the beauty of the creature in its natural habitat.

Endangered blue whales are the largest known animal to have ever lived on earth, Anderson says. Although whaling is no longer considered a major threat to blue whales, ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear are ongoing risks.

Typically blue whales are seen off Southern California May through October.

The whales migrate to the waters off the U.S. west coast to feed on krill, a very small shrimp-like crustacean, according to Anderson.

"Blue whales are a protected species after being hunted nearly to extinction in the early 1900's," she says.

Learn more about whale watching at Dana Point, the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World®.

Dana Point and south Orange County offers a variety of year-round whale and dolphin sightings, with more dolphins per square mile than anywhere in the world, according to Anderson.

Experience blue whales and more when you book a Super-Safe Safari or Private Charter at www.dolphinsafari.com

Learn more at facebook.com/captdaveswhalewatching