We came up last weekend and rented a fishing pontoon. I was enjoying our family time until we…read morereturned back to the dock. I wish we would have read the reviews first before renting... The office staff seemed stressed and busy. Service was so-so. The safety video was probably from the 80s? We later got to know Norma who was just a middle man and as professional as she could be. Before we left I guess my husband was told to take a photo of the prop before we left (from the drivers seat) which we later learned was not a good view/angle if there are already damages to it. There are faded signs at the marina shack to ask take photos. TAKE TONS OF PHOTOS! Because they will try to say you damaged the boat upon returning. While other boats were not looked at twice like ours was. There seemed to be conflict or a disagreement with some thing between the staff when we got on but the guy just brushed them off. I wonder now if we weren't supposed to even rent that one. The gauges were broken and the life vests for my kids were stamped with a date of 1989!! And then another stamped of "passed" in 1993. Let's just go with the 10 year lifetime date for fun. We returned and after we raised the prop the staff started acting that there was an issue and we had no clue what was going on. We waited while they looked at the prop and there was fishing line in it. That they took off and dropped back in the water right there. Finally after about 20 minutes they say they need to call the owner. We still don't know why, and they say it's because the prop is bent. We didn't hit any thing at all. They said we could leave and call us later. But we opted to wait. One employee said it was "silver" when we left but was worse when we returned. He was really a jerk the whole time to even the other staff, blaming us. There were three staff members who were nice and professional- I didn't get their names- a guy with an accent was friendly and seemed to be bothered by the other punk, a young female at the dock. I saw another couple going out for a rental to see if they were going to use our boat. I asked him if the boat keeps going out. And his only answer was that it's the renters responsibility to take photos. After the manager called the owner it was finally determined we would not be charged $100 for the prop. The manager on site seemed understanding and mature verses everyone else running the show. As we had a $250 deposit on hold for damages on the rental. I was enjoying our time until the end and will not recommend going here again.

Terrible business owners didn't want to refund nor give us the boat ride that we paid for. To…read morepreface this, it was raining the day we wanted to rent the boat. SO BUYER BEWARE!!! Don't believe the highly rated reviews. These jerks don't keep promises. Make sure to record any promises. Especially if they don't let you take the boat. They have terrible policies. They stole money from our family.

Fantastic whale watching experience in San Diego! The weather was perfect, which made the trip even…read morebetter. We were lucky enough to see a whale that truly put on an amazing show--such a memorable moment. The crew was efficient, friendly, and very informative throughout the entire trip, which made us feel comfortable and engaged. Everything was also very budget-friendly, which made it an even greater value. Overall, a great experience and absolutely worth both the time and the money. Highly recommend!

Heard it was migration season so decided to book a 9am tour on a Friday…read more The tour was two and a half hours long and we saw so many dolphins it was bananas! We also saw a baby grey baleen whale which was such a treat. But even sightings aside it was a lovely way to be out on the water. The crew to our boat were great. Knowledgeable and ensured everyone was having a good time. They recommend you get there 45 minutes early and definitely do so! You sign in and then line up. A lot of people can be fit on their boat (if you get the group one) and the line can get pretty large and it's first come first sit. For 10 bucks a pop you can go on early. For 200 dollars you get the exclusive front top deck. I recommend sitting at the top. Please note that means sometimes no shade so bring a hat. You can sit on the first level or inside in the shade. The boat has a bathroom and after 3 miles you can get drinks! If you park in the lot attached to their location it's 10 dollars. Or you can street park on Quivera road which I recommend as it was super easy and not a walk at all. Would highly recommend regardless of if you see any whales just for the joy of being out on the water.

The best and most amazing while watching an experience ever. It was my first, lol…read more.. We found this place on Groupon, and the price was beyond reasonable, I loved every minute of it. The staff was very friendly, and overall the experience was just mind blowing as we saw a five gray whales and now we are in the 1% lol...

You do not want to be stuck on a boat for hours (or days) with Seaforth's inexperienced and…read moreunbearable crews--their large and FRAGILE egos leave little to no room for passengers, fun, or fish. There is a reason Seaforth Sportfishing has 2 Yelp accounts that BOTH have BAD RATINGS (they attempted to make a second Yelp account to improve ratings and failed)! Look at ANY OTHER FISHING CHARTER's ratings and DON'T GO WITH SEAFORTH!!!

I've lived here my entire life and have never been whale watching but have always wanted to,…read morehowever it's just not an experience I'd typically consider splashing out on for myself (**spoiler alert - my visit was less than two weeks ago and immediately after disembarking I told my husband I wanted to get on another tour stat!) For Christmas, my husband's aunt gifted tickets to our entire extended family to enjoy a whale watching tour together so we finally landed on a date and it was an awesome experience from start to finish. We arrived about 15 minutes early for our 9:30am boarding time, checked in at the kiosk and were given paper tickets to be handed over to the crew as we came aboard. Once onboard, we were introduced over the speaker to the captain and crew and given a quick rundown of the itinerary and safety procedures. We navigated through the harbor where we spotted our local sea lion neighbors basking in the sun which especially delighted the kids and the out-of-town/state passengers, sailed out of the harbor and into the open sea. It was a pleasantly calm morning with hardly any wind and very smooth sailing. The only slight downside was that it was a particularly gray morning, so there was little distinction between the color of the ocean versus the sky but it was very clear and we could see for a long distance. We got probably close to halfway through our two-hour tour without any sightings but once we were about 5 miles off the coast, we started hearing transmissions between the crew over their walkies so we knew to start keeping our eyes peeled. The next half hour or so was spent watching three beautiful fin whales take turns coming up for air, swimming under the boat, rolling playfully and showing their light-colored bellies. It was so fun to be able to move about the boat freely to try to get the best view, some photos and videos, while being filled in by the crew on interesting marine facts. Finally the whales took their deep dives, at which point we were informed they wouldn't be coming back up for air for a while and it was about time to head back. The cruise back was equally smooth as the adventure out, and we got in right on time and prepared to disembark but not before getting coupons for a future expedition and adorable fin whale stickers to commemorate our tour. I can't WAIT to go on another whale watching tour with Oceanside Adventures - it was the best time!! I would 100000% recommend.

What a great day for whale watching!…read more The crew is amazing! Ivy, Tekon, Saxon, Chris. Hope I got all the spelling right! I've been on this boat and it's not always a guarantee as nature is nature but today was perfect. Calm seas, thousands...yes thousands of dolphin and a dozen whales. Mostly humpback but we saw two finback as well. So rad. Can't wait until next time!

It has been over seven years since my previous review. Why the loss of one star? My grading scale…read morehas become much tougher. These folks are really good. Same great service but more good times. The Mission Belle is now owned by Cameron with same great adventures. Ok, have not fished the American Angler recently and that is my fault and maybe why the loss of a star. But sure as heck I am going to get on an Adam with the New LoAnn and Blufin Jim and the Vegabond. When going to Point Loma's Tackle Shop, Goat and his 50 years there is truly remarkable.

Chad is an amazing captain. He kept looking until we found fish and the crew helped us land the big…read moreones

From start to finish, this whole experience was fun and leisurely. Harbor Tour Tickets are a great…read morevalue for the money and the ship is fun to walk around with three levels to choose from. They have snacks and drinks with alcohol options if you want to imbibe. The ride itself is extremely smooth, which is a blessing for someone like me with motion sickness. Throughout the ride they narrate what you are seeing and discuss interesting historical facts. On our tour, we saw seals! Overall I highly recommend this tour as San Diego is so gorgeous!

We did the bottomless brunch, and overall it was a fun one-time experience, but at $150, it…read moredefinitely felt a bit steep. The brunch includes buffet-style food and bottomless mimosas. I had about four mimosas in the time, and the food was decent, though I didn't get to fully enjoy it because I went upstairs to check out the deck and came back to find my untouched plate had already been cleared. That said, the staff was friendly and the views were beautiful. The boat mainly does a loop around the water.

This is a fishing story. It could have been a "fish story," but because not everyone appreciates a…read morewell-crafted lie, I'll say instead that Captain John Grim consistently provides expert guided fishing excursions on San Diego Bay, at an affordable price. Captain Grim, whose name belies his genial wit and demeanor, is an interesting man of many talents and qualifications: a charter captain, certified and licensed by the Coast Guard, he is also a dentist who retired in 2003 but who continues to sub for colleagues that need the backup. Over the past 15 years, Captain Grim, or "Doc," as I call him, has mastered two difficult skills: fishing with strangers, and teaching others how to fish. Though he personally prefers fly casting, Doc is happy to guide spin-casters from one end of the Bay to the other. Some folks ask: why spend hundreds of dollars for a guided trip, when you can fish from a party boat for a fraction of the cost? But the question poses a false dichotomy. The alternative to paying a guide isn't saving a few bucks by fishing with dozens of drunken anglers who will shout, vomit, foul your line and otherwise ruin your day. It is to buy a boat, committing time and treasure to its upkeep, just so you can fish in peace. Guides are cheaper, and they clean the boat. There are all sorts of guides. A common complaint about the bad ones is that, whether through inattention or a desire to save on gas, they'll anchor at a spot, then loiter till the fish show up. Doc, being a good guide, either puts his clients on the fish, or, once they've worked a spot for a few minutes without success (or fished out an active one), moves the damned boat. He is also willing to take requests: Doc knows that I love to fish the edge of the saltponds, at the mouth of the Otay River where it spills into the South San Diego Bay Unit of the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Fish, especially bonefish, gather there, as do blue heron and other water birds, and I'm enthralled by the splendid blue-hued morning views from the water, and the marsh's sweet vegetal breath. Running that far south costs Doc extra gas, yet he indulges me, and I am always grateful. His boat, the "Salty Doc," is a 22' Scout Center Console T-top, propelled by a Yamaha 150 outboard. It's equipped with a bait tank, trolling motor, up-to-date electronics, conveniently-placed rod holders (rods, reels and lures are provided) and comfortable seats fore and aft that make it an ideal platform from which to fish. I've fished with Doc several times. He has taught me about the Bay and about my own equipment, and he's been a good host to me and my friends. In April 2015, Doc guided me and my brother-in-law, Eli, to this pleasant day of fishing: - Starting South, by the NWR, Doc showed us how to fish the wreck near the salt works. We caught and released several Spotted Bay Bass. - Moving slowly counterclockwise, we worked the pilings at Chula Vista Marina at CV Harbor, which some call the "J Street Marina;" and then the rocks protecting Bayside Park. - Still "in" Chula Vista, we fished the entrance to Marine Group Boat Works at G St. The location provided a nice arrangement of fishable structure, and a view of pretty boats, too, but on that day, few fish. - We continued to the front of Sweetwater Marsh (another unit of the NWR), and into the mouth of the Sweetwater River at Pepper Park, where we picked up more spotties. - Crossing the Bay, we fished the flats near Loews Coronado Bay Resort, drifting east and south to the Coronado Cays Yacht Club. We admired more pretty boats, but seeing no action, we moved north, to the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. - Because it's illegal to anchor or tie up under the bridge, Doc started us up-current, then drifted through the pylons, fishing along the way. Changing lures, we landed more species here, including Mackerel and Corvina. - After a dozen drifts, we crossed to Tuna Harbor, where we entertained tourists with our casting skills as we bounced lures off the hulls of working boats, and Eli caught the biggest bass of the day. - Finally, we shifted to just west of Island Prime/C Level, then drifted east, a pattern that frequently yields excellent halibut bites. But our tide had slackened and put the fish to sleep, so fishing was futile. As we made a last pass before returning to shore, I directed Eli's attention overhead, to C Level's elegant lunch crowd. The restaurant's female diners seemed unaware of our presence, but several men, ignoring their plates and companions, watched our progress with jealous enthusiasm. Those men were right to feel bad. There is no lunch better than a day of fishing with Captain John Grim, on the "Salty Doc." Honest. ****************************** National Wildlife Refuge - San Diego Bay: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/san_diego_bay/ C Level: https://www.yelp.com/biz/c-level-san-diego?hrid=zqJWeOALYEV0F1RONR4z5w Island Prime: http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/islandprime

Avoid this company at all costs!…read more We flew down to San Diego from Oregon to have a special Valentine's day/anniversary. Booked a sunset cruise on the Chere Amie. We got onboard at 4:30, cruise was scheduled to depart at 5. 5:45 rolls around, we're still at the dock. I happened to overhear a couple crew members talking to each other. They said there was engine trouble, and the cruise wasn't going to happen. No announcement was ever made. Word just slowly circulated throughout the guests, as the crew encouraged people to keep buying their overpriced drinks. I got in the back of the long bar line, to close out my tab, for the one drink I was able to purchase in the hour and a half I had been onboard. The bar tender continually and consistently blew off the long line of people patiently waiting, in order to serve people who ignored the line and just walked right up to the bar. After about 35 minutes, I was finally being helped, and while I usually tip far more than most, I declined to give her a tip. When she saw that, she started cussing me out. Even as I walked down the dock, away from the janky boat, she was still yelling obscenities at me. I hadn't raised my voice, or said anything rude. I don't know if she was drunk, or just unhappy with her life, but either way, her behavior was extremely unprofessional. None of the crew offered apologies or explanations as we left, just mumbled that I'd be refunded. So, there we were, at 7pm on Valentine's day, trying to find an activity that wasn't booked up or sold out. It was extremely frustrating. So, if you want a "cruise" that doesn't leave the dock, with an inconsiderate crew and hostile bartender, the Chere Amie is the boat for you!

Booked this boat for the San Diego Boat parade , Dec14 event. I booked a month in advance. I…read morechecked weekly to make sure the event /charter was going to happen. I booked flights and hotel rooms for friends and family. As time approached the Friday before the event on Sunday the charter was still happening. Well then on Sat the day before the event, the charter company CANCELLED the charter, due to low ticket sales, refund was issued. However, now it is too late to cancel my hotel rooms! So, I am very disappointed in my experience and the money that I spent to attend this event, only to have the charter company C

We had the experience of a lifetime! The crew of Captain Troy and Fathom, Derek, Ariana, and Dylan…read morewere so knowledgeable and made our adventure even more pleasant. The care they showed to each and every passenger was top notch. Sailing on such a fantastic and historical vessel America was mind blowing. The 2 species of whales and dolphins we saw and heard will be something we remember forever. If you've ever wanted to go whale watching, DO IT and contact Next Level Sailing.

Wonderful morning on the water. Staff was communicative and helpful in moving us to another time…read morewhen the weather forecast looked bad for our scheduled day. Great information during the cruise. Would have been fabulous even if we hadn't seen whales, which we did. Would definitely do it again next time we are in San Diego.

WOW what an ADVENTURE it is to zip around the epic San Diego Harbor on jet skis!!…read more Davin the manager here is so kind, helpful and will always provide an excellent experience! Thank you to the whole team & for the forever fun we had! We will 1000% be coming back!! Highly recommend!!

We rented a boat with SD Adventures for a pretty special mission - we needed to go undercover to…read moresecretly photograph our friends' proposal, and SD Adventures absolutely crushed it when it came to helping us nail the details! Davin, the general manager, was truly next-level amazing. From the very beginning, he went above and beyond to help us plan and perfectly time the proposal. He was incredibly communicative, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in making sure everything went smoothly. You could tell he actually cared about the moment, not just the rental. From the moment we arrived, the experience was exceptional. At the check-in booth, Wyatt gave us the warmest welcome and made us feel like we were the top priority, even though he was juggling at least five other parties in line trying to rent for the day. He was genuinely stoked for us to be there, which instantly set the tone for an amazing experience. When we got to the dock, Davin was exactly how he was over the phone, and gave us clear, easy-to-understand instructions, he checked in to make sure we were comfortable, and made the entire experience completely stress-free from start to finish. Davin and Wyatt are the definition of 100/10 customer service- professional, kind, and an absolute rockstars. We live in San Diego and will absolutely be going out with SD Adventures again. Highly, highly recommend