We booked with Captain Russell for my daughter's 15th birthday party on Mission Bay, and he was fantastic! He was extremely organized, had life jackets ready for everyone, and even brought two different tubing floats so the girls could pick their favorite. He tirelessly took groups out, adjusting the speed and pulling off "slingshot" requests with endless patience. From the most timid riders to the daredevils, everyone had a blast. The whole experience was safe, fun, and unforgettable--highly recommend! read more

One of the most fun days we've had in San Diego. We had perfect weather, smooth water and tons of sea life. We must have seen at least 8 whales, tons of dolphin, sea lions and so much more. Russell was the best captain, tons of fun, great guy. We'll be going back out many more times in the near future! Thank you read more

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I can't say enough good things about my family's time with Xplore Offshore. Russel is extremely accommodating, we really felt like we were a part of creating the experience rather than just being along for the ride. He is also extremely knowledgeable about the ocean and was more than happy to pass some of that knowledge along to us. The most important part of the trip for me was that there was no sacrificing the animals' well-being for our own amusement (and yet, we still had the best day EVER!) - it made me feel super confident in the morals and integrity of Xplore Offshore as a company and would absolutely recommend XO to anyone and everyone because of it. read more

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Russ runs an experience unlike those you'll find on the larger whale watching vessels. Sure it'll cost you a bit more if you're a couple...but it'd still be worth it in my opinion. If you have a family or are traveling with a larger group, the answer is easy...call Xplore Offshore first. Comparable to a general admission vs. "meet & greet" at a concert. Only caution would be for those with infants or who are elderly. There is no cabin to escape from the elements if/when it gets cold, windy, etc. read more

Xplore Offshore - Tours Near Me

I booked a half day trip for 7 of my family and friends and I through a deal on living social. Pros - Friendly and funny captain - Captain Russell is one of the most knowledgeable and laid back people I've ever met. He's been doing this for five summers now and it shows in his trips. He has a keen eye and spots things out in the ocean easily. He's patient, very flexible, and brings you great food! Amazing ride out there - just to be out in nature and out away from the land is an experience in itself Wildlife - We saw a sunfish and hundreds, I mean HUNDREDS of dolphins! Both common and bottlenose. No one got seasick - the boat travels like a jetski, so it kind of feels like you're on a roller coaster if the waves are choppy - REALLY entertaining though! Freshly made food is provided - We all ate wraps, fruit, pita chips, cookies, chicken, peanut butter filled pretzels, and sesame almonds till we all couldn't eat anymore The boat! - My friends we're shocked with how small the boat was, but I told them not to worry. After boarding it we we're shown all the features of the boat. It has a bathroom, pretty good sound system, a warm water shower, an intense navigation system, and storage to keep all of your stuff dry. Cons Nothing on Captain Russell's part but the weather was a little foggy and the algae bloom made us not want to go snorkeling :( In Short I would definitely recommend taking this trip with some adventurous friends. Listen to the captain and head out there when the weather is good. Bring your cameras, warm clothes, binoculars, and an appetite. Nature, food, spontaneity, it's all there. read more

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Over the years, we've been on a few boat trips out of the San Diego area, but nothing, and I mean NOTHING compares to the experience we had today with Captain Russell. He treated the 4 of us like family, explained where we were headed and more importantly, WHY we were headed there. On our 10-12 mile trip to blue whale territory (no guarantees you'll see 'em), we saw hundreds of dolphins, some jumping out of the water, some even had babies in tow -- you could tell the mothers were staying between the boat and their youngsters. That was worth the price of admission, but the coup de grâce was the blue whale encounters we had. We saw a couple different blue whales, one of which was swimming with a calf. Russell is very knowledgable, keeps the boat close, but keeps a respectful and legal distance, although you still can see them and hear them spouting and inhaling gigantic breaths. From a comfort level, we were also totally happy. Lots of comfy seating, i that's your bag... or you can go sit up front and feel the bounce of the water as he drives though the swells. He keeps his boat immaculate, the life vests are all hi-end and in great condition and most of all, he's just an all-around nice guy. He totally personifies the saying: "find something you love to do, then figure out a way to get paid for it." You can tell he loves it and that is absolutely infectious. What a day! I would 100% recommend booking a trip with him. Obviously, the time of year has a lot to do with what you'll see, and with that said, I'll give him even more credit. When you call to book, he'll be honest and tell you if it's not the best time, based on conditions, etc. He's not one of those greedy vendors just trying to book as many people as possible in order to make a quick buck. He takes the time to give you an EXPERIENCE and that's all he's focused on - your enjoyment. Our two sons were thrilled. They said it was better than playing Fortnite (if you get that reference, then you know, that's really saying something!) Get in touch with him before the summer ends. You won't regret it. read more

This was the highlight of our trip to San Diego!!!! Captain Russell exceeded our expectations before we even left the dock! He answered our call the day before our desire to get on the water and worked hard navigating to give us a great experience. He was knowledgeable and collaborated with other captains to make sure we didn't disturb pathway of whales rather waited patiently for them to come to us. His plan worked and we were able to see a moma and her calf. We appreciated his adventurous side when "riding the waves" or "chasing" the birds and he even served gourmet figs while we quietly looked for dolphins. This tour made our family trip to San Diego and we suggest you plan ahead to make sure you get to do this with Russell...we got lucky but suggest you not take that risk! The Sowers Family Virginia read more

My mother, my son, & I went out with Russel a few days ago & had the most incredible day. Russel is so knowledgeable about the ocean and so passionate for what he does, as well as super accomodating. It was a pleasure to explore the ocean with him. Not to mention, his custom boat is super fun. We saw hundreds of dolphins, literally hundreds, and a whale. Such a surreal & incredible experience. Can't wait to go back & do it again. read more

I am STILLLLLLL high on adrenaline after a half a dozen of my favorite galpals and I spent a full day with Cpt Russell on his amazing 24' Northwind Custom RIB yesterday!!! This was my second time out this summer .... and LET ME TELL YOU.... IT IS FAR FROM MY LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cpt Russell quite simply AIMS TO PLEASE ALL.... and works with you plenty enough in advance while you plan your excursion, making sure you know EXACTLY what to expect/not to expect. He provides pretty much everything (towels, snorkel gear, food, beverages/cocktails, music, sunscreen, and believe it or not, a bathroom!(AMEN!)... not to mention endless smiles, laughs and room for ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!) Yesterday we were lucky to have the most AMAZING SUNNY SAN DIEGO SUMMER DAY! We were graced by ALL TYPES of sealife, including an enormous (80-90'!!!) blue whale!!!!!!!!! Priceless entertainment, people!!!!!!! Cpt Russell is very knowledgeable and informative about what's out there! It's kinda 'in his blood.' And it's truly a rush crusin' around full speed ahead through the deep blue sea with mucho anticipation of what lies ahead! Words cannot describe the exhilarating adventure we all had yesterday! You honestly just have to book your trip and experience it first hand!!! You will NOT (NO WAY!) be disappointed! Wooooo Hoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;o) read more

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OMG, what a blast! Best way to see San Diego from the water. Fast and furious water fun you won't want to miss!

Russell (the owner and your captain) was fantastic! He provided the best ocean experience for our family. Laid back and likable, he just wants everyone to enjoy themselves. He communication was great, as to what direction we wanted to take our trip. We saw so many dolphins, big and small and we all jumped in and swam with them too. He had towels and blankets ready for us after the swim. The boat is unique and really is part of what make the trip so great as you are close to the water. Never been in a boat like his before. Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for a great trip Russell! Jenny and family read more

Great time, will definitely be coming back!! Russel is the man! Saw multiple blue whales and tons of dolphins, surreal experience to say the least! read more

This was amazing!!! Captain Russell was very fun and very knowledgeable! Very flexible for scheduling and the length of the tour! 10/10 would do again! read more

6 stars? No option for 6 stars? My best friend arranged for a Saturday morning adventure when I visited her. I didn't quite know what to expect, but I was excited to be out in the water. The 4 of us met up with Capt. Russell and he was warm and welcoming right off the bat. He gave us some info on the boat and answered all our questions. Super accomodating and hospitable. And of course, a great tour guide too! The entire boat ride was entertaining, exhilarating, and super fun! We saw a few dolphins and a sea lion buddy early on. Then we didn't see anything for a while. While we waited for some wildlife, Capt. Russell popped open the cooler and served us some mimosas and cookies!! It was soooo refreshing to be out in middle of the ocean on a perfectly sunny and breezy morning. We bobbed around in the water for some time, discouraged about finding more wildlife. We started heading back, full speed, wind in our hair...saw another group of dolphins. All of a sudden, Capt. Russell turns the boat around and we were all confused because we wanted to play with the group of dolphins! He sped away and right before our eyes, there were thousands of dolphins. JACKPOT!! I didn't even know THAT many dolphins travel together. They swam and played with us, I reached over the edge of the boat as Capt. Russell carefully navigate the boat to swim along with the dolphins....and I got to touch the dolphins as they jumped in and out of the water. I must've looked ridiculous hanging on for dear life with one arm while petting those adorable dolphins. It was just soooo incredible!! Even though we were out on the water way longer than the 3hrs we booked, Capt. Russell didn't charge us extra -- in fact, I think he may have given us a discount. He made this trip happen on short notice, and it was just amazing. (Oh, and if you're trying to get a hold of him... call the right number instead of complaining about how unresponsive he is!) I could go on and on about this, but to summarize...it was a perfect experience! Capt. Russell is the man. I can't wait to plan my next mini adventure with him. read more

We had a great experience with Russell and his boat. The boat rides extremely smooth and creates a fun personal experience. It was just my wife, two 11 year old boys, and myself. In fact we passed the big 50 passenger watching boat as we sped by them and found a mega-pod of dolphins. There were dolphins jumping around us and interacting with the boat. It was pretty cool! After we left the big boat eventually arrived at the dolphins. We definitely had the best seat on the ocean! I would highly recommend Xplore Offshore to anyone looking for a unique and great ocean experience. read more

I went on a cruise in San Diego with Capt. Russell and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have been on. As a small business owner myself, I love this cruise. The weather was perfect. We saw where they filmed some of the Pirate of the Caribbean.movie, amazing homes, dolphins, did I mention the water was amazing? Capt Russell is an very cool host and makes you feel like family from the first contact to the end of the cruise. I can not express any more to you as to how much fun this trip was. Thank you and I look forward to the next time I'm down in San Diego with family! read more

If there was a way to give Russell 10 stars, we would. We called around 830 am on Monday and were out on the water at 10 am that same day. Russell was extremely accommodating, friendly and patient with our large group of girls. He was welcoming and made us feel at home on his boat and was determined to make sure we saw ocean life. We did, and it wasn't disappointing! We saw a Blue Whale, A LOT of dolphins, sea lions and a few sunfish. He never once rushed us and was completely focused on making sure we had the best time. I recommend Russell to anyone looking for a great boat adventure! He's amazing! I'm so glad to see everyone reviewing here on Yelp feels the same way! read more

How many people in the world can say that they have swam with blue whales?? Not many, but I'm one of them! Just got done with a morning/early afternoon excursion in search of blue whales. Simply seeing one breach the first time was amazing and everyone gasped. However, we were lucky enough to stop for a minute to throw our wetsuits on and whales were coming at us from all directions! We hopped in and swam around with them for a little while. INCREDIBLE! I will be telling friends about this experience for months, I'm sure. It was so unreal and such a great experience. Captain Russell was great, very knowledgable, and provided drinks, beers, cookies, chips, and lots of other goodies! His excursions are a MUST! read more

You need to know that the day was made memorable because of what we saw...and just as important, because of you. You are passionate and want your guests to have the best time ever. You delivered. We will do this again! read more

Captain Russel took our family of four out on his boat yesterday to explore the beautiful ocean off the SD coast. We had the most amazing time hanging out with dolphins just inches away. It is just magical to be out there on a small, close to the water vessel. We also saw a blue whale, which will likely be a once in a lifetime experience. Russel is knowledgeable, responsive and an all around great guy. If you want to get close up to the local wild marine life, this is your trip! It was the highlight of our vacation. read more

We had an amazing time with Captain Russell He delivered an awesome tour - humpback whales - schools of dolphin - and an amazing ride on his zodiac. I highly recommend Xplore Offshore! read more

If you are in the market for a fun, informative, one-of-a-kind ocean experience, you must book with Xplore Offshore! Captain Russell is not only informative and safe, but he really knows how to show his guest a great time! If sea life is your mission, he will find it. If cruising the shores and looking at the lovely scenery is your goal, he will do it. Xplore Offshore will cater to your needs and help you to create the ocean experience you are looking for. My friends and I booked for a Birthday cruise, we saw a bunch dolphins, sea lions and had a blast. Russell was so energetic and nice we didn't want to leave, he's great on the eyes too ;) Don't wait, book now, they fill up fast!!! read more

Awesome! This is the guy to go to for an amazing boat ride! Captain Russell is so laid back, cool & always has a cooler of drinks included in the price. Super fun guy and his boat is amazing. I believe it is a former navy seal raft that isn't just a raft. This high speed raft, has such a deep V that cuts thru the biggest waves and turns on a dime at high speeds. It's roomy and a great place to chill out in the ocean with out of town friends or just a day trip with you and your family. Highly recommended. Very reasonably priced and the Captain isn't worried about time. If you pay for an hour I assure you you'll be out longer then that! Have fun;) read more

Took my kids (3) to San Diego this past summer and decided to try something different from the zoos, parks, etc. Reserved a 1/2 day with Offshore Xplore to go dolphin and whale watching on a lazy Thursday - with my kids, my girlfriend and her two kids - and what an experience! We still talk about how much fun we had!. Cpt. Russell was very patient with all of us and is very prepared in all areas - life vests, food, drinks, distance, etc. My middle son has autism and Cpt Russell was prepared for the unexpected...just in case. Everyone had a great time and the pictures of my 3 kids screaming in excitement at the front of the boat, while the boat was going 'super fast' will be our Christmas cards this year! We definitely will do another boat trip the next time we are in San Diego! Thanks Cpt Russell for a fabulous time and great summer-time memories! read more

Russell is an excellent tour guide. He caters to you and he made sure we all had fun. He took us 28 miles out in the sea to see dolphins, sea lions, seals, and even humpback whales. So much more personal and fun then those big whale watching boats. The humpback whale pop up close to our boat and we had the best experience playing with the many dolphins up close. The yellow rib boat was like being on a roller coaster. He took us for rides on the waves and did many tricks to keep us entertained. It was fun. I'll be back. read more

Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! Captain Russel is the man! He is very accommodating and makes you feel right at home on his one-of-a-kind RIB. He tailored the trip to us and knows the waters like the back of his hand. His excitement only made us that more pumped! We had absolutely perfect weather and calm waters. Perfect conditions for seeing an assortment of extraordinary marine life: common and bottle nose dolphins, sunfish, sea lions and a whale! Hanging over the bow of the boat, watching dolphins swim directly underneath within an arm's reach jumping and playing, is truly an unforgettable experience! Highly highly recommend! No other San Diego water adventure can even compare! read more

Captain Russell provided a safe, fun and eco conscious day of whale and dolphin watching. His care for the ocean, and its inhabitants was apparent throughout the day. He regularly picks up debris to clean the ocean and was very sensitive to the wellbeing of the Whales and Dolphins by making sure they were undisturbed by our presence. He made sure we had a great time and focused his attention on locating the Whales to make sure we got our money's worth. The highlights were: being surrounded by 6 curious blue and fin Whales circling our boat at a safe distance while my husband played the Digeridoo and later being in the surrounded by a school of 100 Dolphins playing and flipping out of the water!!! I have never had a more amazing time on a boat! We will surely do this again!!!! read more

AMAZING! We wanted to ride jet skis in the bay...party of 7...too expensive and dangerous. We read the article in the San Diego Magazine and gave Captain Russell a call...within 10 minutes we had decided this was for us! Russell is the consummate host...totally prepared, fun and funny, super knowledgeable and all around great guy! We went looking for whales and although we could not locate them we did see TONS of beautiful dolphins and the occasional sea lion. We are tall people (ranging from 6'9" to 5'7") and there was plenty of room. The boat ride is super smooth and absolutely the most fun...Captain goes as fast as you want and can also take it slow. We did a bit of both and everyone was HAPPY! The ocean was super smooth the day we went out and as a result we were the very first group to ride the 3 person tube out in the deep open water - FUN, FUN, FUN!!! I have told everyone I know about this boat trip...if you are in SD - GO! You will not regret it! AMAZING! read more

There is nothinig better than a day out on the water in San Diego with Russell and Xplore offshore! I have been out with Russell many times now, and each time is a treat. Russell is a fantastic captain, you will always feel well taken care of on his boat. As far as seeing wildlife, the area off the coast is rich with sightings of dolphins, whales, ocean sunfish, seals etc. You will not get any closer than on Russell's boat. Definitely worth the splurge for this fabulous and intimate experience on the ocean. read more

Xplore Offshore - Tours Near Me

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I've used Yelp for many years and have never posted a review. Sometimes an event can motivate you to change from a bystander to a participant. My day on the ocean off San Diego with Xplore has created a participant in me. This is my first actual review and I hope to post many more. I've been to San Diego many times over the years. I've rented sailboats, powerboats, have been on large whale watching boats, America's Cup spectator boats and personally hold a United States Coast Guard commercial license. Now, more about Xplore and Russell, the owner of this fine operation. This is the real Sea World! Forget the lines, the parking, the horrible concessions and most importantly, the misguided "conservation" efforts of the well intentioned folks at Sea World. Give Xplore a call and see, smell, taste, and touch the ocean first-hand aboard Xplore's phenomenal custom-built boat. With thousand of hours on the water in every kind of craft, I'm not easily impressed by a boat's design. Xplore's boat is amazing! Extremely stable, fast, maneuverable, and strong. This boat is built for running the ocean in any condition and Russell is master behind the wheel. It is a dream and an experience you will never forget. We booked a private charter, which I would recommend if your party is more than 4 people. We had 8 people aboard last week for a whale/dolphin/seal trip. Russell met us at a great marina near Mission Beach and we were on the water quickly. We had one 8 year old, several teenagers, and an adventurous grandmother in our party. Everyone was amazed at the stability and security of Xplore's boat. The private potty was a hit as well. Russell provided the cold beverages and ice. We brought our own food but didn't spend any time eating as the nature show was just too exciting. We saw 4 different whales, 2 different species of dolphins and many seals and sea lions. The trip was absolutely perfect. Russell brought us to some great private spots. Sharing this experience with family is what life is all about. Thanks Russell for inspiring me to actually begin sharing my experiences with others. Xplore deserves the highest recommendation possible. read more

The hi-light of our vacation! Our son exclaimed "this is better than Legoland!". The three hours we spent enjoying the waves, sightseeing, and encountering ocean creatures was worth every penny. We were lucky enough to see 2 types of dolphins, sea lions, a leopard seal, and sun fish - WOW! The custom built vessel is perfectly suited for both comfort and exhilarating speed, while Russell; your captain and guide, is a true delight. Russell tailored the experience to our interests and seemed truly happy to answer our endless questions. It was a once in a lifetime experience that made lasting memories and we recommend it to all! read more

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My review is long, so here's my quick summary: Just being out on the water in this boat was incredible. If we saw no wildlife, and if the sun never came out, and the water was choppy, it would've been an amazing experience, very memorable and fun, and totally worth what it cost us. I can't recommend it highly enough, and I will definitely be back for another trip. What are you waiting for?!? Call this man! The initial experience before we even saw the boat was awesome. I called Russell, we talked shop a little bit, set up some ideas for the day based on what we wanted to do, and he gave me some great suggestions about the kind of things we could do based on my limited budget. Rather than treating me like small fry because we only could charter the boat for a couple hours, he came up with several ideas for things we could do in that time, and was insistent that we wait for good weather. I was nervous about everything before I called, but Russell was very patient with answering my questions and breaking down how it worked, and had some great ideas for ways to spend the day. Now, to the fun part: My girlfriend is obsessed with being out on the water. Guys, if you have a lady that likes this kind of thing, this trip is money! I've rarely seen her so excited. It was romantic and fun in ways that nothing else we've ever done was, and we'll remember this longer than we will all the little weekend getaways we've taken that ended up costing significantly more money. We got to go out on the boat on July 15th. It was an awesome day, we met Russell at the agreed upon time at the pier, it's easy to park where we launched from in Mission Bay, and -- while it was a little cloudy -- it was fixing to be a great day for a boat ride. First, the boat: This thing is insane! I felt like I was in a boat that was stolen from a James Bond movie. You can move around really freely on it, lean over the front, walk back and forth, sit on the very tip of the bow, anything. I haven't spent a lot of time on boats, so I can't say if this would've happened otherwise, but I got no feelings of sea sickness or anything like that. It's a smooth ride, the boat feels safe and solid, and this thing FLIES! I can't remember how fast we went when we got out into fast water, but we were flying, I think we must've been going at least 40mph. The thing shoots across the water, smashes over waves. In short: the most awesome thing EVER. Now, for the experience: 15 minutes into the trip we got our first glimpse of marine life: a giant red jelly fish. I've never seen any animal in person that looked that crazy, and it was like 3 feet from us! It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie, and it's really cool to be in this boat in comparison to some tourist boat, because we were right up next to something that I don't think most people outside of divers really ever get to see. There were also a ton of seals swimming around closer to shore. Russell was on a mission to find Dolphin for us, so we kept heading out further from shore at blistering to find some pods. We were really lucky that day, and we saw a big pod of huge bottle-nosed dolphin. They swim right up to the boat and jump around next to the bow, diving in and out of the water like they are showing off. It was fantastic! I can't stress enough how cool it is to get out up close to these beautiful animals, see them playing around and having fun in the water in their own habitat, not shut up in a tank at sea world and working for fish. It was completely surreal and topped my expectations for the day. That, however, was only the beginning. Russel was in contact with some other captains, doing leg work to help find other pockets of marine life, and we stumbled upon a huge pod of common Dolphin about an hour after seeing the bottle-nose. It was getting close to the time limit we set for the day, but when Russel heard there was a huge pod of Dolphin on our way back in, he didn't care at all -- he thought we had to see it, and didn't mind if that meant staying out on the boat a little longer. He was there to give us an experience, not counting down the minutes or anything like that. We pulled up into the biggest group of common dolphin I have ever seen. There was like a 1 square mile stretch filled with dolphin, swimming, goofing around, coming right up to the boat and everything. It was breathtaking. Right around this time the sun also decided to come out, so I found myself sitting six miles off shore in an amazing boat with my girlfriend, the sun on my face and dolphin jumping out of the water to splash us! I couldn't imagine a cooler experience, and I still can't believe it happened. Russell stopped the boat and we dove into the ocean right there, in the middle of this huge pod, and got to swim around for a while. This isn't a pool in Florida or Hawaii, we were swimming with Dolphin in the middle of the ocean! It's impossible to describe how great this was with words. Call him! read more

CAN I GIVE 10 STARS!!!! Russel is a man to trust. He doesn't over promise, but he sure works hard to over deliver. He works closely with other small boat captains to find the whales and dolphins before the "big horn blowers" can scare them off. Also they respect each other and the wildlife so everyone has a great time. My wife and I had the best day of our life seeing so many dolphins we couldn't count and between 10-15 whales (some could have been the same ones twice). We can't wait to return this summer with our grandkids and take them snorkeling when the waters warm up with Russel and Explore Offshore!! read more

I knew I liked Captain Russell from the minute I walked up to his boat hungover and starving and he directed me to a nearby bait shop that had delicious breakfast sandwiches and ice cold bottles of Gatorade. Breakfast croissant consumed, I quickly forgot about my hangover as we cruised out of the jetties into the bright blue Pacific. Captain Russell was great with assessing what our group would want out of our day. He was also very helpful in the days and weeks leading up to our trip by staying in contact regarding weather/wildlife conditions and letting us know which day of our trip to San Diego would be best to head out into the ocean. There were some rare rainstorms in the area the weekend of our trip but Captain Russell picked a time for our trip where it was completely sunny and perfect. His boat was awesome and by far the smoothest ride I've ever had on the water. Even when he turned it almost completely on its side, it was no problem staying dry in the boat. We got to swim with a huge pack of dolphins that Captain Russell found offshore. It was pretty crazy swimming around a bunch of dolphins in 1500 ft of water. After swimming with the dolphins, Captain Russell sensed (correctly) that we all needed a drink so he took us in to the cove in La Jolla. Filled with liquid courage, a few of us swam through the "Crack of Death." It was terrifying but we survived to enjoy more beer and cocktails on the boat (and some of the best hummus I've ever had!). I recommend this trip for any person of any age group who wants a one of a kind experience in San Diego! We saw so much more of San Diego than we ever could have otherwise. p.s. very funny watching friends sit on the "saddle" seats at the front of the boat. read more

What a great morning we had with Captain Russell! We have spent the last week visiting most of So Cal's theme parks but this will go down as the highlight of the visit for both us and our kids. We may not have seen any whales but the hundreds of dolphins we came within inches of will be remembered forever (plus the sea lions!). Russell was great at explaining everything and his excitement was contagious. He was wonderful with our kids, and ever-so-patient with their queations. It was so nice to be on a relaxed, stress-free private excursion. We will definitely be back! I was also greatly pleased with how spot-on the other Yelp reviews were. So glad we skipped kayaking and went this route instead! Don't miss out on an excursion like this if you are headed to San Diego. read more

I love captain russel! Thank you for the adventure Please tell all your friends about him. The best.

Russell could not have been more kind, more accommodating, or more simple to work with. We had tough weather conditions, but he gave us the option as to weather or not we wanted to go. We had some trouble finding whales, so he capped our hours so we could continue going north without running the clock out on our money. While we did not find any whales, we saw hundreds of dolphins and could not stop smiling for the remainder of the day for such a wonderful experience. I cannot recommend him enough!! read more

My wife, aunt, and cousins went on a 3-hour tour (not the Gilligan's Island kind) with Capt. Russell. Within one hour we were literally surrounded by thousands of Common Dolphins. That is not hyperbole, they were as far as we could see in every direction. Then, oh look, a blue whale! We saw it briefly before it dove out of sight. Since we had time, he took us more than 9 miles off shore. We were beyond lucky to find a pod of Risso dolphins and grey bottle-nosed dolphins. Capt. Russell was ecstatic because he had not seen Risso dolphins yet this year. To quote Capt. Russell, "It was magical!" Capt. Russell was prompt, professional, and utterly knowledgeable. He provided us a close and intimate experience with these animals that we will never forget. I recommend Capt. Russell and Xplore Offshore most strongly! read more

Xplore Offshore - Tours Near Me

One of the top amazing wildlife experiences I've had to date. We go to see and jump in the water with blue and fin whales!! I never thought I'd be so close to the largest animal on earth. Cap't Russell was so laid back and accommodating to our group (not that we were high maintenance) but if we were, he'd be just as gracious. His enthusiasm and stoke for finding these creatures seems as fresh and genuine as the first time he took a group out. I would highly recommend booking with him. read more

Russel you are the best! We had such a great time, we saw whales, and dolphins within 30 minutes of leaving the dock. My three teenage boys are sometimes difficult to "entertain" and then had such a great time. Russell is flexible and accommodating with your schedule, if he can be. He provided water, cookies and soda and blankets. He asked our input on what to do, and I can not recommend it enough. My husband always gets seasick on whale watching trips, and he did not get sick at all on Russell pontoon boat. read more