Adventure RIB Rides

Best trip ever! We saw lots of sea life. The fast boat ride was so much fun! The grandkids said «Awesome adventure». Put this trip on your San Diego itinerary.

This was a Birthday present for my girlfriends 14 year old son who wants to be a marine biologist. Our captain, Mike, was amazing and we had a great experience and saw a huge mega pod of dolphins, spent a half hour following a Fin whale and then ended our tour with watching a massive Blue whale. A must do!

If you’re into marine life, boat rides, and hot captains, this is for you! I did this tour with 3 of my girlfriends and didn’t know what to expect and don’t have a particular interest in sea creatures, but it was such a fun experience and well worth it! The boat ride out was exhilarating in itself, and Captain Clint gave lots of great fun fact info along the way. We spotted several dolphins and one Fin Whale while we were out; Captain Clint knew exactly where to go so we’d have the best chance of seeing something, and all the captains seemed to do a great job of communicating with each other so all groups had a head’s up if something was spotted. I’d definitely recommend this adventure at sea!

Went on this whale watching for my honeymoon. We had a great showing of dolphins and humpback whales one the ride — lots of cool video taken. Captain Ray was also a great laid-​back guy who made the trip even more fun.

This was my first time whale watching as well as my boyfriends. It was incredible we actually saw three whales and we were lucky enough that the whale swam right in front of us. We saw so many dolphins it was crazy how they were all over the place the guide was really cool and he explained so much to us about whales and everything. Definitely better then going on a big boat with a bunch of people.

My goal was to whale and dolphin watch in a small group without 150 other vacationers. Goal accomplished. Our group was 6 people; 3 couples. Great Captain with good knowledge of local areas and naval bases and such. Kept up a good commentary with local history too. We saw gray whales and fin whales; he was very attentive to finding us «sightings». We kept in contact with several other boats in the area and were able to see more whales by communicating with other ship captains. Got into a «mega» pod of dolphins on our way back into the bay; great to watch that many common dolphins jump our waves and swim along with our RIB. Boat was comfortable and «rode» the waves well. No seasickness!

After making reservations with other companies that canceled we found Adventure R.I.B Rides and were able to fulfill our dreams of going whale watching! At first I was nervous about the safety of being on what looks like a mere raft but these boats are ex navy seal RIBS and I felt so safe. The ride was nice and because it’s not such a huge tour boat it was very personal and the whales hung out around us. Clint, our guide, gave so much info on the whales and I felt like I came out so much more knowledgable! We saw a bunch of whales! It was amazing! So worth it! Also they give you these huge flotation suits and they keep you warm and dry and they are fun! All that to say, book your ride today with Adventure R.I.B rides today!!!

A definite must on your to do list. Clint was our boat operator and was very knowledgeable on the wildlife and area. Started off slow with a couple sea lions and some harbor dolphin but we went out and gave it a shot. Ended up in a large pod of common dolphin and saw one pacific dolphin before getting the radio call that there was a gray whale a pretty good distance north of us. That’s where the Adventure RIB Rides excels. The small boat is much more maneuverable and faster than the bigger boats. We went way off shore and still were able to turn around and make run back to shore with time to spare to see the gray whale on its migration route. Even during kind of a slack time in whale watching Clint was still able to pull off the whale sighting and an enjoyable time.

Wow, what a cool experience!!! Being from Arizona, I have never truly been out on the sea before. I have been to beaches, but never anything like this.
I signed us up for the whale/​dolphin watching tour and it was truly one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. We went so far out into the ocean that we couldn’t see land in any direction around us. The captain was very passionate about whales and dolphins and he was extremely knowledgeable. I really enjoyed how much he respected these creatures in the wild, and how he referred to the ocean as their home, not ours.
The boat was very small and only seats 6 in addition to the captain. I liked that because it felt more intimate in comparison to a large commercial boat where the sea life would be further away, if you ran into anything at all. Also, the captain does drive the boat pretty fast which was nice! I’d hate to go that far out onto the ocean slowly.
We didn’t see any whales on our ride, but we did see a large pod of dolphins. It was so incredible. I have never experienced anything like that before. The dolphins swam all around us and we could see them shooting through the water below our boat like little torpedos. It was so cool. Many of them were showing off and doing flips and all sorts of sweet moves in the air. This is a very cool and intelligent creature, and it was so neat to see them wild and free and on their own terms. We enjoyed each others company, and after about 20 minutes I’d say, they were off on their next adventure.
I’d definitely recommend this company if you want to view ocean life in San Diego. Thank you so much for the most amazing experience RIB Rides!!!

We had a fantastic time with Adventure Rib Rides! I’ve done a whale watching before on the big boats and this was a much better experience. The smaller boat allows you to get up close and personal to the wildlife and also allows you to follow the whales and dolphins as they move much easier and faster than the bigger boats. We were fortunate to see a pod of common dolphins, a pod of whiteside dolphins and a humpback whale! And the lazy sea lions and seals of course too. Captain John was fantastic, an excellent driver and very knowledgeable about not only the marine life but the sights and landmarks around San Diego. Would definitely recommend this adventure!

Phenomenal! Truly enjoyed every moment — especially seeing «Droopy» the blue whale a number of times that day. Clint, our captain, was as gracious as they get — even provided an excellent restaurant recommendation for us. Check in super easy and the detailed instructions on how to find the office to check in were right on. Highly recommend.

We went out Sunday July 26. I struggled to believe that we would actually see a blue whale. Clint, and his amazing eyes, had us in the whale zone as if he summoned the whales like Aquaman. We saw 4 to 6 individuals at a distance of 25 to 50 yards. He also got us into a large pod of common dolphins with as many as 8 riding the bow just out of arms reach — including an albino one. He was knowledgeable yet humble, and respectful of the sea and the animals we went to visit. He had several water proof coveralls in the event we got too much spray or cold. My wife and another woman on the boat were very thankful for that.

Have to say, most awesome experience ever, we were able to see a blue whale and it swam so close to us, exciting adventure, Clint was very knowledgable and professional, he also made our trip super fun. I definitely recommend this place, and will be going back to find other types of marine life. Thank you very much :)

I decided to go with this company due to all the great reviews. I had never been whale watching before and I took my teenage son and two of his friends. Unfortunately we did not see one whale. What can one say, there is no way to guarantee a whale sighting. We did see some large groups of dophins which were right by us, and also a large group of sea lions.
Eric was our guide and he was very friendly and knowledgeable. The boats are comfortable and fast. I really liked the fact that they provide thick warm zip up coveralls. I would have given a 5 star rating had we seen some whales but for now 4 star will have to do.

We thoroughly enjoyed our excursion! Capt Eric was easy going, knowledgable, and wonderful with our special needs son. We saw a mega pod of dolphins, 2 humpback whales, and a host of other sea life. We highly recommend this company, we have done the larger boats and there is no comparison to this up close and personal encounter.

I was unsure whether to do Adventure RIB Rides or just be on the safe side and go with a cheaper alternative (larger vessels). I chose RIB Rides because of the great reviews on Unilocal and I am glad I took my sister and my mom who are visiting from NYC on this adventure with me. It was certainly worth the money! To get a discount, book online and type in «facebook» for online code.
We ended up seeing 7 whales that morning: a group of 5 migrating southbound and a couple heading another direction. Clint did an amazing job scouting the open sea to find the other 2. We did lose them for a few minutes until Clint scream «RIGHT THERE» and one of the whales jumped out of the water 30 yards from us and back into the deep water. He repeated and the entire crew of 5 passengers were all WOOs and WOWs.
It was an unforgettable experience.

Im glad I chose this kind of boat ride, it was fast and fun compare to the big boat. Really enjoyed seeing th dophins up so close! wished we could see more whale… we only saw very little of it. I like that they provided us with a warm jumpsuit to keep u from not freezing.

The RIB boat is the way to go: they move fast, are comfortable, and you don’t have to worry about getting wet or jostled. Further, there were only 5 of us on the tour (I believe 6 is the maximum anyway).
Our Captain Clint was a champ finding the whales and dolphins easily. He also knew a good bit about the area and the wildlife. Although it was considered low season we saw 3 whales; 2 of which came up every 6 minutes, a large pod (maybe 200) common dolphins and sea lions hanging out together was our treat on the way back. I was able to snap some great shots using a 55−300mm lens. Clint was also not one of those tour guides that got upset about everyone taking photos. He made sure to line up the boat just perfect for us to get a good view and/​or snapshots.
I would definitely repeat, especially during high season and recommend to others.
Note, however, that while RIB is just behind the Sheraton, the Sheraton staff are clueless about them and their location. I suppose we should be happy this gem is still a secret.

An experience of a life time, highly recommended! Whales, dolphins and sea life, such an exhilarating experience. It was fun, safe, up close and personal! Wouldn’t have done it any other way! Highly recommend this company, very professional! Excellent Experience!!!

Blue whales, huge dolphin pod, white sided dolphin, sea lions, ‘tropic bird’, zipping around on a fast boat and beautiful San Diego weather. Our Captain was knowledgeable and a great host.
If you want a small group, fast boat and great service look no further.
Great day on the water!

Great job lads. CLINT was excellent today as we spent the morning whale watching. Very informative. Family loved seeing blue whales and Clint explained everything.
Would highly recommend them.

Best water adventure tour on the west coast. Our Captain and guide was Clint and he was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and fun. We saw at least 8 – 10 Blue whales and a huge megapod of ver 1000+ dolphins.
The seas were 2 – 4 foot and it was a gorgeous day on a very fast and intimate boat. Since we have 6 in out family it was a perfect fit for their max of 6 people. We did the private charter so we could start 30 min early and do a bay tour at the end and it was well worth it.
The boat was comfortable /​clean /​& fast. We would do this again in a heartbeat and I recommend if you have a family of 4 or more to do a private charter in the morning. Probably come back and do a Mexico Ecotour with some snorkeling and picnic day trip. Thanks Adventure RIB !!!

This was a great experience. Our captain and guide Clint was very knowledgeable about sea life, whales, dolphins. He patiently answered every question we had and made sure we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. The boat is small, fits 6 plus a guide and allows a 360 view of the sea, whales and dolphins. Because of its speed the boat can go out much further than the larger boats and provides a much more intimate experience. We were able to see grey whales during our tour as well as a huge pod of dolphins numbering over 1000!
We had a beautiful day out in the Pacific.

This was such an amazing experience! I definitely recommend these guys if you are trying to get some whale watching done on your vacation. The boats are small, almost like a speed boat, but big enough for everyone to have enough room to move around when the boat is idling. The boat fits about 6 – 8 people which made the experience more personable as opposed to the giant boats that move slower and cram more people on it.
Clint was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about the marine life and provided a wonderful learning experience for my boyfriend and I. While out at sea we were lucky enough to catch up to a group of gray whales that we watched up close for about an hour. A school of dolphins also joined in and ended up playing in the wake of our boats. We were also lucky to catch a couple of gray whales mating and breaching. This is definitely a company I would recommend to anyone that doesn’t mind paying a little more for something that is 10 times better than your basic cruise boat.
PS– wear the orange waterproof suits they provide, you’ll be happy you did when you are warm during the drive out, and bring sunscreen! :)

The absolute best way to whale watch in San Diego! I have been on the large bay cruise style boats as well as the sailboats and there is no better way to get up close and personal with whales and dolphins. I went in July of this year when the Blue Whales are here and last week now that it is Gray Whale season. Most people in San Diego only know of the Gray Whale migration season but we have whales, dolphins and seals year round, depending on the species.
Because the RIB is speedy you get out to where the whales are much faster and thus have more opportunity to spot them. On the first trip some common dolphins came and rode in our bow wake! They were literally a few feet below us. On the second trip we stopped by the «bait barge» (where they keep small fish for the tuna fishing boats) which was covered in Sea Lions barking away and playing «king of the dock»! Plus there were some pelicans, herons and cormorants.
The captain was personable and knowledgeable and able to talk about the marine life we were viewing. Since the boat is smaller, the captain was able to position us so that we would be closer to where they would surface than the big boats. Wear layered clothing so that you can remove or put stuff on depending on the conditions. You’re out on the ocean for several hours so wear sunscreen and you must bring sunglasses. If anyone is nervous about the size of the RIB just remember this is the same RIB that Navy SEALS use and they don’t fail!
Highly recommended!

I loved our experience today and I want to describe how breathtaking it was but first I want to give a little pre trip advice, OK? Thanks!
–Bring shoes and socks in your suitcase. I did not and had to buy them in San Diego.
–Get there early or be a size medium if you want to wear their jumpsuits, which I did not so getting there on time and not being a medium worked for me.
–Wear three layers. I had on a shirt, sweater, jacket and pants plus gloves which helped me hold on to my hood. Leggings under my pants would have been even better.
–Prepare for this like a medical «procedure» if you are older than 40. I am 58, I did not have anything by mouth after midnight so that I could go 3 hours away from restrooms. We ended up being out 4 hours, no problem for me!
–Take the path that leads you behind the Sheraton, not towards the sea. That path will not take you to the dock.
It was a super adventure because we were prepared for the coldness of the wind and marine air. It was exhilarating and fun just to be on the boat. But, I can do a boat ride on Lake Michigan. I came for marine life and I got the experience of a lifetime.
Although it was a wild goose chase at first, Captain Patrick was in communication with other boats and we were able to move to where sitings had occurred. We saw one, no two, wait three… omg FOUR fin whales who were feeling playful. Seeing them under the water, watching the spouts; it was just wonderful. Then we saw two blue whales — what a bonus. And to just make this experience sublime, we were surrounded by a school of swimming, jumping, life affirming dolphins.
Talk about a fantasy fulfilled — the pictures on my camera are nothing like the movie of nature I now have in my head.
Thanks so much for the adventure of a lifetime!