Ocean Institute

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What visitors say

• Abigail Leal★★★★★

  AMAZING experience! We took our 8-month-old on the Marine Life Tour and were lucky enough to see so many incredible animals, including a mom and baby humpback whale. On the way back to the harbor, we were treated to an unforgettable sight—a superpod of more than 1,000 dolphins! We had an absolute blast and highly recommend this tour for families. It’s enjoyable for all ages and made for such a memorable day. One tip: parking can be a little challenging, so plan to arrive early!

  4 weeks ago

• Rosabell M.★★★★★

  Great field trip destination for middle schoolers and even elementary students. We participated in the lab, nature and whale watching tours and each experience was fun and informative. Every group had a dedicated guide who made the information engaging, easy to understand and enjoyable for the kids. We were able to see dolphins and a whale on our boat tour! They have a cafe on site where you can grab lunch or a coffee! Had an amazing time coming here!

  5 months ago

• joanie m.★★★★★

  Love here always bring my own fresh lunch coffee water. Being prepared saves money and not deal with I'll trained restaurant staff selling low quality food items. Bad service. Institute great and best access to beach front.

  4 months ago

• Caliboy★★★★★

  This location is excellent for a family outing, providing children with a hands-on experience to interact with marine life and learn critical lessons about ocean cleanliness and conservation. The fascinating tour of the historic ship further enhances the visit, though the cost of admission is a significant drawback.

  9 months ago

• Christie Lodics★★★★★

  Love, love this area of Dana Point. This has been my families spot to learn about the ocean and to enjoy sea life. We have always come to the Marine protected area when the tide is low and walked along the beach and sand outside the Institute to see all sorts of sea life. It is amazing what you can see, even saw an octopus one time. Just make sure that you know when the tide is rolling in and out to not get caught out on the rocks! On the backside of the Institute there are also benches to sit at and listen to the ocean. The Institute itself is filled with wonderful sea life and is a great learning experience no matter your age. Outside, there is a calm bay area where paddle boarders are all over as well as the educational ships filled with history. There is nothing that you cannot do in this area!

  a month ago

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