We were thrilled when we were invited to experience Dolphin Quest Tour on Santa Catalina Island this year. The excursion is a one hour guided tour out of Avalon Harbor in search of dolphins in their natural environment on a high-speed craft. Imagine riding beside and in a pod of dolphins!

We wasted no time on our tour as the boat left on time. The captain stated early on that there was no guarantees, but he would try his best to find dolphins for us. The water was so blue and pristine.

About half way into our tour, we spotted dolphin pods. There were hundreds of common dolphins! In no time, we were riding along the pods, and dolphins were seen all around us and riding our waves.

We were out there for another good 15 minutes before we headed back inland. The tour lasted an hour as they said, and because of the fast high-speed craft, we got around pretty quickly. We enjoyed views of beautiful Avalon Harbor on the way back. The Dolphin Quest Tour is now one of our favorite experiences on Catalina Island. The kids had fun too. If you easily get motion sickness, have back or neck issues, this tour might not be for you. (Note: Children must be five years or older.)

The Dolphin Quest Tour heads out of the Avalon Harbor three times a day to search for dolphins. It is a year round tour. “Watch these incredible creatures in their natural environment on a guided tour using a high-speed, RIB (rigid inflatable boat) craft.” Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed. For hours, pricing, or to make a reservation, please call (800) 626-1496 or visit their website at www.visitcatalinaisland.com/activities-adventures/boating/dolphin-quest.