Oregon Whale Watching Tours

The Whales Tail operates out of Dockside Charters which is located on the east side of the bay in the center of the harbor next to the Coast Guard Station. We have put our thoughts and ideas together, forming the premise, that ocean charters should be a more personal experience. Be honest and caring, making safety, comfort and satisfaction of our customer’s our first priority. We offer whale watching, scenic tours, to personal charters to fit all your needs. We have built our business on satisfied, repeat customers, give us a try and you’ll see why.

Experience the excitement of seeing gray whales “up close and personal” and other wildlife on one of our whale watching trips aboard the Whales Tail. We depart from picturesque Depoe Bay, Oregon which is only minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This is a thrilling and exciting ride for people who enjoy being out on the ocean or first timers who just want to experience being out on the ocean and have an enjoyable ride, additionally our whale watching trips are fun and informative.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon coast, the Whales Tail was designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. The Whales Tail has a smaller seating capacity and is a quieter ride than the larger boats, and they ride just a few feet above the ocean’s surface. If there are whales in the vicinity, the Whales Tail can get you near them. Here you can enjoy the simplicity and intimacy of the Whale’s Tail. It’s quiet, roomy and faster than the larger boats so you get to spend more time around the whales. We have all the latest safety features and have been inspected by the State of Oregon.

One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories. This trip is a little more personal where we can take the time to talk and get to know our customers, find out what they like or would like to see, you can’t beat a ride on the Whales Tail.

About Us
I have been involved in the maritime industry for 40 years and recently retired from Oregon State University Research Ship “Wecoma” which included scientific research of whales to sampling the bottom of the ocean to name a few. We were the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon Coast. We have been inspected and have all the latest safety equipment. I hope you will join us on a exciting whale watching excursion aboard the “Whales Tail”.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. This is a very unique experience that puts you “up close and personal” for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales. Here you can enjoy the incredible scenery of the Oregon Coast, transit the worlds smallest navigable channel, and enjoy watching gray whales, humpback whales, orca whales, seals, sea lions, and other marine life. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you and your family a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories.

The Whales Tail operates out of Dockside Charters which is located on the east side of the Bay in the center of the harbor next to the Coast Guard Station. We have put our thoughts and ideas together, forming the premise, that ocean charters should be a more personal experience. Be honest and caring, making safety, comfort and satisfaction of our customer’s our first priority. Whether you’re heading out on one of our whale watching trips or just got back from a trip, you are always welcome to stop by to relax and say hi, the coffee is always on, and free. We have built our business on satisfied, repeat customers, give us a try and you’ll see why.

For more information on whales and our whale watching trips visit: http://www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail @ (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

GPS Coordinates: Lat. 44°48.552 N, Long. 124°03.564 W

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Oregon Coast Excursions

Experience the excitement of seeing gray whales “up close and personal” and other wildlife on one of our whale watching trips aboard the Whales Tail. We depart from picturesque Depoe Bay, Oregon which is only minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This is a thrilling and exciting ride for people who enjoy being out on the ocean or first timers who just want to experience being out on the ocean and have an enjoyable ride, additionally our whale watching trips are fun and informative.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon coast, the Whales Tail was designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. The Whales Tail has a smaller seating capacity and is a quieter ride than the larger boats, and they ride just a few feet above the ocean’s surface. If there are whales in the vicinity, the Whales Tail can get you near them. Here you can enjoy the simplicity and intimacy of the Whale’s Tail. It’s quiet, roomy and faster than the larger boats so you get to spend more time around the whales. We have all the latest safety features and have been inspected.

Visit our website at: http://www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Whale Watching on the Oregon Coast

There are approximately 18,000 gray whales in the winter and spring migrations and a group of 200-400 whales that feed along the Oregon and Washington coast during fall and summer. In the spring, March through June most of these gray whales make the journey from their breeding lagoons in Baja California to the Arctic feeding grounds. On this northbound migration, small numbers of gray whales fall out of the migration group and stop at various locations along the Oregon coast, one of these places is Depoe Bay, these whales are called resident whales.

For whales to be known as residents, they must stay around a certain area for at least two days, exhibit feeding behavior, and return year after year. This distinguishes them from migrating whales which stop on their migration and feed then move on their way. Along the coast of Depoe Bay, our resident gray whales begin showing up in June. On any one day throughout the summer, numbers range from one to 20. Some arrive in early summer, leave, and then return in late summer or early fall.

Resident gray whales remain around Depoe Bay for a period of days to months, there is one whale “Scarback” (Pictured Above) who been around for at least 19 years. The last of the resident whales leave in October or November and return to the breeding lagoons of Baja California to rejoin the remainder of the population.

Visit our website at: http://www.whalestaildepoebay.com


Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Whale Watching Tours in Oregon

Items to consider for your trip


Binoculars: Usually the whales are close enough to see without binoculars, looking through them is hard on a moving boat they restrict your view to a small area. Sometimes they come in handy if you enjoy watching other marine life such as birds.

Tennis Shoes: Remember you are on a moving vessel sometimes the decks get wet and slippery; tennis shoes will help give you better traction.

Warm Clothes: Be sure and bring a coat or sweatshirt or dress in layers, it can be cold even on nice sunny days especially if the wind starts to blow.

Sunscreen: On sunny days you can get sunburn even on a 1 hour trip, the sunlight has a tendency to bounce back up from the water’s surface and you can sunburn even on cloudy days.

Sunglasses: Sunglasses or a hat will help protect your eyes from glare off the water; sometimes the glare from the water will give you a headache.

Camera or Camcorder: Make sure your batteries are charged or bring spares; sometimes taking pictures of whales can be trying, a lot of times its pure luck.

Tips for the squeamish
Some people are a little nervous going out on the ocean, especially if it’s your first time, I always tell people not to worry just have a good time and enjoy the trip. Last year I only had one person get seasick. First off, unlike larger boats the “Whales Tail” sits flat on the water and has a low center of gravity, which means it does not don’t roll like the larger boats and you won’t get seasick. Sometimes the earlier in the day you go the smoother the ride will be, the wind can pick up in the afternoon and cause the ocean to get choppy.

There are medications you can take; check with your doctor what might work best for you, most medications should be taken a few hours prior to the trip. Once your trip begins it is too late to take anything. Sometimes these medications will make you tired, which means you want to take a nap after the trip instead of seeing some of the other sights or going out for lunch. I tell people to avoid fatty or fried foods, eat crackers or ginger snaps; this reduces stomach acid and can help prevent sea sickness. Keep hydrated by drinking water, ginger ale, or even sports drinks; avoid drinks that are high in sugars.

If you start to feel a little queasy take some nice deep breaths sometimes this is all that it takes. Look at the horizon, looking at something that is not moving helps your equilibrium. Remember we are whale watching, help the ole Captain out by looking for whales and other sea life; this will keep your mind occupied. The excitement of seeing these magnificent creatures will make you feel better.

About the Whales Tail
Experience the excitement of seeing gray whales “up close and personal” and other wildlife on one of our whale watching trips aboard the Whales Tail. We depart from picturesque Depoe Bay, Oregon which is only minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This is a thrilling and exciting ride for people who enjoy being out on the ocean or first timers who just want to experience being out on the ocean and have an enjoyable ride, additionally our whale watching trips are fun and informative.

One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories. This trip is a little more personal where we can take the time to talk and get to know our customers, find out what they like or would like to see, you can’t beat a ride on the Whales Tail.

Thank you for visiting our blog site, if you would like more information on whales and our whale watching tour visit: Oregon Whale Watching Tours

Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915

Awesome Whale Watching Video

Visit our website at: http://www.whalestaildepoebay.com

Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Whale Watching Comfort and Safety

Visit our web site at: Oregon Whale Watching

Inflatable boats are said to be the safest and most stable boats in the world today with all the new construction methods, technology and the new designs allowing necessary safety systems to be in place. Because of their safety reputation, inflatable boats are now the standard for use by the Coast Guard, military and other agencies because of its speed, maneuverability, and safe stable ride. When you first think about it, you might wonder if an inflatable boat is as safe as a larger fiberglass or wood boat, the fact is inflatable boats are just as safe as larger boats. Inflatable boats are more buoyant because of the inflatable collar or tubes, these inflatable sections help spread the buoyancy out over the entire boat.


A concern that some people have when they are considering an inflatable boat over a larger boat for whale watching is the stability of the inflatable. This is a common question of some people, the fact is inflatable boats are more stable than a larger boat. This is a great feature for people who might be a little bit nervous about going out on an inflatable boat. One indication that inflatable boats are safe is that they are preferred by the Coast Guard as offshore rescue vessels. The one reason the Coast Guard prefers these boats is because they are stable and handle better. Unlike larger boats, an inflatable boat sits flat on the water and has a low center of gravity, which means they don’t roll like the larger boats and you won’t get seasick.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon coast, the Whales Tail was designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. The Whales Tail has a smaller seating capacity and is a quieter ride than the larger boats, and they ride just a few feet above the ocean’s surface. If there are whales in the vicinity, the Whales Tail can get you near them. Here you can enjoy the simplicity and intimacy of the Whale’s Tail. It’s quiet, roomy and faster than the larger boats so you get to spend more time around the whales. We have all the latest safety features and have been inspected.


One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories. This trip is a little more personal where we can take the time to talk and get to know our customers, find out what they like or would like to see, you can’t beat a ride on the Whales Tail.


Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone:541-765-2545
Toll Free:1-800-733-8915

Oregon Whale Watching Excursions

One of the features the Whales Tail offers is a unique vantage point that gives you 360° viewing for observing Oregon’s resident gray whales as they feed along the coast of Depoe Bay. Don’t be surprised if you notice the whales watching you as intently as you watch them. We try to provide you with a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed along with some great memories.

The Whales Tail is a 26′ zodiac style boat that carries up to 6 people. It was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon Coast, designed specifically to give passengers the utmost in sightseeing and whale watching experiences. We have all the latest safety features and have been inspected.
The Whales Tail operates out of Dockside Charters which is located on the east side of the bay in the center of the harbor next to the Coast Guard Station.

We have put our thoughts and ideas together, forming the premise, that ocean charters should be a more personal experience. Be honest and caring, making safety, comfort and satisfaction of our customer’s our first priority. Whether you’re heading out on one of our whale watching trips or just got back from a trip, you are always welcome to stop by to relax and say hi. We have built our business on satisfied, repeat customers, give us a try and you’ll see why.

Thank you for visiting our blog site, we hope to see you aboard the Whales Tail.

Visit our website at: Depoe Bay Whale Watching Tours

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Whales Tail (Dockside Charters)
270 Coast Guard Pl.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

Phone: 541-765-2545
Toll Free: 1-800-733-8915