Depoe Bay Whales

Want to learn about our local resident gray whales and the history of Depoe Bay? Here you can experience transiting the world’s smallest navigable harbor and unique narrow harbor entrance. Hop aboard the Whales Tail for an exciting and thrilling ride to see gray whales and other marine life. Because we are faster than the larger boats you actually get to spend more time with the whales. Our trips are fun, informative and interactive, and our Owner/Captain Gary is dedicated to making your whale watching and wildlife trip an experience of a lifetime.

The Whales Tail was the first and original zodiac style whale watching boat on the Oregon coast. The Whales Tail is a ridged hull zodiac style boat specifically designed for marine mammal viewing, our high-speed whale watching tour is the fastest, most comfortable way to view the ocean’s most spectacular and magnificent animals. The Whales Tail offers the ultimate in comfort, safety and performance and was designed for whale watching and is equipped with the latest navigational, communication and safety equipment. The Whales Tail is the only zodiac style whale watching boat in Depoe Bay who has been inspected and approved by the state of Oregon.

The Whales Tail provides passengers with the adventure of a lifetime through excellent customer service, first class vessel, the highest possible safety standards and added value from an on-the-water education of not only whales and marine life but navigation and boat handling. We emphasize science and conservation while maintaining a fun and professional atmosphere. The Whales Tail is dedicated to ensuring that your time spent whale watching with us is the highlight of your vacation. We pride ourselves on our level of excellence in customer service and seamanship. So sit back and enjoy as we take you on the ultimate whale watching adventure!

From there we will spend the next 1 to 1 1/2 hours familiarizing and educating you on not just whales but the entire marine eco-system. We take the time to show you all of the wonders of the sea and ensure that your trip is not only exhilarating but also educational. While we journey out to find the whales, you’ll have the opportunity to see a diverse marine ecosystem, including harbor porpoises, sea lions, bald eagles, seals and sea otters. Learn about our local resident whales, such as Scarback who I first saw in 1980 off Newport, Oregon while station in the Coast Guard.

This is a great way to enjoy the natural wonders and spectacular wildlife that lives off the shores of the Oregon coast. We live in a unique part of the world where Mother Nature provides us with abundant sea life; see these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. This is all about making memories for the entire family.

Visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

The Whales Tail, LLC
270 Coast Guard Dr.
Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341

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

Oregon Summer Whale Watching

This is a great way to enjoy the natural wonders and spectacular wildlife that lives off the shores of the Oregon coast. We live in a unique part of the world where Mother Nature provides us with abundant sea life; see these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. This is all about making memories for the entire family.

We hope you can join us whale watching zodiac style aboard the Whales Tail.

Visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

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

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

Oregon Whale Watching

The Whales Tail provides passengers with the adventure of a lifetime through excellent customer service, first class vessel, the highest possible safety standards and added value from an on-the-water education of not only whales and marine life but navigation and boat handling. We emphasize science and conservation while maintaining a fun and professional atmosphere.

The Whales Tail is dedicated to ensuring that your time spent whale watching with us is the highlight of your vacation. We pride ourselves on our level of excellence in customer service and seamanship. So sit back and enjoy as we take you on the ultimate whale watching adventure!

Check out our Whale Watching FAQ

Make your reservation's online at: Reservations

Daily Trip Times
8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm

Trip Rates
1hr. $25.00
1 1/2 hr. $35.00

For more information visit our website at: www.whalestaildepoebay.com

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

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

Sleeping Whale's

Gray whale observations by scientists searching for clues on gray whale sleep studied a rescued gray whale. For nine days they made continuous video-recordings and observations. They collected data on the whale’s behaviors, here’s what they found:

The gray whale rested in two ways:

(1) by hanging just below the surface with its blowhole above water and

(2) by lying on the bottom of the pool.
In both cases, the whale’s breathing slowed, its fins and tail moved slowly until it was fully resting, then the whale only moved to take breaths of air.

When the whale rested on the bottom of the pool, it rose to the surface every few minutes and breathed.

At different times, the whale slept with both eyes open, both eyes shut, and just one eye open (indicating that only half its brain was active).

The whale was more likely to be active during the day and resting or sleeping at night.
During sleep, the whale’s body sometimes jerked and twitched, in humans and other mammals, these movements indicate a deeper state of sleep and dreaming.

Young gray whale calfs actually rest, eat and sleep while their mother swims, towing them along in her slipstream, this is called echelon swimming. At these times, the mother will sleep on the move, in fact, she cannot stop swimming for the first several weeks of a newborn’s life. If she does for any length of time the calf will begin to sink, this is because the calf is not born with enough body fat or blubber to float easily.

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

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

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