Two giant sperm whales, each reaching about 60 feet in length and weighing up to 9,000 pounds, were sighted by the Pacific Offshore whale-watching crew. The encounter followed a tip from captains at Dana Wharf Whale Watching who reported the animals in the area.

The crew departed from Newport Beach and searched the waters, even deploying a hydrophone to detect the whales’ distinctive clicking sounds, known as codas. Their efforts paid off yesterday when the whales surfaced offshore.

The pair remained in view for more than five hours, allowing the crew to watch until the evening sun began to set.

Sperm whales are easily recognized by their angled blowhole and deeply wrinkled appearance. These deep-diving giants can descend over 4,000 feet and stay submerged for longer than 90 minutes while hunting giant squid. Although they occasionally pass by Newport Beach, such encounters are rare, and two appearing together makes the event even more remarkable.