Bring your group together and help keep the ocean clean! Great for small and large groups alike, this 2-hour cleanup takes place throughout Dana Point Harbor, Ocean Institute’s Native Plant Garden, and the local beach (tides permitting). The fee covers the supplies, including trash bags/buckets and trash pickers (limited quantities). An Ocean Institute instructor will present on the importance of cleaning the beach and guide them throughout the cleanup area. Upon return, staff will weigh what is collected and encourage sharing of the largest catch, smallest catch, and most unusual catch!

0 – 50 people: $85

50-100 people: $110

100-150 people: $135

Length: 2 hours

PRIVATE OCEAN EDUCATION CENTER TOUR

Weekdays Only

For groups of up to 10 people (can book multiple tours for larger groups, please inquire)

Learn more about what we do here at Ocean Institute! Explore our labs with over 140 different species and learn more about our local ecology from our expert guides.

Flat rate: $230

Length: 1-hour

PRIVATE BEHIND-THE-SCENES AQUARIUM TOUR

For groups of up to 10 people

This behind-the-scenes tour shows you what it takes to care for our many animals at our facility! Explore our labs with over 140 different species and learn more about our local ecology from our expert guides. The tour includes an animal feeding experience.

Flat rate: $400

Length: 1 hour

PRIVATE KAYAK HARBOR TOUR

For groups of up to 10 people (can book multiple tours for larger groups, please inquire)

Join the Ocean Institute for a 2-hour interactive kayak tour around the Dana Point harbor. Learn about the history of the harbor and its unique ecosystem from one of our expert Naturalists. All experience levels are welcome

Flat Rate: $400

Length: 2-hours

PRIVATE TIDE POOL HIKE

For groups of up to 10 people (can book multiple tours for larger groups, please inquire)

Explore the Dana Point Marine Protected Area and the incredible species that call it home! For groups of up to 15 people, you will be led on a 1-mile hike (round trip) through the rocky intertidal zone. Our instructors will introduce you to the sea stars, cowrie snails, and even octopuses you may find along the way!

Flat Rate: $400

Length: 2-hours

PRIVATE MARINE MAMMAL CRUISE

For groups of up to 45 people

On the marine mammal cruise, dolphins, whales, seals, and sea lions is the focus of this exciting voyage on the open ocean! Participants investigate the natural history of our local marine mammals using a benthic grab sampler, plankton net, and marine biofacts.

Flat rate: $1,900.00

Length: 2-hours

PRIVATE AUDUBON CRUISE

For groups of up to 45 people

Pelagic seabirds are the focus of this exciting voyage on the open ocean! Our research vessel, the R/V Sea Explorer, will venture far from shore in search of species such as terns, gulls, loons, shearwaters, and many more. With expert naturalists on board, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about these incredible birds and their unique behaviors. Equipped with the latest technology, the R/V Sea Explorer provides a comfortable and educational experience, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of the action. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious newcomer, this cruise promises to enrich your understanding of the vibrant life that thrives far from land.

Flat rate: $4,635.00

Length: 9-hours

PRIVATE BIOLUMINECENCE NIGHT CRUISE

Summer Months Only

For groups of up to 45 people

There’s a luminous underwater world just waiting to shine! Learn about the remarkable ability of some marine animals to glow in the dark and witness this curiously beautiful phenomenon. * Come aboard the R/V Sea Explorer and join us off the coast of Dana Point at night to explore the nocturnal world of marine birds, sea lions, and bioluminescent plankton. A meter net is deployed 600 feet deep to capture thousands of drifting organisms that can make their own light. Also, witness the food chain under our deployed squid light–from the tiniest of plankton to fish and squid–and at times the sea lions and dolphins who feed on them!

Flat rate: $2,500.00

Length: 2-hours

PRIVATE HELMS ALEE SAIL ON SPIRIT OF DANA POINT

For groups of up to 45 people

Set sail aboard the schooner Spirit of Dana Point and experience California from the perspective of an early tall ship explorer. Join the crew to help raise sail, handle lines, and steer the ship, or simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the majesty of sailing the seas aboard a tall ship.

Flat rate: $2,495.00

Length: 3-hours

PRIVATE TOUR OF THE SPIRIT OF DANA POINT

For groups of up to 15 people

Step back in time and step aboard our historic tall ship – Spirit of Dana Point. This dockside tour takes you through this replica of a 1700’s schooner both above and below deck. Living history guides are there to tell the tale of life at sea and show you around!

Flat rate: $400.00

Length: 1-hour

For groups up to 45 participants

Join us as participants navigate the seas of teamwork and skill-building. From mastering the art of rowing a longboat to the precision of rigging and moving cargo barrels, each task is a lesson in collaboration. To round out the program, participants put their newfound skills to the ultimate test and sail aboard the Spirit of Dana Point.

Flat Rate: $3,115.00

Length: 7-hours