Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center

Name: Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center
Address: 1231 Route 109 (South Jersey Marina), Cape May, NJ, 08204, US
Telephone: +16098980055
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.6

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Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center

Responsible whale and dolphin watching with a focus on research, education, and conservation.
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The Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center was founded in 1987, and we originated the phenomenon "Whale & Dolphin Watching" on the New Jersey Coast. With our Marine Mammal Guarantee, we guarantee you will see marine mammals or your next trip is free! We want all of our passengers to experience the excitement of viewing marine mammals in their natural habitat to spark conservation and inspire futu

re generations for a lifetime. By choosing the Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center for your next eco-tour, you are directly supporting marine mammal research and education. Our expert Captains and Marine Biologists collect data with the assistance of undergraduate Research Interns to learn more about the migration and movement of our whales, dolphins and seals. We have expanded our research onboard with a New Jersey Non Profit, the Whale and Dolphin Research Center of Cape May in 2016. Our mission is to promote the conservation of our marine mammals and their environment in Cape May, New Jersey through research, education, and outreach. The Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center has been a proud member of Whale SENSE since 2011. We are committed to a higher standard of marine mammal watching, always viewing our wildlife with the utmost respect and courtesy they deserve.

09/05/2026

The last two days were filled with the exciting antics of this tail throwing Humpback whale! While moseying through Wildwood and Cape May this Humpback whale is here to feed on bunker or Atlantic menhaden. The most important fish of the sea!
📸: Research Intern Hailey
Sailing daily on the American Star! Give yourself plenty of extra travel time for the holiday weekend. Reservations highly encouraged.
➡ www.capemaywhalewatch.com
📞(609)-898-0055
We participate with Whale SENSE and view our marine mammals responsibly. Give all marine mammals plenty of space this weekend if you encounter one on the water.

09/02/2026

August 29-30th 24hr Pelagic Trip Highlights:
Short-finned Pilot whales
Risso’s dolphins
Pelagic Bottlenose dolphins
Unidentified beaked whale species
1 Loggerhead sea turtle
1 Mola mola (Enjoying the chum slick!)
Leach’s, Band-rumped, and Wilson’s Storm-Petrels
Scopoli’s, Cory’s, Sargasso, and Great shearwaters
Red-necked phalaropes
Common terns
Yellow warbler
Unidentified bat species (Predawn)
Monarchs, moths & Common Green Darner dragonflies
❌🎈4 balloons retrieved for our
AND SO MUCH MORE!
These trips provide invaluable data for our research team. Special shout out to our Captains, crew, passengers, and trip leaders who work tirelessly to spot our wildlife from dawn until dusk!
📸: Naturalists Dan, Tiffany, Melissa, and Garrett
We are sailing on our next 24hr pelagic September 11-12th!
➡ https://capemaywhalewatch.com/cruises/24hr-marine-mammal-pelagic-bird-watch/
📞(609)-898-0055
We participate with Whale SENSE and follow all regional whale watching guidelines.

08/26/2026

Highlights from the American Star! Now is a great time of year to experience migration off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey. These past few days have been filled with multiple Humpback whales, local and offshore Bottlenose dolphins, and great bird life.
We're sailing daily at 10am, 1:30pm, and 6pm from South Jersey Marina. Reservations highly encouraged. Travel safely!
➡ www.capemaywhalewatch.com
📞(609)-898-0055
📸: Naturalists Tiffany & Dan and Research Interns Hailey & April
We participate with Whale SENSE and view our marine mammals responsibly.

08/23/2026

The same incredible moment, seen through four different perspectives! We love seeing your videos after a trip through the eyes of our awesome passengers. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us and for choosing to spend your time on the water learning about Cape May’s incredible marine mammals. 🐋💙
📸: Passengers Julie Mistry, Jody Roche, Katie Giltinan, and Andrea Endicott from Friday, August 21, 2026
We participate with Whale SENSE and view our marine mammals responsibly.

08/22/2026

What’s the only thing better than a chin slap? A chin slap and wait for it…..a BREACH! 🐋
Sailing daily on the American Star! 🤩
📸: Naturalist tiffany.marinebio
All wildlife viewing guidelines followed with Whale SENSE.

08/20/2026

Our humpback whale was logging for us yesterday! Logging is a resting behavior where the whale remains relatively still at the surface or just below it. Humpback whales are adapted to rest while still maintaining control of their breathing as a conscious breather. Seeing a whale taking an afternoon snooze is just as exciting as seeing one breach or lunge feed. 😴🥰😍
📸: Research Intern Hailey
We participate with Whale SENSE and view our marine mammals responsibly.

08/17/2026

August 14-15th 24hr Pelagic Trip Highlights:
Short-finned Pilot whales (We listened to them over the hydrophone!)
Risso’s dolphins
Pelagic Bottlenose dolphins
3 Loggerhead sea turtles
4 Mola molas (One sighting had three traveling together, side by side, which was very unique!)
Leach’s, Band-rumped, and Wilson’s Storm-Petrels
Long-tailed Jaeger
Scopoli’s, Cory’s, Sargasso, and Great Shearwaters
Black Terns
Red-winged Blackbird (80 miles offshore)
Roseate Terns (in inlet when returning)
Wood Stork (near dock when returning)
AND SO MUCH MORE!
We removed a total of 6 Mylar balloons for our !
These trips provide invaluable data for our research team. Special shout out to our Captains, crew, passengers, and trip leaders who work tirelessly to spot our wildlife from dawn until dusk!
📸: Naturalists Dan, Tiffany, Danielle, Research Intern April, and Dr. Michael
We are sailing on our next 24hr pelagic at the end of the month!
➡ https://capemaywhalewatch.com/cruises/24hr-marine-mammal-pelagic-bird-watch/
📞(609)-898-0055
We participate with Whale SENSE and follow all regional whale watching guidelines.

08/15/2026

When you view marine life respectfully in the wild, you are often rewarded with amazing encounters! Hundreds of bottlenose dolphins and a breaching humpback whale was a great way to spend the afternoon 🐋 🐬
📸: Passenger Lisa O’Connor
We participate with .SENSE and view our marine mammals responsibly.

08/14/2026

A MEGA rare find at the Jersey Shore! 🦈
We had some very excited visitors stop by the Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center after making an incredible discovery on the beach in Sea Isle City, New Jersey...a fossilized megalodon tooth!
Megalodon was an enormous prehistoric shark that lived in the world's oceans millions of years ago and went extinct approximately 3.6 million years ago. Scientists estimate that the largest individuals may have reached around 60 feet in length, the largest carnivorous shark in history!
Congrats to the Bowers family on a once in a lifetime beach find! Read more about their experience here: https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-family-finds-megalodon-tooth-new-jersey-beach/73429196

08/13/2026

Our passengers, John and Kelly, joined our 1:30pm whale, dolphin, and bird watch for a birthday celebration. Kelly had a WHALE of a birthday on the American Star! 🐋
📸: Passenger John Weaver
Sailing daily on the American Star!
➡ www.capemaywhalewatch.com
📞(609)-898-0055
We participate with Whale SENSE and view our marine mammals responsibly.

Address

1231 Route 109 (South Jersey Marina)
Cape May, NJ
08204

Telephone

+16098980055

Website

http://www.capemaywhalewatch.com/

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