'Diego the whale' apparently can't get enough of San Diego Bay.
The 30-foot gray whale was spotted at least three times Sunday near the Coronado bridge. He was also seen Saturday at the 'Berkeley ferryboat museum' at the Embarcadero.
Like a lot of visitors to "America's Finest City", the whale, affectionately dubbed "Diego" by an informal public vote, seems in be no hurry to leave.
Maritime experts surmise that the whale is a juvenile, perhaps a year or two old, that took a wrong turn to the east, past Point Loma into the bay, where it became an instant sensation by March 10.
The whale has been seen swimming around the bay ever since.
One captain reported last week that the whale actually did leave the bay, but then turned right around and came back.
Troy Sears, captain of the schooner "America", says "Diego" swam alongside his vessel for a good 20 minutes as he sailed out on his Monday morning whale watching trip. Sears figures it was only fitting that they'd be the ones to say good-bye to the whale since he and his crew were the first to spot it in the bay back on March 10th.
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The captain says when he saw the whale some two miles out to sea, he figured it was gone for good. Monday afternoon, however, there was Diego, popping up right alongside "America" as the big yacht set sail for its second trip of the day back near the Embarcadero.
Many are asking why we don't help the whale find its way out of the bay. Marine biologists say it’s not healthy to herd the sea mammals out of situations like this. It stresses them out.
If you spot the whale this week, send us a picture at isee@nbcsandiego.com.
