Another sunny, glassy day in the Channel produces more dolphins and whales.

Image: offshore bottlenose dolphins swim by us under the clear blue water.

2025 10–17 SB Channel

We hardly noticed the long period 4-foot swell as it rolled by through the glassy water. The underwater visibility was superior. Skies were clear and sunny all day. Total sightings for the trip: 1500 common dolphins, 4 humpback whales, and 30 offshore bottlenose dolphins. A single, floating, deflated Mylar balloon was retrieved from the ocean surface. Captain Dave and the crew traversed the channel out into the lanes, then turned E towards Habitat before coming home.

A megapod of common dolphins, spread out over 1 mile of water, was our first wildlife encounter of the day. This was about 8 miles S of the Harbor.  This sighting, like all of them today, we’re really enhanced by the cobalt blue, clear, water. A single, floating, deflated mylar balloon was retrieved from the ocean surface

Our first whale was a single adult that was about a mile from the dolphins. It was in slow travel mode. As we watch this whale, our deck hand Isabel and our friend Tony spotted a second way and a considerable distance from the boat. Dave pointed it out and everybody got a look at it however we never were able to find it when we went to the area.

A small group of offshore bottlenose dolphins intercepted our path when we were out in the middle of the lanes. They weren’t acrobatic or aerial today, but they did come to the boat and ride our wake. There were, as usual, lots of calves.

Another small pod of common dolphins was encountered NE of Habitat. There were about 200 of them in groups of 20–50 each. Along with the dolphins there was a juvenile whale. SE of our location was another distant whale that we did not have time to pursue.

You never know what mother nature has in store.

Bob Perry

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