Blue Whale bonanza
- Bob Perry
- Jun 8, 2024
- 1 min read
Image: A giant blue whale tail fluke waterfall on an overcast day in The Channel.
2024 06-8 SB Channel
Captain Dave and the crew reported a thick marine layer and calm, flat sea conditions on their way to the eastern midriff of Santa Cruz Island. Sightings were phenomenal: 4+ giant blue whales, 1+ humpback whale and 3000 common dolphins. (New reader note: the + indicates more whales in the area).
Between the harbor and the Island we watched 3 different small pods of dolphins. Most were spread out in hunt/search mode and few came to play with the Condor Express. Later, as we reached a whale hot spot south of The Lanes, adjacent to Prisoner’s Harbor, a megapod of dolphins came through and we had great looks at all of these pods.
On the spot, a total of 4 giant blue whale was watched closely. As it turned out, 2 were tail-fluking and 2 were not. The first to fluke followed a regular dive pattern: dives of 10 min, 3min and 3 min, then a high arch and tall tail fluke while sounding. Many more very tall spouts, assumed to be mostly blue whales were all around us, particularly to the east.
A lone juvenile humpback swam by as we were on the blues.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and
