2015 07-10 SB Channel
Another mega-cetacean day for the Condor Express as we closely watched 19 humpback whales and at least 3,000 long-beaked common dolphins with many more spouts along the way. There were fantastic conditions again in the Santa Barbara Channel and amidst all the whale-watching we also visited the west end of beautiful Santa Cruz Island and the world-famous Painted Cave.
There were clusters of 2 – 4 #whales scattered from the 50-fathom curve outside of Santa Barbara all the way across to the shipping lanes and the #dolphins were everywhere. Although the whales were more business-like today and did not breach for us or anything, there were a couple of white-knuckler friendly approaches. In one case a whitey-pects adult humpback swam head-on to the bow of the boat and at the very last second it sounded as if it was playing “chicken” with the dead stopped Condor Express. All the aficionados got a bonus as the whale spout spray wafted across the decks.
Over at the Island we saw a nice group of Pacific Harbor seals hauled out near Cueva Valdez, and a similar group of California sea lions a few coves down to the east.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express