Today’s adventure was a private trip for cruise ship passengers that wanted an early 830 am departure time. The morning conditions on the Santa Barbara Channel were perfect, and that moderate swell we had earlier in the week has pretty much died down. Totals for the trip included: 700+ long-beaked common dolphins, 3 giant blue whales, and 3 nice humpback whales.
Captain Dave encountered friendly dolphins a few miles outside the harbor and a similar large pod containing 300 – 400 animals came to the boat as we approached The Cave later in the trip. The next sightings took place near The Lanes but further east than we’d been this week. First we saw “Stinky” the little speckled humpback whale. Blue whales popped up one at a time just after Stinky, and there were three of them. Their bottom times were longer than they have been, but the surface times were great. Closer to the cave a large humpback whale with only the usual aromatic characteristics was watched.
Dave then provided his famous narration about the beauties and wonders of Santa Cruz Island including a trip inside the Painted Cave. He always delves into the geology, paleontology, early human residents, and current conservation efforts for this wonderful Island.
On the way home a third humpback whale rounded out the sightings for today.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express