The blues continue and so do the dolphins.

2018 07-16 SB Channel – East

The weather and sea conditions improved overnight and today things were sunny and calm.  Captain Colton and his crew set a course for Santa Cruz Island and it turned out to be a very productive day with approximately 10 giant blue whales in the area, of which we closely watched five.  Nearly 300 long-beaked common dolphins were also watched today.

Not far out from Santa Barbara Harbor three separate pods of nearly 100 each located the Condor Express.  This was a wonderful series of first encounters and got the day going…everyone’s spirits were invigorated by these curious and animated mammals.

Once the Condor Express reached the island zone, Colton took an easterly track as he and his crew kept a sharp eye out for spouts. The action today was in a hot spot located within the commercial shipping lanes and adjacent to Anacapa Passage, the channel that separates Anacapa Island from Santa Cruz Island.  This was the land of the blues…and they have moved east from the areas where we saw them last week.

Among the 5 giants we closely followed today there was one in particular that kicked up its tail flukes when on its terminal, or sounding, dive.  It repeated the behavior on 4 dives in a row so on board photographers had plenty of chances for that signature giant tail photo.

On the way home the Santa Barbara Channel was calm.

You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com