2020 11-05 SB Channel Warm weather (perhaps the last of it for a while), and flat calm seas created optimum cetacean conditions. Captain Dave and his crew wasted no time surrounding the Condor Express with whales and dolphins resulting in optimum sightings today. Closely watched animals included 10+ humpback whales and 3000 long-beaked common dolphins. On a positive note, the … Read More
Humpback numbers still good, dolphins too!
2020 11-04 SB Channel The crew of the Condor Express experienced dense fog all morning as they took a straight course from Santa Barbara harbor to The Cave (Santa Cruz Island). Skies then cleared enough for good looks at 8+ humpback whales and 1500 long-beaked common dolphins. Common dolphins were seen in the mist on our southward course to The … Read More
Tons of humpbacks, a Minke and a fin whale. Dolphins too!
2020 11-01 SB Channel Seas were calm and the sky had plenty of sunshine coming through in between some high stratus. Captain Dave and his crew made a trip up the coast to the west. A bit later he turned south to the west end of Santa Cruz Island. Sightings were phenomenal with 8+ humpback whales, 1 fin whale, 1 … Read More
Scads of dolphins, a giant blue whale and humpbacks too!
2020 10-29 SB Channel Captain Dave described it as a “bluebird day.” This means that the seas were calm and flat plus the skies were sunny and blue. By the way, the water was also very clear and blue. Totals for the trip included 6 humpback whales, 1 giant blue whale, and 2500 long-beaked common dolphins. The humpback whales were … Read More
Blue whale, humpbacks and dolphins
2020 10-25 SB Channel Captain Colton and his crew found a mix of sunny patches and high stratus clouds covering the zone as we’ve experienced all week. The sea surface had a light chop due to a breeze that came up overnight. Sightings remain phenomenal with 5 humpback whales, 1 blue whale and 2000 long-beaked common dolphins. As we moved … Read More
15 humpbacks included lots of animation and aerial activity.
2020 10-24 SB Channel Another mirror glass day with a high stratus layer gave a gray cast to the cetacean show. Captain Dave took the Condor Express across the Santa Barbara Channel heading towards the western end of Santa Cruz Island. We never moved further south than The Lanes. Total sightings included 15+ humpback whales, 12 coastal bottlenose dolphins and … Read More
This is what I’m talkin’ about!!
2020 10-23 SB Channel A high marine layer coupled with glassy water made for a slate gray backdrop for all the dolphin and whale action today. The land of the giants was located within The Lanes and adjacent to the western end of beautiful Santa Cruz Island. Totals included 11+ humpback whales and 3500 long-beaked common dolphins. We are so … Read More
4000 dolphins plus 6 humpback whales
2020 10-21 SB Channel Captain Dave and his crew reported calm and glassy seas with gray skies all day due to a high stratus marine layer, except for a brief break out at Fry’s Harbor. Nonetheless, wonderful sightings were had by all: 6 humpback whales and 4000 long-beaked common dolphins. As you probably figured out from the species counts, the … Read More
9 humpback whales, some very active, lots of dolphins and a pigeon.
2020 10-18 SB Channel A glassy morning picked up a light breeze as the day progressed. Seas were calm and skies were partly sunny. Sightings were phenomenal once again with 9 humpback whales, 300 long-beaked common dolphins and 1 pigeon closely watched. As the numbers above would suggest, dolphins were abundant throughout the excursion starting out to the southeast near … Read More
Among 10 humpbacks we saw one “aerial ambassador”
2020 10-17 SB Channel All the action was in the middle of the Channel, north of The Lanes and around the Santa Cruz Island midriff. Seas were moderately calm and skies had a hazy warm sun, in the north Channel. Once we transited The Lanes and moved a bit south we hit a breeze that sent up some spray. Needless … Read More