2021 06-02 SB Channel Seas were mill pond mirror glassy all day under a thin, high gray stratus layer. No wind. No swell. Sightings were consequently enhanced by these exceptional conditions, and we closely watched: 12 humpback whales, 24 long-beaked common dolphins and 100 California sea lions. Approximately 5 miles southwest of the harbor a small group of common dolphins … Read More

2021 06-01 SB Channel Outstanding sea condition and knowledgeable crew with keen eyes resulted in very good marine mammal sightings in the Santa Barbara Channel. Closely watched animals included 6 humpback whales, 2 Minke whales, 100 offshore bottlenose dolphins, 35 Risso’s dolphins and 100 California sea lions. We had a high, thin stratus layer except at Santa Cruz Island where … Read More

2021 05-31 SB Channel After a few miles of adequate visibility the fog settled in for most of the day. As was the case today, fog often means glassy surface conditions. Closely watched mammals included: 4 humpback whales, 2 Risso’s dolphins, 250 long-beaked common dolphins, and 100 California sea lions. It was a memorable Memorial Day. Just 4 miles out … Read More

2021 05-30 SB Channel Skies were bright blue and sunny. Seas started off glassy but there was a slight breeze near Santa Cruz Island. A gently rolling 3 foot swell was more noticeable along the face of the island. Closely watched marine mammals today included 3+ humpback whales, 1 fin whale, 200 long-beaked common dolphins and 30 California sea lions. … Read More

2021 05-29 SB Channel It was sunny, bit windy and a bit bumpy. We closely watched: 10+ humpback whales, 15 long-beaked common dolphins, 200 California sea lions. Captain Dave and his crew found a fresh breeze that picked up as they moved offshore. The first sighting was a good one. Seven miles south of the UCSB campus we watched a … Read More

2021 05-27 SB Channel A thin high stratus layer broke to bright sun by the time the Condor Express reached the beautiful west end of Santa Cruz Island. Seas were calm and conditions played a major role in providing an epic humpback whale day. We closely watched 19+ humpback whales and 200 California sea lions. It doesn’t get much better … Read More

2021 05-26 SB Channel Captain Dave and the crew encountered rather bumpy and breezy conditions in the Channel today. Making the necessary modifications for a comfortable trip, Dave wisely kept things here on the north side of the channel and spend a lot of time with the wind and waves a stern. Today we closely watched 10+ humpback whales,   75 … Read More

2012 05-25 SB Channel Captain Dave reports no wind in the Channel today except for a breeze at Santa Cruz Island. A high stratus layer kept things from over-heating. Close encounters included: 15 humpback whales, 100 Pacific white-sided dolphins, 50 offshore bottlenose dolphins and 200 California sea lions. A fantastic assemblage of white-sided and offshore bottlenose dolphins was encountered 7 … Read More

2021 05-24 SB Channel   Conditions were excellent in the Channel today with bright sun all day and a light breeze particularly at the island. Captain Colton and his crew closely watched 12+ humpback whales, and 500 California sea lions.   Although most of the action was out at Santa Cruz Island today, remarkably our first humpback whale of the … Read More

2021 05-23 SB Channel It was sunny all day and started out glassy and calm but things freshened up as we moved offshore. Captain Colton and his crew successfully watched 4000 long-beaked common dolphins, 4 humpback whales and 15 coastal bottlenose dolphins. As we attempted to leave the harbor this morning a small pod of coastal bottlenose dolphins located the … Read More