2018 04-17 SB Coast Two trips left Santa Barbara Harbor today, one at 9am the other at noon. Sea conditions were fabulous. Skies were clear and the panoramic vistas were spectacular. Total sightings for the day included 6 gray whales and 15 inshore bottlenose dolphins. The morning trip followed a mother whale and her calf from Hendry’s Beach up to … Read More
“Rope” was our first humpback of the season!
A pair of gray whales heads northbound off the coast of Isla Vista. 2018 04-14 SB Coast Three trips left the docks today with Captain Dave and his crew and pristine ocean conditions for wildlife-viewing. It was sunny and there was no wind. Sightings for the day included: 75 Pacific white-sided dolphins, 5 gray whales, 1000 long-beaked common dolphins, and … Read More
Early Spring Whale Watching Trips – 3 Per Day
It’s mid February in Santa Barbara and with it come the gray whales. Which means it’s also time for us to start our, three times a day coastal, early Spring whale watching trips! Whether you are an early riser or more of an afternoon person, we have what you are looking for. Starting at 9am, noon or 3pm, we guarantee … Read More
200 long-beaked common dolphins and 11 gray whales
2017 04-23 SB Coast Although there was negligible wind, there was a slight bump on the surface coming from much rough conditions to the far west of Santa Barbara. Captain Eric took command today and his totals for all three trips were: 200 long-beaked common dolphins and 11 gray whales. 9 am Dolphins found the boat and ran alongside on … Read More
Ten Gray Whales Cavort Today
2016 03-03 SB Channel Who knew a 2½-hour trip could be so productive, or should that be “reproductive?” Captain Dave took the help of the mighty Condor Express today with hazy sun everywhere and a light breeze blowing from the west. You could make out the islands but not with any detail. Second Captain Eric was all around the … Read More
Spy Hops, Rolls and a Stampede
2015 04-29 SB Coast Captain Dave and Maestra Tasha handled the initial sightings that led to a fabulous excursion today as the Condor Express left from Santa Barbara Harbor at 12 noon. Eagle-eyed deckhand Tasha spied a large, 500+ member, pod of long-beaked common dolphins just outside the eastern boundary of the East Beach anchorage. The water was glassy … Read More
Two nice coastal excursions with plenty of marine mammals
2015 04-19 SB Coast Captain Eric once again took charge of the mighty Condor Express and had two great whale watching trips today with a total of 6 gray whales, 200 long-beaked common dolphins and 50 Pacific white-sided #dolphins. 9am. Four gray #whales which consisted of 2 mothers and their calves. The calves got frisky. There were bubble blasts, kelp … Read More
12 Gray Whales and Dolphins Too
2015 04-18 SB Coast Captain Dave ran 3 trips on the Condor Express today with epic sea conditions, bright sun and, by coincidence, each trip watched a new quad pod (2 mother-calf pairs traveling together). Dolphins, too, were in abundance. The flood gates for the final gray whale migratory phase, the phase with moms and calves, have opened. 9am. Four … Read More
Gray Whales and Humpback Whales Galore
Again we found excellent sea conditions and sunny skies all day today. The Condor ran 3 trips and each of them were spectacular. Whale totals for the day: 6 gray whales, 3 humpback whales, 1,500 long-beaked common dolphins. One of the humpback whales was our friend “Top Notch,” and it breached right next to the boat. It was a fantastic … Read More
whales whales whales and dolphins too
whales whales whales and dolphins too Three trips left the SEA Landing today, as follows: On the 9am adventure Captain Eric headed offshore to intercept a couple of friendly humpback whales. He located 2 of the knobby-headed beasts out near Platform Habitat and they proceeded to come over to the Condor Express and spy-hop and otherwise put on quite a … Read More