2018 11-21 SB Channel The first “winter” storm of the season was on its way towards California and there was a little southeast chop and swell in advance of its arrival. Nonetheless, the well-honed navigational skills of Captain Dave and his crew were able to make the most out of the conditions and resulted in fabulous sightings of 5 humpback … Read More
Five different species of cetaceans!
2018 11-18 SB Channel Captain Tasha and her crew racked-up an amazing array of cetaceans with awesome sightings of each species. Totals for the trip included 4 humpback whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins, 15 inshore bottlenose dolphins, 35 Risso’s dolphins, and 30 Dall’s porpoise. Seas were calm and the water was very clear. Five different species of cetaceans were watched … Read More
6 humpbacks: many of the whales were friendly
2018 11-17 SB Channel The Condor Express crew took advantage of pristine ocean conditions and located, then closely watched, 6+ humpback whales and 1000 long-beaked common dolphins. Many of the whales were friendly and came up to the boat to visit their fan club. The action began only 6 miles southwest of Santa Barbara Harbor as an area, rich with … Read More
Humpback calf steals the show. Lots of other whales and dolphins.
2018 11-14 SB Channel On a completely “mill pond” flat and sunny day, the crew of the Condor Express located and closely watched 7+ humpback whales and 2000 long-beaked common dolphins. Among the whales was Scarlet and what we now believe to be her not-newborn calf. The humpback calf stole the show. It took about 45 minutes for us to … Read More
Tons of whales and dolphins including “Scarlet”
2018 10-20 SB Channel Sea conditions were off the hook and it was so clear we could see all 4 Channel Islands all day and from Bony Ridge to Point Conception too. “Off the hook” probably best describes our sightings as well. Closely watched cetaceans included 10+ humpback whales and 3000 long-beaked common dolphins. Among the whales was one of … Read More
Mother and calf breach simultaneously many times in a row.
2018 10-12 SB Coast Captain Dave and his crew ran a late-departure private whale watch charter cruise today. Given the late departure, the afternoon breeze was just starting to pick up a bit, but it was otherwise a gorgeous day in the Santa Barbara Channel. All of the action took place within 5 miles of Santa Barbara Harbor. Sightings included: … Read More
Another sunny day with whales and dolphins.
2018 10-07 SB Channel Today brought us close looks at 3 humpback whales and 200 long-beaked common dolphins. It was a sunny day with a little bump on the water from the western Santa Barbara Channel. Captain Tasha and her crew kept the search pattern mostly in the northern half of the Channel. Dolphins located the Condor Express when it … Read More
Three humpback whales, one breacher…and more
2018 09-27 SB Channel Captain Dave ran a bit west, then out to the south. Most of the action was only about 4 miles off Campus Point. Skies were mostly overcast with a moderate breeze. The sun came out late in the trip. Sightings for the day included: 1 Minke whale, 3 humpback whales, 800 long-beaked common dolphins and 50 … Read More
Humpback mother and calf redux.
2018 09-26 SB Channel It was another great trip across the Santa Barbara Channel to Carrington Point, Santa Rosa Island, where we visited with the same humpback mother and calf that we saw yesterday. 1500 long-beaked common dolphins were also watched. Skies began overcast but things got nice and sunny fast. Seas were just a tiny big choppy. Again the … Read More
Mother humpback and her calf go berserk.
2018 09-25 SB Channel Overcast skies stayed with us most of the day until we got on the hotspot out near Santa Rosa Island. Seas were calm in the north Channel and a little breezy in the south. Sightings for the day included: 2 humpback whales, 1500 long-beaked common dolphins, 100 Risso’s dolphins and about 500 California sea lions. There … Read More