2018 10-17 SB Channel We’ve had a great stretch of weather in the Channel and today was another nice one. It was sunny and it was calm. Captain Dave and his crew ran across the Santa Barbara Channel and ended up west of Santa Cruz Island. Total sightings included: 2 humpback whales, one Minke whale, and 1500 long-beaked common dolphins. … Read More
Whales, common dolphins and offshore bottlenose dolphins
2018 10-11 SB Channel Although skies were covered by a gray marine layer for part of the trip, seas were absolutely calm and still. Captain Tasha and the crew took the Condor Express across the Santa Barbara Channel to the waters north of Santa Rosa Island. Closely watched encounters included 3 humpback whales, 1500 long-beaked common dolphins, 75 California sea … Read More
Humpbacks, dolphins and sea lions on a sunny day in the Channel.
2018 10-06 SB Channel Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express searched the Santa Barbara Channel and came up with a great trip full of wonderful sightings. 1000 long-beaked common dolphins, 2 humpback whales and 50 California sea lions were closely watched today. The day was sunny but included a moderate bump and swell. The first groups of … Read More
Nice humpback sightings and plenty of dolphins
2018 07-30 SB Channel The Condor Express set out to cross the Santa Barbara Channel in heavy fog this morning. The whale action started near The Lanes and off the Santa Cruz Channel. Total sightings for closely watched cetaceans today included 4 humpback whales and 1,500 long-beaked common dolphins. The sightings started off with great looks at 2 humpbacks and … Read More
Mother fin whale and her calf, a half dozen blue whales plus dolphins too
2018 07-22 SB Channel East The giants were assembled on the grounds again today in larger numbers. The hot spot was north of the eastern end of Santa Cruz Island, south of The Lanes. Captain Tasha and her crew located 6+ blue whales, 3 fin whales, and 200 long-beaked common dolphins. Skies were sunny all day. The air was subtropical. … Read More
ACS-LA Charter yields blues, humpbacks and more
2018 07-21 SB Channel-ACS The American Cetacean Society, Los Angeles Chapter, ran their annual summer all-day whale watching trip today. When we departed Santa Barbara Harbor at 8 am, skies were covered by a thin low stratus layer. Seas were calm with a light breeze and some very tiny chop on the surface. By 10 am we were well under … Read More
Seas were calm. Whales were giant.
2018 07-20 SB Channel – East The thin marine layer clouds soon burned off and the day was clear and warm. Seas were calm. Captain Dave and the crew ran across the Santa Barbara Channel on a southeasterly heading and located a whale area off the northern face of West Anacapa Island. Closely watched sightings included 3 blue whales, 1 … Read More
Awesome blue whale in crystal clear, blue water…and more!
2018 07-19 SB Channel – East The ocean was very flat and calm today with lots of spots that were mill pond glassy. Captain Dave and his crew ran down to the eastern Santa Barbara Channel again and located 2 blue whales, 1 fin whale, 4 Minke whales, and 500 long-beaked common dolphins. Many of the whale and dolphin sightings … Read More
Blue whales, fin whale, Minke whale, dolphins
2018 07-18 SB Channel East Captain Dave and his crew took the Condor Express back to the eastern Santa Barbara Channel where, once again, we found abundant life in The Lanes adjacent to West Anacapa Island. Closely watched species today included 2 blue whales, 1 fin whale, 1 Minke whale and 500 long-beaked common dolphin. Skies were mostly covered by … Read More
Blue whales, fin whale, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins!
2018 07-17 SB Channel – East Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express closely watched 5 blue whales, 1 fin whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins and 15 offshore bottlenose dolphins. The trip today ran southeast down to the eastern end of Santa Cruz Island. Skies were gray in the morning and sunny soon after. Upon arrival at the … Read More