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
Annual Maintenance On The Condor Express
Condor Express Whale Watching in Santa Barbara California takes great pride in their unique whale watching boat. We carry tens of thousands of people every year to see the amazing wildlife in the Santa Barbara Channel and all around the Channel Islands. This special boat is a main reason Condor Express Whale Watching is ranked #1 by the Santa Barbara … Read More
Saturday, August 16 – All Day ACS Trip
There are still some spots left for the American Cetacean Society August 16 All-Day Trip Out of Santa Barbara! 2014 ACS All-Day Whale Watch: Whale Watching with the Whale Experts! This is shaping up to be another fantastic year for whale watching off the California coast, with plenty of cetaceans and marine life being seen daily! Like other baleen whales, the blue … Read More
Eight whales, five porpoises
Eight whales, five porpoises. A bit rocky out at the West End of Santa Cruz Island again today, so Captain Dave and the crew took a turn for calmer seas down east. On crossing the Santa Barbara Channel, 5 Dall’s porpoises were watched speeding like warm blooded torpedoes all around the Condor Express. Wow, are they ever fast ! Down … Read More
2 nice gray whales and a lot of dolphins
Gray whales and a lot of dolphins Not far out of Santa Barbara Harbor the Condor Express played with a group of at least 1,500 common dolphins. As usual, these friendly cetaceans rode the bow, surfed the wake, and generally dazzled and delighted everyone on board. Next we ran across the to world famous Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island, … Read More
Many Mammal Species and a pair of Bald Eagles on Santa Cruz Island
Mirror Glass, Many Mammal Species and a pair of Bald Eagles Today A tiny bit of haze but extremely glassy conditions again today on the Santa Barbara Channel as the Condor Express motored out for another adventure packed trip full of unexpected surprises. The first surprise of the day was a big pod of 15 or more elusive Dall’s … Read More
Calm seas result in gray whale mating.
Calm seas result in gray whales mating. The trip across the Santa Barbara Channel was smooth as silk today and we were lucky today to see gray whale mating. A few seabirds such as phalaropes and shearwaters were observed mostly resting on the surface. Later a northern fulmar sitting on the glassy surface would approach the Condor Express as we … Read More
New Year Starts with 6 Killer Whales
New Year Starts with 6 Killer Whales This is our third transient killer whale (Orcinus orca) encounter in a week. What a week it has been. Captain Dave and the crew found great sea conditions and bright sun in the Santa Barbara Channel, making spout finding easier. The adventure today began with a trip over to Santa Cruz Island where … Read More
Five Gray Whales and Painted Cave
Five Gray Whales Although it was glassy and nice near Santa Barbara Harbor, it was not far offshore that the winds kicked up and we had blown-out whitecaps and spray. Nonetheless the keen eyes of our crew located two gray whales not far off the north face of Santa Cruz Island. Turning east to follow along on the migration route … Read More
An all time epic “killer” day in the Santa Barbara Channel
Killer day in the Santa Barbara Channel An all time epic or “killer” day in the Santa Barbara Channel As the Condor Express headed south out of Santa Barbara Harbor we were met with a mill pond flat glass sea surface, no wind and long sleeve tee shirt weather. The water was clear and blue, and the above water vistas … Read More