2021 09-19 SB Channel
Sunny. No wind. Great sightings. It was another epic encounter with wildlife in the Santa Barbara Channel with 4 humpback whales, 5000 long-beaked common dolphins and 200 offshore bottlenose dolphins. Whooee!
The adrenaline got flowing early as our first encounter, just 4 miles offshore from UCSB, included a large group of offshore bottlenose dolphins and 1 fantastically friendly adult humpback whale. It swam up the Condor Express, passed slowly under our twin hulls, spy hopped a few times and even spent some Jacuzzi-like time with its face in our jet flow (the jets continue to propel water even when we are in neutral). We were among 3 other boats in the area and this whale “made the rounds,” mugging each one in turn and in rotation. It was truly an amazing wild ambassador of the species!
Eventually Captain Dave and the crew moved the boat further south and near The Lanes where we encountered a mega pod of at least 2000 common dolphins and another humpback in the mix. After some quality looks we started on our route towards home.
On the way, we watched 2 additional whales and another 100+ pod of offshore bottlenose dolphins to round-out our epic adventure.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
After having such wonderful sights further offshore (we were several miles south of San Miguel Island at one point) on our special 8-hour whale watch last month, Captain Dave is going to do it again! We’ll have plenty to time to explore every nook and cranny known to cetaceans and look for pelagic birds along the way.
Make your reservations now: Saturday, September 25 – 8am to 4pm
https://condorexpress.whalewatchreservations.com/cexvouchers/user.php?trip_id=775189
phone: 888-77WHALE or 805-882-0088
My report from the August trip is here:
All day trip with killer whales etc etc
Comments