2021 09-06 SB Channel
How did Captain Dave and his crew pull off one of the most interesting adventures of the month in zero visibility dense fog conditions? To be fair, the sun did break out as we approached Santa Barbara Harbor at the end of the day. The numbers don’t tell the whole story, but here they are: 6 humpback whales, 3000 long-beaked common dolphins and several dozen California sea lions.
Dave used his radar, GPS and phenomenal knowledge of the local sea conditions to take the Condor Express on a southwesterly heading until he located what turned out to be a wonderful hot spot. Large pods of dolphins were around this area, plenty of hungry sea birds could be detected by their vocalizations, and sea lions were there too. In all, we closely watched 6 humpback whales in the fog. Among the six, two were so friendly that Dave called it the “best mugging we’ve had in years.” The pair swam around all sides of the boat, up and down the tunnel between our twin hulls, and did plenty of spy hopping within a couple of yards of the lucky whale fans on board. This went on for over an hour. All the while the dolphins kept passing within our limited visual range too.
Dolphins were present from just a few miles out from the harbor and present all day, but, with limited visibility, their numbers appeared to be down from yesterday.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com
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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
I look forward to seeing you on board!
Bob
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