Image: A great white shark is shown feeding on a northern elephant seal in the western Santa Barbara Channel today.
2024 08-30 SB Channel West
The Channel was glassy and skies were overcast until 2pm when some sunny spots began to open. Captain Dave and the crew searched the far western Channel, between Gaviota and Platform Hondo. Sightings included: 4000 common dolphins, 12 California sea lions, 1 Great white shark and 1 Northern elephant seal (deceased).
Common dolphins dominated the wildlife list until 1230pm. The first dolphin pod, about 200 animals, was as scattered feeding pod about ½ mile off Hope Ranch. Small pods like that were seen all the way up to a point south of Platform Holly, where our first of several true megapods was encountered. As we left these dolphins, with the surface water still mill pond glass, a pack of 20 curious California sea lions swam over and took a look at the Condor Express.
At this point, our friends on the small whale watch boat Velella, called us on the radio and gave us the coordinates of an active feeding spot which featured a large male norther sea elephant (deceased) being fed upon by an equally huge great white shark. Those coordinates were: 34°20’24”N, 120°04’44”W in case you’d like to plot the exact location. The shark was not on the seal when we arrived, but returned to feed within 10 minutes. It left a second time, for about 10 more minutes, and again attacked the seal carcass. We were incredibly close to the action thanks to the extensive skills of Captain Dave, himself a local white shark expert.
On the way home we saw another very large megapod of dolphins, and a few smaller pods.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and
Awesome!