Humpbacks steal the show again!!

Friends and associates,

 

A 10-foot+ southwest swell was rolling through the mid- to outer-Channel today, and it was a bit windy until around 12 noon.  It got sunny pretty early and the afternoon was quite calm and pleasant....if you don't mind a big swell.  I enjoyed photographing the animals, especially the Risso's Dolphins, riding the big waves.  Out near Sta Rosa Island the whales were waiting to greet us:

 

Final counts:

800 common dolphins

15 Risso's dolphins

1 Blue Whale

10 Humpback Whales (many more in the area)

 

The lone Blue was all business and had short surface intervals for us to enjoy its magnificent blue-gray flanks, which always seem to go on and on and on due to the body length of these giants.  For the most part, the Humpbacks were diving down to around 100-feet too, because that was where we saw the krill layer on the meter.  But as it goes with Humpacks, it was not too long until a pair came over for a very close approach...within a few feet of the Condor Express...and the guests on board had some great fact time in this meet-and-greet session.  Spectacular and well worth the medium rough seas on the way out.  The trip home was wonderful...no wind, sunny and riding downswell into Santa Barbar Harbor.   Cowabunga!  It's supposed to be a be calmer on Sunday.  C'mon out to see the summer whales.  I''ll have todays photos online sometime tomorrow.

 

Call 888-77WHALE or 805-882-0088 to book your trip.

Visit our website:
http://www.CondorCruises.com
 
..or to view images from today and our previous trips:
http://www.condorexpressphotos.com
 
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In addition to the expert crew on the Condor Express with over 35 years of experience, Channel Islands Naturalist Corps volunteer naturalists, representatives from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and National Park, are usually on board and available to answer your questions during the trip.

 

Best fishes and have a WHALE of a day!

Bob Perry