White-tailed humpback and fast dolphin herds.

2021 06-25 SB Channel

After a few moments with high stratus clouds leaving the harbor, it was blue skies and bright sunshine all day. There was hardly a breeze until noon when moderate westerlies picked up, but by then we were far to the southwest. Totals for the trip included: 1+ humpback whale and 2000 long-beaked common dolphins.

As has been the pattern all week, we were no more than 30 minutes outbound from the dock when we encountered our first small pod of dolphins.

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8 great humpbacks including 2 calves that went wild. 3500 dolphins too.

2021 06-24 SB Channel

The day started out with gray skies, but seas were flat and calm. The seas remained calm all day and the wind picked up very slightly around 1130 am. Skies cleared about the same time and it was sunny or mostly sunny for the remainder of the excursion. The sightings today were phenomenal and are so much more than just these raw numbers: 8 humpback whales, 2500 long-beaked common dolphins, 1000 short-beaked common dolphins and 150 California sea lions.

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Gorgeous day, nice humpback, Minke, lots of dolphins and some huge bait balls.

2021 06-23 SB Channel

A light breeze got stronger around noon, but there was no swell and the ride was kept smooth under the skillful captainship of Dave. It was clear, bright and sunny all day with all 4 islands in clear view. Sightings included: 2500 long-beaked common dolphins, 1 Minke whale, 1 humpback whale and 20 California sea lions.

Several hot spots, the first only 25 minutes out from the dock, featured loads of sea birds especially brown pelicans.

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Blue sky, blue water, blue whale…plus humpback, Risso’s, commons…

2021 06-22 SB Channel

Clear blue and sunny skies prevailed across the entire Channel today.  The above water vistas were magnificent with all 4 islands and the entire mainland coast clearly in view. Seas were calm, glassy near shore, fresh breeze as we moved offshore.  Once offshore the water was crystal clear. Closely watched species included 1+ humpback whale, 1 giant blue whale, 30 Risso’s dolphins and 400 long-beaked common dolphins.

The first small pods of common dolphins located us just 20 minutes from the dock and were around all day.  No mega pods, but loads of active, boat-friendly and (some) feeding groups were busy surfing our waves.

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Humpback 2021 Olympic tryouts: mid-air double barrel rolls by calf wins the day.

2021 06-20 SB Channel

Conditions were exactly like yesterday: super glassy seas and high stratus clouds. Similarly, our dolphin companions picked us up about 6 miles off the beach, and groups were around us all day. Sightings included 3+ humpback whales and 3000 long-beaked common dolphins.

Common dolphin groups ranged in size from 20 – 50 animals most of the day except for a massive mega pod with over 1000 individuals which found the Condor Express south of the East Channel NOAA Buoy.

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Oh, boy! Blue, humpback and Minke whales…plus dolphins…give plenty of whelfie opportunities.

2021 06-19 SB Channel

Captain Dave and the crew had a “jackpot day,” with lake glass waters all day. Nothing enhances sightings like smooth seas. On a trip across the Channel and a tour of the Santa Cruz Island sea cliffs, we closely watched: 4 humpback whales, 2 Minke whales, 1 giant blue whale and 900 long-beaked common dolphins.

Thus far all week we’ve started our dolphin interactions just 6 miles off Hendry’s Beach and The Mesa.

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Glassy seas and wonderful wildlife including a great kelping display.

2021 06-18 SB Channel

A special morning trip left the harbor at 8am and returned at 1pm. Skies had a high, gray, stratus layer all day and the ocean was glassy smooth. Captain Dave and the crew crossed the Channel and stopped along the way to watch marine mammals. Sightings included 4 humpback whales, 100 offshore bottlenose dolphins, 800 long-beaked common dolphins and 30 California sea lions.

Small groups of common dolphins ranging in size from 20 to 50 animals first found the Condor Express near the East Channel NOAA Buoy, and were with us most of the day thereafter.

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So many dolphins and some nice humpback whales on a glassy surface…and foggy day.

2021 06-17 SB Channel

Captain Dave reported nearly perfect glassy surface waters today and little-to-no wind. But that’s what you expect when you had dense fog all day! Yet somehow, decades on the water has given Dave a few tricks and managed to put together the following closely watched list: 4 humpback whales, 5000 long-beaked common dolphins and, sadly, 5 floating Mylar balloons on the surface.

The Condor Express was not too far offshore from Hope Ranch when our all-day sidekicks, the common dolphins, first joined us.

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A tour of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Island, lots of marine life and a special interaction between a sea lion and a humpback.

2021 06-16 SB Channel

Captain Dave and his crew crossed the Channel and searched along a historically rich summer whale grounds off Santa Cruz Island and Santa Rosa Island. Seas were very calm and skies were hazy. Dave describes a “subtropical air.” The round trip covered more than 75 nautical miles. Sightings included 1 very nice humpback whale, 900 long-beaked common dolphins and 200 offshore bottlenose dolphins. There were only a few California sea lions observed, but as you shall soon read, one was particularly special.

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Sunny skies, humpbacks and dolphins.

2021 06-14 SB Channel

Skies were sunny all day today. There was a slight wind as we left Santa Barbara Harbor and this turned a more intense wind as we neared the southern channel region. Sightings included 2 humpback whales and 3000 long-beaked common dolphins.

Captain Dave maintained a moderate speed and stayed on a course for the western Santa Cruz Island. Curiously, no marine mammals were sighted until the Condor Express reached the north edge of The Lanes.

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Humpbacks wow their fans. Dolphins and more dolphins share the stage.

2021 06-13 SB Channel

Captain Colton and his crew combed the Channel from Santa Barbara Harbor to Santa Cruz Island in moderately bumpy seas. Skies started out foggy and cleared to bright sun near the island. Sightings were fabulous: 6 humpback whales, 2500 long-beaked common dolphins, 25 offshore bottlenose dolphins and 150 California sea lions.

One hour after departing the harbor a mega pod of common dolphins located the Condor Express.

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1st giant of the summer, friendly humpbacks and record-setting dolphin numbers.

2021 06-12 SB Channel

With sunny skies all day, a glassy ocean surface and blue water Captain Colton and the crew traversed the Santa Barbara Channel as they searched and recorded some amazing wildlife sightings today. Totals for the trip: 10,000 long-beaked common dolphins, 3 humpback whales and 1 giant blue whale.

This is the largest number of dolphins ever reported by the Condor Express and our encounters began only 5 miles out from Santa Barbara Harbor and continued all day.

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A beautiful trip up the coast pays dividends with marvelous mammal sightings.

2021 06-11 SB Coast –West

The sun shone brightly all day. The coastal sea conditions were good, but not far offshore a prominent wind line warned Captain Dave and his crew to search the coastal realm for marine life. He took the Condor Express west, past Goleta, and into the offshore Gaviota waters. Sightings included 2 humpback whales, 200 offshore bottlenose dolphins, 4000 long-beaked common dolphins and 200 California sea lions.

The common dolphin pods were pervasive and ranged in size from 100 to over 1000 individuals each.

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Two really exciting humpback whales and two species of dolphins.

2021 06-08 SB Channel

Crewman Devin demonstrated his visual acuity by finding a breaching whale at a super human distance. The second whale was similarly located by Captain Colton who refused to be out-done. Seas were nice, skies were sunny, and a light breeze kept the air fresh. Totals for the day included 2 humpback whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins, and 100 short-beaked common dolphins.

Devin’s whale continued breaching as we watched it for 1½ hours.

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Gray whales, humpback whales and plenty of dolphins seen on special day off the Gaviota coast.

2021 06-07 SB Coast – West

Captain Colton and the crew took advantage of the magnificent sea conditions along the north side of the Channel today and ran at least 35 nautical miles to the west of Santa Barbara Harbor in search of wildlife. Sightings included: 6+ humpback whales, 2 gray whales, 4000 long-beaked common dolphins and 100 California sea lions.

The Condor Express headed offshore about 8 miles then spent the rest of the morning heading west towards the spectacular Gaviota coastline.

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It was spouty in the Channel, with lots of dolphins.

2021 06-06 SB Channel

Although many spouts were seen, we closely watched 1+ humpback whale, 4000 long-beaked common dolphins, 250 offshore bottlenose dolphins, and 200 California sea lions. Skies had the same high stratus and the glassy surface had a gentle ripples if you looked closely. Captain Colton and the crew transected the Channel and searched along the north side of Santa Cruz Island and Santa Rosa Island.

We watched scattered small groups of common dolphins (25 – 100 individuals) starting only 2 miles south of the harbor.

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Calm seas, lots of dolphins and 5 nice humpback whales.

2021 06-05 SB Channel

It was another glassy  day in the Channel with wonderful marine mammal sightings. A high stratus layer kept temperatures moderate and comfy. Captain Dave and the crew crossed the Channel and closely watched: 5 humpback whales, 3000 long-beaked common dolphins and 100 offshore bottlenose dolphins. The crew also retrieved 3 “Happy Graduation” Mylar balloons from the ocean surface to prevent harm to our marine life.

Five miles southwest of the harbor the common dolphin show began as we watched pod after pod with large numbers of individuals feeding on bait balls alongside hundreds of noisy, and hungry, seabirds.

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