2013 04-02 SB Coast

A gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spouts as it travels back to Alaska along the edge of the Santa Barbara kelp beds.

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A distinctive gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail fluke showing lots of white on the under side.

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A gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), just beneath the surface, is coming up to breath.

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Twin blasts from a spouting gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

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The seacliffs, beach and nearshore kelp beds frame this spouting gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

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Two gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) along the shore.

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A mighty gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spout.

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This gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) rolls around in response to some pesky bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

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A few members of the local California sea lion pack (Zalophus californianus).

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Two gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) spout with oil platforms in the back.

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A gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) tail fluke with kelp beds, beach and Santa Barbara sea cliffs in the background.

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Passengers aboard the "Double Dolphin" catamaran enjoy a great view of a gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus).

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Another beach-loving gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) migrating north.

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A large inshore bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) rides alongside the Condor and takes a look at the whale watchers.

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A bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus),

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Whale watchers on board the Condor see a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

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A bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) begins a dive in clear turquoise water.

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A very friendly bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) comes close to the Condor and exhales a bubble stream.

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One of two images of the kelp harvesting vessel "Ocean Harvest" at work along the giant kelp beds (Macrocystis pyrifera) off the Santa Barbara coast. The "Ocean Harvest" and its sister ship "Ocean Rose" gather kelp to feed abalones (Haliotis sp.) being farmed at Cayucos, California. This is the only reason kelp is harvested these days.

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A closer look at the kelp harvesting vessel "Ocean Harvest" gathering giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) off the Santa Barbara coast. The "Ocean Harvest" and its sister ship "Ocean Rose" gather kelp to feed abalones (Haliotis sp.) being farmed at Cayucos, California. This is the only reason kelp is harvested these days.

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The kelp harvesting vessel "Ocean Rose" at work along the giant kelp beds (Macrocystis pyrifera) off the Santa Barbara coast. The "Ocean Rose" and its sister ship "Ocean Harvest" gather kelp to feed abalones (Haliotis sp.) being farmed at Cayucos, California. This is the only reason kelp is harvested these days.

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