2014 10-23 SB Channel
Blue skies. Crystal blue water. At least 6 blue whales (three watched closely). They came out of the blue as we were looking for our humpback whale friends from yesterday in the eastern Santa Barbara Channel. Captain Dave spotted a spout at least 3 miles ahead of the boat. I don't know how he does it. I would have thought the curvature of the earth would come into play for a 6 foot tall Captain, but he was another 30 feet up off sea level on the flybridge. (That's everyone's math lesson for today !) The crystal blue water gave us spectacular looks at these giant cetaceans under the surface. The first blue whale even fluked up for us as we got within a half mile or so. Most of the sightings were very close to the boat as these giants seemed to pass close and take a look at us. Very loud breathing noises and tall spouts from all of them. The krill layer must have been deep as the bottom times were proportionally long. We did see one nice humpback whale and a second humpback in the distance. There were also some large herds of long beaked common dolphins and we watched at least 1,500 dolphins on the trip today.
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Crystal clear water emphasizes the blue
Balaenoptera musculus 2014 10-23 SB Channel-252
The anterior half of a very long blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus 2014 10-23 SB Channel-b-006
Looking down the footprint path
Balaenoptera musculus & footprints 2014 10-23 SB Channel-b-138
Another look at the first half of a very long and spouting blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus 2014 10-23 SB Channel-041
Side look at most of a blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus 2014 10-23 SB Channel-053
Mottled flanks and a pectoral fin shines below the surface
Balaenoptera musculus 2014 10-23 SB Channel-080
The underwater blue-ness monster
Balaenoptera musculus 2014 10-23 SB Channel-120
Arched back of a diving blue
Balaenoptera musculus 2014 10-23 SB Channel-135
Arched back - diving blue
Balaenoptera musculus 2014 10-23 SB Channel-129
