Humpbacks breaching against the backdrop of the Channel Islands drew passengers to the bow of the boat. The captain’s voice rang out: “Okay, folks, we have a pair of humpback at 3 o’clock — take a look.” On this day in the Santa Barbara Channel with Island Packers Cruises, passengers saw more than 10 humpbacks, a gray whale, and several dolphin pods. Even the seasoned crewmembers called it an impressive day on the water.
Boating the channel often carries the exciting potential to see some of the 28 species of marine mammals found here. Winter is the ideal season for whales, as they migrate along our coastlines. According to Judy Oberlander, a volunteer with Channel Island National Park, recent outings have even spotted orca pods.
There was a feeling of awe and anticipation onboard that day as we kept our eyes peeled for the spray of a blowhole or the flash of a bowed tail. Several pods of dolphins frolicked alongside the boat throughout the day, delighting in the wake of the ship. The crew explained that for every dolphin visible on the surface, 5-10 were swimming below, meaning that at one point, we may have been visited by upward of 3,000 dolphins.
