[CINC] Condor July 6

[in]

9 Humpbacks
2 Blues
1500 Commons
4 Dalls

About 60 passengers set out under cloudy skies,  but calm seas. Capt. Mat took the Condor to towards the west end of SCI. A lone, shy humpback was encountered and soon forsaken in favor of 3 others swimming in tight formation to the west. The Condor followed these for a while. They provided several flukings in order... 1,2,3. At about the same time the first pod of commons swam by, maybe accounting for about half the day's sightings. The same 3 humpbacks were encountered a bit later, moving west, and behaving the same... lots of good flukes prior to longer (8 minute) deep dives. About this time, more commons appeared. Moving further to the west in search of Blues, Capt. Mat did not disappoint! Soon several spouts were spotted north of mid SRI. Two of these were Blues, one of them familiar because of its habit of showing its flukes upon diving with a unique list to the right. While focusing on the Blues, 2 more humpbacks appeared off the port stern. Somewhere in all this action at least 3 other humpies were spotted at bit further off with several other spouts in the vicinity. On the way home, the 4 Dall's Porpoises put on a speed demo for us.  The Condor also tucked into Painted Cave.

Nice folks, as usual, from all over the place, several escaping Midwestern heat waves!  Capts. Mat and Dave on duty with Matt assisting and turning out great food. Shirley Johnson and Larry Driscoll interpreting the action and yours truly, busy on PID... 

Gary Delanoeye


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