[CINC] IPCO Whale Watch 7/2/2013

[A ROSE MESSINA]

Sightings:
2200 Common Dolphins 
37 Risso's Dolphins
2 Humpbacks
8 Blues

We left the harbor on calm seas under heavy fog.   Our first sighting was a group of about 100 common dolphins traveling slowly, followed by two other groups of 300 and 500, and a third group of 200, all before noon. Then we encountered our first group of 6 Risso's, followed shortly by the Humpbacks.  

Next we stopped for an up close and personal encounter with a shark, possibly a great white.  We continued toward the islands in search of more  whales.  Off Santa  Rosa we spotted the elusive blues. Many were in the distance, and the closer whales were too busy feeding to spend much time on the surface.  

We headed to Santa Cruz for an amazing trip into Painted Cave.  The calm waters and expertise of the Captain made for a very deep venture into the cave much to the pleasure and excitement of the passengers.   We also saw many more Risso's.


We turned toward shore and found more blues, a couple of which provided some great close-up surface shots for all the cameras on board.

What a day!  Excited passengers were from Britain, Chicago, New York, San Jose, and other Southern California localities. 

Rose Messina, Pam Yerger, two happy naturalists 
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