Blue Water Ventures

KAYAKING FUNDRAISER FOR CLARISSA FLORES APRIL 11TH 9:30am-2:00pm Baby Sea Otters and Seals, Oh My! We would like to offer a very special day on the water to kayak among the Baby Sea Otters of Elkhorn Slough on April 11th. ... 100% of the proceeds raised on this day will go to Clarissa Flores during her courageous fight against liver cancer. Our roster is filling. Clarissa plans to be there to send us off or may even join us on the water for a bit. Please email Kim Powell at [email protected] to confirm that space is available and I will send Clarissa’s Venmo information. We are asking for a donation of $100 towards the kayaking event. You may also contact me through our website at: www.bluewaterventures.org You may also help support Clarissa through her GoFundMe site and feel free to share with others: https://www.gofundme.com/help-clarissa-dealing-with-cancer Thanks to so many for supporting our incredible friend, Claro Que Sea Otter!

We are offering private and group snorkeling tours in Monterey Bay that includes an overview of marine ecology before taking the polar plunge.....with the right equipment which you may rent, the water feels warm and inviting at www.bluewaterventures.org!

We are eager to get back on the water this weekend, Saturday's Whales and Wildlife Kayak from Moss and Sunday's Seal and Sea Otter Pups of Elkhorn Slough. Over the last few days, we've heard that humpbacks have moved in close at Moss Landing and Orcas were on the hunt this week! Check out our NEW and IMPROVED website where you can book online at the "Book a Tour Button" or our monthly calendar at www.bluewaterventures.org Sea Otter pups are cute!

Here it is our new and improved website!

Quite the adventure on Saturday our new Coastal Exploration Hike and Extreme Tidepooling. We had great looks at elephant seals as well, quite the day! Check out our next adventure at www.bluewaterventures.org

Fantastic day back in Elkhorn Slough during the height of bird migration and lots of sea otter pups. Black neck stilts, American avocets, great blue herons in breeding plumage just to name a few. Quite a day! Our next scheduled trip is a low tide sunset slough paddle February 7th, but we can book a private slough paddle next weekend or Feburary 7th or 8th at www.bluewaterventures.org. We love winter paddling as we follow our COVID-19 protocol, review at our website.

Pouring over photos from our recent Big Sur Seals and Morro Bay by Kayak Adventure for women.....these are a few of my favorites....we will be posting dates for our next Big Sur Seal adventure soon....stay tune at www.bluewaterventures.org

What a day on the Bay yesterday aboard www.sanctuarycruises.com! Thanks to Captain Mike for going the extra mile to find gray whales in what look like courtship behavior. Great adventurous group of women who joined us yesterday. Check out the Risso Dolphins enjoying the ride. Off to kayak among the baby sea otters of Elkhorn Slough today at www.bluewaterventures.org

Yesterday, aboard our private chrater with www.sanctuarycruises.com we witnessed some truly outstanding surface behavior among migrating Gray whales en route to Baja. But yesterday, they had a diffferent agenda as each group of 2-3 whales rolled around at the surface while two species of dolphins joined in with the fun. We saw both Risso Pacific White side dolphins among the whales. This behavior looked like the courtship behavior we frequently see in the breeding and calvin...g lagoons of Baja. We kept hoping to see "Pink Floyd" the impressive 6 foot long appendage of a male gray whale, but alas just lots of rolling around at the surface quite near our vessel. It was a fantastic day! Our next private charter abord the Sanctuary is April 3rd when we hope to find north bound gray whales, foraging humpback whales and Orcas. Space on board will remain at 50% capacity so check us out at www.bluewaterventures.org.

Bear(My 92 year old mother SIP with me ) and I went to check out the massive surf today. It was impressive....the first few photos shows the "flat rock" where I enjoy snorkeling....not today! Nicole Doyle and I are super psyched to lead a kayaking trip in the calm protected Pillar Point Harbor on this Saturday. We plan to tidepool/hike Mavericks Beach where surf is reported to be 30-40 feet...by Saturday, the swell will drop back but the energy will be there, exciting! Join us by checking out the online calendar at www.bluewaterventures.org

Heading out today on our private tour with Sanctuary Cruises https://www.sanctuarycruises.com in search of migrating Gray whales and other wildlife. During COVID, private tours are the way to go so check out their website and book your family! Our next private tour for women is April 3rd when the migrating grays are heading back north to their feeding grounds in Alaska with www.bluewaterventures.org........sometimes, we just wonder who is watching who? Photo by Kim Powell in the lagoons of Baja on our yearly 12 day adventure!

Check out these incredible recent encounters with www.sanctuarycrusies.com! They are out there every day and we are teaming up together on December 20th at www.bluewaterventures.org On this thursday, Sanctuary Cruises is offering an all day charter hoping to find the pod of Blue whales that have recently been found feeding on krill...amazing time to be on Monterey Bay!

Feb 20th-21st...We are excited to offer our first multi day adventure for women 2021 to southern Big Sur and the incredible Elephant Seal Rookery. Will kayak Morro Bay estuary as well. Our same COVID-19 protocol applies with masks on and social distancing. Check out details including hotel options at: https://www.bluewaterventures.org/BWVBigSurSealsMorroBay202

The Ghostly Moon Jellies......Happy Halloween! Just a few spots remaining on our Blue Moon Halloween Themed paddle among the baby sea otters and jellies on October 30th at www.bluewaterventures.org. Sea jellies are important food for the highly endangered leatherback sea turtles that visit Coastal California seeking out jellies, especially the darker jelly seen here, the Sea Nettle. They cross the pacific ocean traveling 7000 miles from their nesting beaches in Indonesia, just to find these jelly blooms. Please retreive plastic from our oceans and help save leatherback sea turtles and other marine life. Happy Halloween!

Sanctuary Cruises Whale watching has seen some incredible action lately! On Thursday, they are offering an all day tour with the hopes of finding Orcas, and Blue Whales that are near Monterey bay now. Check them out at www.sanctuarycruises.com

Lake Monterey! Stunning conditions today as we paddled offshore in search of whales and wildlife. Jellies drifted by and beyond our reach, humpback whales were foraging on an abundance of bait fish. Our next whales and wildlife paddle is November 8th, join us at www.bluewaterventures.org

Grateful to call Santa Cruz home.....we just posted more ocean adventures along the central coast at www.bluewaterventures.org. Staycation with us as you explore nature with our naturalist at Blue Water Ventures.

We are super excited to offer our first Multi day adventure for women in 2021, Feb 20th-21st in Southern Big Sur to view the incredible elephant seal rookery and to kayak Morro Bay. All of our outdoor COVID-19 protocol will be followed as usual, masks on and maintaining social distance as we hike, kayak and tidepool. On our website, we make suggestions for places to stay in Moonstone Beach near Cambria. The viewing will be outstanding! Check out details at our trips for wome...n page at: www.bluewaterventures.org and our roster is filling. Weekend Highlights * Incredible viewing and photographing of Elephant Seals along the dramatic southern Big Sur Coast *Interpretative narration of Marine Mammals with special emphasis on Elephant Seals * Easy hiking to seal overlook with longer hikes optional * Exploring the beautiful Morro Bay Wetlands by Kayak *Naturalist-led beach exploration and coastal sunsets *Bird watching during the height of migration * Optional dining out and social time in scenic Moonstone Beach

Before we are sheltering in place again.......Join us Sunday! Kayak among the multitude of baby sea otters of Elkhorn Slough on December 6th, 13th or January 9th before the weather changes or a stay at home order is enforced. We continue to enjoy time on the water, fully outdoors as we follow our COVID protocol which can be reviewed here: https://www.bluewaterventures.org/Coronavirusupdate.htm Sunsets over Elkhorn Slough have been spectacular! Also, just a few spaces left o...n our last private Whale Watching Cruise on December 20th! Go to Blue Water Ventures and the online calendar for Sunset, Sea Otter Pups........ or email kim at: [email protected] We can also out together private kayaking trips or Gift Certificates that never expire:https://www.bluewaterventures.org/BWVgiftcertificates.htm Take care and be safe! Kim See more

Dear Friends Many of you have heard the tragic news regarding our incredible friend, Chef Clarissa Flores who has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cancer. The ...news has been devastating, but Clarissa is ready to fight her cancer and we are asking for your help. Clarissa has joined our Blue Water Adventures as chef and supportive team member. As I reflect back over the years, images of Claro swimming among tropical fish, inquisitive squid and gigantic whales comes to mind, as well as her magic behind a camp stove. Claro, always dancing to the rhythm of the moon be that in the Caribbean, Baja, South Pacific or Sierras. Laugher, beaming smiles and the best food concoctions ever, grace my memory of Chef Clarissa. We have created a GoFundMe Campaign to help Clarissa during this most challenging journey, to help pay for her medical bills....thank you.

What an incredible weekend to go extreme tidepooling along our coast! We were hired by a private group, super fun and fantastic conditions. Among our cool finds were clingfish and kelp crabs. Our next extreme tidepooling event will include collecting mussels that we'll prepare right on the beach, November 15th at www.bluewaterventures.org

Greetings! We are excited to offer two upcoming holiday events posted on the LGBTQ Fun Meet up site on December 12th and 20th. On December 12th, we will kayak, tidepool, socialize and decorate our fleet of kayaks at Pillar Point Harbor(Half moon Bay). In the second week of December, the harbor is dazzled by Holiday lights. Super festive and great low tides for tidepooling. On December 20th, we have chartered a Whale Watching Boat out of Moss Landing Harbor. Super pods of d...olphins, blue whales and humpback whales have recently been seen around the Bay. We are taking 50% fewer onboard to allow for plenty of room on board. Please register at the online calendar at: www.bluewaterventures.org All are invited to join as we celebrate the holidays safely outdoors.

Today! So much whale food in the water right off of Santa Cruz Wharf! We were so inspired that we added a kayaking departure for women from Santa Cruz harbor this Sunday, December 6th. Looks like great weather and wildlife prevails! Join us at www.bluewaterventures.org and sign up on our online calendar. Register by Friday Noon and receive a 10% discount by using the code: FRENZY!

Beautiful fall weather prevails for this upcoming weekend! Just a few spaces remaining on our last Bioluminescence Night Paddle of the season on Saturday. Lots of baby otters right now! ... On Sunday, we have a few spaces remaining on our women's Pillar Point Kayaking and tidepool exploration during a minus tide(Half Moon Bay). Sunday is a special day sponsored by Betty's List and Blue Water Ventures. Grab one of the last spots on Saturday or Sunday at www.bluewaterventures.org at our online calendar~~see you there!

We still have space on our family adventure on Saturday, kayaking and snorkeling along scenic Cannery Row. For details go to:https://bluewaterventures.org/BWVCanneryrowkayaksnorkel.htm

During the era of Covid-19, families have reached out to us wanting to get on the water. It has been such a gift to both families and my crew.....Thanks to all who have sought us out for a special private connection to nature with www.bluewaterventures.org. Oh, and thank you harbor seals.....you make our day or night!

Job Perk.....Finding the predatory sea slug, the most awesome Navanax! I love my job.....

What an incredible weekend of Blue Water Adventures! Our family bioluminescence paddle offered stunning conditions with loads of Brown Pelicans roosting back in Elkhorn Slough. The harbor seals kept tugging on our kayak rudders!Such a pleasure to experience the Slough at sunset. On Saturday, we explored Rubens Creek, a private family adventure and on Sunday, oh My......visits by the apex predator, The White Sharks of Shark Park from the safety of our 50 foot chartered Ves...sel, the Sea Spirit~https://seaspiritsantacruz.com We have a few speces left on our night paddles and our last Coastal Cruise to Shark Park on October 24th. Go to our online calendar at www.bluewaterventures.org

Our first Blue Water Ventures adventure to "Shark Park" departing from Santa Cruz was a great success! Our next Coastal Cruise to Shark Park is October 24th! Go to our online calendar at www.bluewaterverntures.org

Yesterday's private birthday celebration kayaking and snorkeling along Cannery Row was a blast ! To spend the day with a group of 12 year old girls exploring Monterey Bay above and below....what more can a seasoned guide ask for? Years ago, a teacher friend of mine once said "there is nothing more impressive than a 12 year old girl" and yesterday's experience held true to that insight. These girls were inquisitive, fun loving, respectful and FULL of energy. They were game for anything and plunged right into the kelp beds after a full morning of kayaking. We are available for private outings to Elkhorn Slough, Santa Cruz or beyond. Join our next Cannery Row kayak and snorkel adventure for families on Ocotber 10th at www.bluewaterventures.org

Yesterday, after a day of kayaking along historic Cannery Row, we snorkeled through a thriving kelp forest. Senoritas danced among the kelp blades. Here's an excerpt from an essay I wrote about these beautiful fish, members of the wrasse family a few years ago..... Natural History Notes Sporting bright hues of yellow and a prominent black smudge on their caudal tail, the brightly colored juvenile senoritas are advertizing a service. Like many members of the wrasse family, s...enoritas are cleaner fish known to pick ectoparasites off of other fish species. Just like at the car wash, fish loaded with parasites will line up near a cleaning station patiently waiting their turn to have hitchhikers removed from their bodies. The tiny mouths of a young senorita are filled with an array of protruding teeth making an ideal tool to extract external parasites or even those embedded in the gills of fish. Larger fish wishing to be cleaned may change colors; flare out their gills, positioned there heads upward or downward, all indications that they are ready to be serviced by a senorita. Frequent visitors to the cleaning station of the senoritas include bat rays, garbaldis, ocean sunfishes, opaleyes and kelp basses. Cleaning stations provide an ecologically important niche within a kelp forest community keeping fish healthier by reducing their parasitic load. As adults, Senoritas are known to graze on bryozoans and hydroids that encrust the blades of kelp. Despite their viable service within a kelp forest community, senoritas like most fish must remain alert to predators that lurk among the blades of kelp. In addition to predation by fish and marine invertebrates, California sea lions or Brandt’s cormorants, may dive among the kelp blades in search of a slender meal, a lovely senorita. Like some other wrasses, senoritas have evolved a unique escape strategy. When threatened, the slim torpedo shaped fish will dive into the sand then peer out among the rubble with only their heads exposed. As light begins to fade and the nocturnal world unfolds, senoritas will take to the sandy bottom again, tucking themselves in among the grains. Buried within the sandy bottom, they will avoid nighttime predators and wait for the arrival of light signaling their safe return to an established cleaning arena.

Our morning swim through the fog brought us near a sleeping harbor seal, very likely the same seal we see each morning. Using a zoom lens we captured this photo. A non-migratory species, harbor seals forage, haul out, socialize, mate and give birth in the same general location in which they were born. Globally, The population of harbor seals is estimated at over 500,000 seals with 34,000 individuals found along the California Coast. More dates for night paddles among the harbor seals and sea otters posted at www.bluewaterventures.org

One of the best ever perks of the job.... 2 of these young women were my marine extreme campers over 10 years ago. They interned with me during our Loon lake wilderness kayak camp and are now sophomores in college. Super impressed that these awesome 19-year-olds are willing to take the polar plunge at 7:30 AM with the blue haired lady!