Channel Islands Whale Watching

Humpbacks are known for being friendly! Today’s excursion was another special day! We have trips departing daily! 805-382-1612

The Crown Jewel of our National Parks turns 40! Come share this special anniversary by visiting the Park with all its beauty and diversity! Channel Islands National Park ... Photo credit Edward Howell

Humpbacks are known for being friendly! Today’s excursion was another special day! We have trips departing daily! 805-382-1612

The humpbacks have been putting on a show! We have trips departing daily!

From yesterday's trip! We have trips departing daily!

Ranger 85 Sportfishing

Beautiful conditions gave way to an incredible encounter with our local wildlife. Our southbound Gray was very showy and seemed as interested in us as we were with him! We depart daily ChannelIslandsWhaleWatching.com Video courtesy of Zach Pfeifer

The Gray whales are being seen more often now. We have trips departing daily! https://ciscos.fishingreservations.net/sales/

What great images and narrative Shari! These are the southbound migrators we are observing daily on their way to the shallow bays and lagoons of Baja Mexico. We depart daily Channelislandswhalewatching.com

Took Sadie out for her first Whale watching trip. We managed to spot 2 gray whales and came across several groups of common dolphins. Weather was perfect this morning.

Please Like and Share! Just one more from today! https://www.groupon.com//channel-islands-whale-watching-ho

Please Like and Share! This is what sets Channel Islands Whale Watching apart from all others. Wildlife encounters within the Park and Sanctuary are unsurpassed. Today’s encounter with a global apex predator...... We depart daily! Channelislandswhalewatching.com See more

http://www.channelislandswhalewatching.com//orcas-are-at-i The Orcas are at it again.It seems like each day tops the one prior. Several days ago, on 2 separa...te occasions, Channel Islands Whale Watching discovered pods or groups of Orcas in the waters surrounding Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary. Each time, I swore it was an encounter that would not soon be toppeduntil todays 3rd such encounter. Today, we witnessed a true National Geographic moment observing Orcas stalk and attempt to prey upon common Dolphin. The video shows a pod of 7 Orcas identified as CA51, a highly social and interactive pod, swimming playfully alongside our boat. As passengers marvel at the encounter, the largest of the pod, a male, comes up right next to the boat several times. The entire pod is observed swimming along, porpoising and slowing to observe usuntil they detect the presence of another species in the region. Scanning the horizon, I spotted a mega pod (1000) of Common Dolphin just over a mile away. They were moving slowly towards us, in a generally easterly direction. At this point, the entire posture of the pod of Orcas changed. Immediately they closed ranks, pulled together tightly and moved away from us and disappeared into the depths. We slowed our approach and focused on the dolphin up ahead. You can observe the utter panic and chaos that unfolded in the coming moments when the pod of dolphin realized the Orcas were around. The entire ocean erupted as over 1000 dolphin reversed their course and swam for their lives at full speed to put as much distance between them and our oceans top predator. The Orcas then slowed their pursuit and began their casual playful behavior with us once again for some time before we ultimately turned back for the coast. When reviewing the footage from today, I had to question how the dolphin were unaware that the Orca were so close, and then it dawned on mehad the Orca used us as a shield to make their approach? They at one point moved away from us when we were over a mile away from the dolphin, but then curiously moved back and remained close to our hull as we drew ever closer to the dolphin. Then, as we were less than half a mile away, they dove deep and came up from underneath the approaching pod. Was this a calculated maneuver or just a coincidence? This particular pod is no stranger to interacting with boats in Southern California and subsists on a steady diet of Sea Lions and recently have begun to prey upon dolphin. Hard to say, but this much I willwhat an incredible encounter and we look for more in the coming days. Hope to see you onboard, Capt. Frank Channel Islands Whale Watching

What a great way to spend your 4th Birthday Gracie! The only one missing this event was me! Cheers Windy Marie Garner ! The girls are getting so big!