Friday, October 2, 2026
Glassy, calm surface conditions set the stage for our sunset departure aboard Sanctuary, highlighted by an encounter with four killer whales from the well-documented CA39A matriline, including CA39A1 "Hopper."
As mammal-hunting Bigg's killer whales, this family group frequently patrols the deep edges of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. Watching them travel together through a low swell allowed for clear observations of their tight formation and quiet, deliberate surfacings, typical of transient orcas moving through active waters.
In addition to the orca pod, we documented approximately twenty-five humpback whales distributed throughout the bay. Light northwest winds under eight knots provided clean sightlines to track blows across wide distances as the whales moved and fed across the basin.
October regularly delivers some of the calmest sea states of the year here on Monterey Bay. Encountering Bigg's killer whales and extensive humpback activity on the same evening offers a steady look at the seasonal transitions currently taking place in these productive waters.
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