A Curious Humpback Whale and Newborn Risso's Dolphins

The morning began with glassy conditions, allowing for a remarkable encounter with a thirty-five-foot humpback whale. This individual spent forty-five minutes circling the Sanctuary, surfacing so close that the mist from its blow necessitated the use of our windshield wipers. It was a rare opportunity to see the whale’s pectoral fins and ventral pleats as it looped beneath the hull, peering back at us from just below the surface.

This type of behavior, often called mugging, occurs when a whale initiates and maintains contact with a stationary vessel. While we always maintain a respectful distance, these curious individuals occasionally choose to approach us, reminding us that the curiosity in the bay goes both ways.

Further offshore, we encountered a pod of fifteen Risso’s dolphins, including several newborns. These calves are born orange and darker than the scarred, white-gray adults and were seen traveling closely with ten Pacific white-sided dolphins and a group of California sea lions. The mixed-species interaction provided a look into the complex social structures present over the Monterey Canyon.

As the NNW winds built toward twenty-five knots, we were grateful to have spent those quiet moments with such a massive, inquisitive animal before the weather moved in.

It is a grounded reminder of the bay's power that we could witness such gentleness just hours before a gale.