Sleepy Humpbacks and Feeding Common Dolphins in Monterey Bay

Under remarkably calm, glassy conditions on Monterey Bay, our morning departure aboard Sanctuary was treated to a striking contrast in cetacean behavior. We observed fifteen humpback whales resting quietly at the surface alongside a highly energetic pod of approximately two hundred long-beaked common dolphins.

The humpbacks were in a state of rest often referred to as "logging," floating motionless in the 60.3°F water with only their blowholes and upper backs exposed. This slow, energy-conserving state contrasted sharply with the nearby common dolphins, which were actively feeding on schools of northern anchovies, their movements churning the flat surface as they worked together to corral the baitfish.

As we drifted quietly in the light 3.9-knot westerly breeze, a subgroup of the dolphin pod detached to ride our bow wave. This bow-riding behavior is a common social and energy-efficient activity for these smaller delphinids, utilizing the pressure wave created by Sanctuary's hull to glide effortlessly through the water.

Observing these two species side-by-side highlights the diverse ecological strategies at play in the bay. While the dolphins utilized the calm morning to hunt actively, the humpbacks chose the same quiet conditions to conserve their energy, reminding us of the balanced rhythms of life in these rich canyon waters.