Ten Humpback Whales and Common Dolphins in Glassy Seas

On today's morning and mid-day runs aboard Sanctuary, we were met with glassy, mirror-like sea conditions just outside of Moss Landing. These calm waters made for excellent visibility, allowing us to locate ten humpback whales scattered throughout the area, their blows hanging still in the quiet air.

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Alongside the whales, we encountered a massive, highly active school of approximately five hundred long-beaked common dolphins. These small cetaceans are known for their high-energy social structures, and today they took full advantage of our vessel's wake, bow-riding and leaping clear of the flat surface.

Across both the morning and mid-day trips, the lack of wind and swell allowed us to observe these animals without the usual ocean noise, providing a clear window into their natural breathing intervals and travel patterns. It is always a privilege to witness the Monterey Bay submarine canyon ecosystem when the surface is this still.