Captain's Log

Leaving the harbor on a clear morning with a light chop, we encountered a pod of transient killer whales just a mile offshore. We observed three of these individuals actively hunting two California sea lions, a predation event that we followed for over an hour. During the encounter, one of the killer whales surfaced directly alongside Sanctuary, exhaling a loud blow that sprayed those on deck. The three we started off with eventually merged with the rest of their pod, lead by Louise the matriarch.

These mammal-eating orcas, known as Bigg's transient killer whales, rely on quiet coordination and immense power to hunt marine mammals. Seeing them execute these natural behaviors so close to the harbor mouth provides a stark reminder of the active food web right at our doorstep.

Further offshore, we encountered a pod of approximately twenty-five Pacific white-sided dolphins. Moving away from the direction of the killer whales, the dolphins joined our vessel and began bow riding, keeping pace with us in the clear water.

It is always a privilege to witness these raw ecological interactions so close to shore. The contrast between the calculated focus of the hunting killer whales and the fluid, energetic response of the dolphins made for a remarkable morning on the bay.

Our morning run aboard Sanctuary faced challenging conditions, with a northwest wind blowing at 15.6 knots and a large, rolling swell. Despite the choppy seas, we were treated to a remarkable encounter with two humpback whales. One of these individuals—a massive animal with a fluke spanning nearly the width of our vessel—twice swam directly beneath the boat, hanging just below the surface in clear view.

Seeing a humpback of this size at such close range offers a rare perspective on their immense scale. When an animal passes directly under the hull, the water refraction highlights the white patterning on the underside of its fluke. This behavior is a demonstration of the species' natural curiosity, as they occasionally choose to investigate stationary vessels in their feeding grounds.

The heavy swell made for a shorter, more challenging trip than usual, which is common during the windy first week of June. In addition to the whales, we observed twenty-five California sea lions, harbor seals, and sea otters navigating the choppy surface closer to the harbor.

Operating in these rougher spring conditions reminds us that the bay is a dynamic, wild environment. Even when the weather limits our transit, the richness of these waters ensures that profound wildlife encounters remain possible.

Departing early to get ahead of the forecasted high winds, our morning run aboard Sanctuary was highlighted by an extraordinary close encounter with two large humpback whales. These two individuals approached us directly and spent twenty minutes "mugging" the vessel, hovering just alongside.

With the water column exceptionally clear despite the rising chop, we could easily trace the outlines of their entire bodies, including their long pectoral flippers, roughly twenty feet below the surface. This behavior, where whales actively investigate stationary vessels, offers a rare look at their spatial awareness and curiosity.

The environmental conditions were brisk, with NNW winds at 17.5 knots and water temperatures holding at 54°F. Along the way, we also encountered a massive aggregation of approximately 600 California sea lions, likely capitalizing on the same bait schools that drew the six humpback whales we observed during the trip.

Navigating rough, windy seas is a regular part of late spring on the bay, but moments of quiet clarity like today's encounter remind us of the complex lives occurring just beneath the surface of these cold, productive waters.

Our morning run aboard Sanctuary was defined by a spectacular display of power at the Soquel Hole, where a large male humpback whale launched his entire body completely clear of the water in a series of full breaches. This dramatic performance came after a long, challenging transit through rough, choppy seas.

Near the breaching male, we also observed two distinct mother and calf pairs. At this stage in the season, these young calves are rapidly putting on weight, staying close to their mothers' sides as they learn the geography of the bay. We also encountered a small pod of eight Risso's dolphins early in the trip, their heavily scarred gray bodies easily recognizable even in the heavy swell.

Navigating the bay today required patience and a sturdy vessel. The offshore buoy at the Monterey Canyon reported a heavy 11.5-foot swell with a 10-second period, making for a very active, motion-filled morning. Along the way, we also noted fifty California sea lions, two harbor seals, a resting sea otter, and a solitary black-footed albatross gliding low over the cresting waves.

Heading back toward the harbor, we reflected on the sheer adaptability of these marine mammals. Even in challenging sea conditions, the canyon edges and deep holes of Monterey Bay continue to provide vital sanctuary and rich foraging grounds for these magnificent animals.

Our morning departure aboard Sanctuary was met with calm, glassy seas wrapped in a thick layer of Monterey Bay fog. As we navigated the quiet waters, we were fortunate to encounter three distinct pods of killer whales, totaling roughly twenty individuals. These transient, mammal-hunting orcas were interacting directly with humpback whales, a high-energy behavior that always commands respect and close observation.

Transient orcas, or Bigg's killer whales, are apex predators that frequently travel through the Monterey Canyon. When they cross paths with adult humpbacks, the interactions can range from cautious avoidance to active, vocal skirmishes, as humpbacks are one of the few species known to actively interfere with orca hunting behavior. Following these intense dynamics, a pair of humpbacks approached our vessel, spending several quiet minutes exploring Sanctuary at close range.

Our morning run also offered sightings of fifty California sea lions, harbor seals, a sea otter, and a solitary Mola mola drifting near the surface. On our transit back to the harbor, we encountered yet another group of orcas, accompanied by our new vessel, Ocean Spirit, which is currently undergoing trials and will soon join our daily operations.

Observing multiple family groups of orcas in a single morning is a stark reminder of the rich productivity of the canyon edge. These waters remain a critical sanctuary for marine mammals, where complex interspecies dynamics unfold daily just beneath the fog.

Our morning run aboard Sanctuary took us out to the windy, choppy outer edge of the Monterey Canyon, where we encountered Emma’s pod of ten killer whales. This well-known family group consists of mammal-hunting specialists, often seen in the bay during the spring. While we tracked their movements along the canyon's north edge, a large male humpback whale unexpectedly surfaced right in front of the vessel, a dramatic contrast to the stealthy orcas.

Emma's pod specializes in hunting marine mammals, particularly gray whale calves navigating the coast. In today's rough, 54°F waters, their coordinated movements demonstrate the tight social bonds of these apex predators. Shortly after leaving the pod, we observed a humpback mother and calf, a vulnerable pair that typically keeps a low profile when mammal-eating killer whales are in the vicinity.

Our offshore transit also yielded a small pod of fifteen Risso's dolphins navigating the whitecaps, while a solitary black-footed albatross sheared through the wind. Closer to the canyon rim, we recorded forty California sea lions, a salmon shark, and a single sea otter resting near the kelp line as we neared the harbor.

Operating in a 15-knot northwest wind reminds us of the physical forces that drive this bay. The chop and swell may challenge our footing, but the upwelling it represents is the very lifeblood of the canyon.

Our mid-day trip aboard Sanctuary encountered a highly active young humpback whale calf near the edge of the Monterey Canyon. The calf put on an impressive display of surface behaviors, breaching, pectoral-slapping, tail-lobbing, and rolling over its mother's back, all while surrounded by a mixed school of Pacific white-sided and Risso's dolphins.

This energetic behavior from such a young calf is often a way to develop motor skills and strengthen muscles, though it also serves as a form of communication within the pod. The presence of Risso's and Pacific white-sided dolphins interacting in a mixed group is a common sight over the canyon, where deep-water currents bring abundant nutrients to the surface, attracting diverse marine life.

Earlier in the day, our morning run navigated through a thick fog under calm seas, where we observed five humpbacks, including another mother and calf pair offshore, and a few individuals feeding just outside the harbor. Over both trips, we logged twelve humpback whales, fifty California sea lions, and a pair of southern sea otters resting in the calmer nearshore waters.

With water temperatures holding steady at 57°F and light northwest winds, the bay remains highly productive. It is always a privilege to observe these maternal bonds and multi-species interactions in such a concentrated area.

Our morning run aboard Sanctuary required some patience in the foggy, damp conditions, but we were rewarded with a close look at five humpback whales. Navigating through the wind and chop, we located the whales as they surfaced through the swell, their powerful blows visible even against the low-hanging mist.

Alongside the whales, we observed a small group of twenty-five California sea lions. In these conditions, sea lions often travel in loose rafts, utilizing the chop to conserve energy. The humpbacks appeared to be searching for bait fish, executing shallow dives that kept them near the surface and highly visible despite the challenging weather.

The weather today was undeniably challenging, with a steady southeast wind of 5.8 knots and damp, chilly air hovering around 55 degrees. Finding these animals in the heavy mist is always a test of patience, but our passengers were determined to brave the elements, and their perseverance paid off with some excellent, sustained viewing.

Days like today remind us that the bay is a wild, unpredictable environment. Watching these resilient marine mammals go about their daily routines in rough weather is a testament to their adaptability and strength.

Our mid-day run aboard Sanctuary was highlighted by a remarkable encounter with thirteen orcas. We were already heading back toward the harbor after spending time with humpbacks when a local fisherman radioed in a report of the killer whales, allowing us to redirect and locate the pod in the light chop.

Observing thirteen orcas together is a significant event in Monterey Bay. These apex predators often travel in coordinated family groups, utilizing the deep canyon edges of the bay to hunt and navigate as they pass through the region.

Earlier in the trip, we observed three humpback whales. These baleen whales were moving steadily through the bay, displaying typical travel patterns with regular surfacing intervals before we turned our attention to the orca report.

This excursion highlights the collaborative nature of our local seafaring community. The quick communication from a working fishing vessel allowed us to document these transient marine mammals during their passage through the bay.