Back out of Mission Bay, we jetted as fast as the Privateers 2 large John Deers could take us to go see the 2 humpback whales we encountered on the first trip.
Fortunately, they stayed pretty close to the same area where they were feeding and got to spend some more time with the duo as well as traveling with a pod of ~100 acrobatic short-beaked common dolphins that were on the drop-off.
Right when we got on site of the humpback whales, we got surprised by a vertical lunge feed!
Abdominal pleats expanded ballooning out! It was an epic welcome.
The pair were initially spending time close together, but dive times varied from 1 to 6 minutes, keeping us on our toes. Some long-beaked common dolphins arrived on scene, and the humpbacks split up. One following the dolphins, one popping up on our starboard side close by, that was our second surprise of the trip.
With a trip this good, the only thing that could make it feel complete is an absolutely gorgeous sunset featuring a green flash!
Conditions are looking similar tomorrow. Come on aboard the Privateer to look for wildlife with us.
-Naturalist Ruth
