A Flurry of Activity with Dynamic Dolphins - July 19th

There was a flurry of activity out on tour today with a variety of marine mammal species sighted, which included a dynamic and playful group of Pacific White-sided Dolphins.  
 
While the boat drifted and with the engines in neutral, our guests scanned the horizon looking for whale blows, and suddenly a dolphin appeared right beside the boat, then another and another. It seemed as though the dolphins wanted to play. Anytime the boat was underway the dolphins immediately started to ride the wake. Often one was seen jumping clear out of the water, seeming as though it was jumping for joy. Agile and acrobatic, the dolphins frolicked in the ocean that surrounded us.  
 
During the tour, at least six Humpbacks were viewed including a surprising breach that occurred at a distance. The after splash was astonishing as the large 30+ ton body landed on the surface of the ocean, sending white water high into the air.  
 
The sighting of Orcas was as spontaneous as the Humpback breach. A large male dorsal fin was sighted in Blackney Passage, the same area where the dolphins and at least three Humpbacks were situated. The Orcas, consisting of six whales were travelling East, and it didn't take long for the dolphins and Orcas to converge into one large group. From this observation, we could tell that the Orcas were residents who turned out to be the A42's. If they were the Transient (Biggs) Orca, the dolphins would be long gone as they are a source of food for Transient Killer Whales.  
 
The tour was absolutely spell bounding and our guests came back wearing wide and happy grins.