Squid run at La Jolla Shores
The squid run in December, 2011 was the best many of us have seen in 10 years. It was back to the “old days” for me. Taking a tank out of the trunk of my vehicle, then making the long surface swim with my camera out to the edge of the canyon in the La Jolla Marine Preserve.
Fin and Blue whales feeding on krill
On November 3rd, we found blue whales and fin whales “busting through” krill at the surface off the San Diego coast. What a show!! At one point a fin whale and two blues punched through the krill together.
Torpedo Ray at the Cortez Bank
The Cortez Bank is known for giant waves that are ridden by the world’s greates big wave riders. It’s about 100 miles off San Diego. The top of the reef comes to within 21 feet of the surface. I spent 7 days there with a Nat Geo crew in late October, 2011.
Blue Whale Face
On August 7th we found blue whales doing mating behavior. That’s 2 males chasing one female. It’s frenetic and violent, with the animals changing directions often and swimming 25 knots at times! The activity involves lots of spashing and some breeching. It is very difficult to position a boat to get a shot. I did manage to get this image of one of the animals sticking its face out of the water….a view you don’t often see of the blue whale.
Costa Rica to San Diego in 15 days!
On July 24th I helped a couple friends skipper the 63 foot Mikelson yacht, “Destiny” from northern Costa Rica to San Diego in just 15 days! We ran pretty much 24/7, with a fuel stop in Acapulco and one in Cabo San Lucas. I had time to stop on some mating olive Ridley sea turtles along the way. I found one pair off northern Costa Rica, and another off Puerta Vallarta.
