One of the things I am most grateful for is living in close proximity to the ocean. Truthfully, I have always been drawn to any body of water (rivers, lakes, streams, bays etc). If I engage my nerdiest self (she's always frighteningly accessible), I know that it is because water activates the body's parasympathetic nervous system, a network of nerves that helps the body to relax.
From a more emotionally engaged perspective, I love the coolness of water, its rhythmic nature that is both dynamic and consistent, that it is a mirror to the sky, that it can be both placid and savage, and that it centers me. One of my favorite ways to experience the water is out on the ocean. This year, I prioritized doing that in many ways, including short whale watching trips from the Southern California coast.
Here's what I got to experience with friends and family: (Read through to the end for an amazing encounter with my absolute, favorite animal, the orca.)
Sea Lions
California Sea Lions
There is a whale watching company that launches trips from a marina about 15 minutes from my house. For the bargain price of $15 (with an online promotion), you can set sail for two hours and see all kinds of wildlife. The first sighting is usually of sea lions, because they regularly gather on the bell buoy that marks the harbor's entrance.
(Incidentally, our boat captain mentioned that tiger sharks often congregate under this bell buoy as well, but I have never spotted them on any of my whale watching trips.)
California sea lions are pinnipeds that you can usually find sunning themselves along the coast. Places including San Francisco's Pier 39, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, La Jolla Cove and the Channel Islands are just some of the places where you can spot these boisterous creatures in the Golden State.
Dolphins
A little farther out on the water, we usually spot a pod of dolphins.
These playful animals love to swim in the boat's wake, as you can see.
Every once in a while, you'll get to see them leap out of the water.
Humpback Whales
Humpback Spout
This was the first year that I was fortunate enough to see humpback whales. When you are on the lookout, the best strategy for spotting whales is to look for their spouts.
Whales need oxygen to breathe, so they surface and exhale water, creating plumes that often look like puffs of smoke. You will generally see the plume prior to spotting the whale. See the video above for a closer look.
Humpback whales are named for the hump in front of their stubby dorsal fin. They range in size, but generally weigh about 40 tons and are the approximate size of a bus. In lieu of teeth, these whales have rows of brushes, called baleen. To feed, they take huge gulps of water and then push it back out through the baleen, trapping their prey, which consists mainly of small crustaceans. Seeing them feed in person was awe inspiring.
Killer Whales
Now for my favorite sighting of the year, and my favorite animal, the orca. Seeing a pod of orca, or killer whales, off the Southern California coast is unusual, which made it extra special. Though they are called killer whales, these majestic creatures are not whales at all. They are actually members of the dolphin family.
Orca Pod
Orcas live in pods of up to 50, led by a matriarch. These animals are extremely intelligent and adept at hunting and complex communication. Each pod has its own language and culture that has been handed down through generations.
Orca Jumping
Orcas are one of the most wide-ranging mammals and can be found in almost every ocean on the planet. I have been fortunate enough to spot them in the waters between Seattle and Canada, in the Gulf of Alaska and now, in the Pacific Ocean just off the Southern California coast.
Orcas are the uncontroverted, apex predatory of the sea and my favorite animal. There isn't a close second. There are few experiences I have had that compare to seeing them out in the wild. It simply takes my breath away.
Vocal Sea Lions
On our way back into the harbor, we always pass the same bell buoy. This time in particular, in addition to all the sea lions relaxing on the platform, there was one left in the water, protesting because the others weren't making room for it to hop up and bask in what was left of the sun's warmth before it set. I hope he eventually succeeded.
On this trip, the sun began to set as we passed the breaker, lighting the sky in pastel shades of pink, blue, purple and yellow at first.
As we approached the dock, the colors deepened and we stepped off the boat under the dramatic, fiery, red, orange and yellow firmament.
As 2024 is wrapping up, I am reflecting with gratitude on the many amazing experiences I've had. These trips out on the Pacific Ocean to see God's creation, have been one of my favorites. Happy New Year to everyone.
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