Featured Image Credit: Tim Hammond via Harbor Breeze Cruises
A group aboard a whale-spotting cruise trip off Palos Verdes, California got WAY more than their money’s worth when they happened upon a very rare pod of sperm whales on their trip.
According to Captain Mike Redlew of the La Espada says after “44 years on the water off Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors as well as San Diego… [This was] My first sperm whale sighting.”
While there are a reported population of around 2,800 in California waters, these whales typically spend their time feeding far off-shore, and can occasionally be seen in the waters between November and April.
Sperm whale sightings are already very rare to see, maybe one or two from time to time while foraging for food, but THIS particular instance, the group aboard the Harbor Breeze Cruise found themselves getting a good look at an entire nursery pod… both young whales and adults traveling together.
Captain Redlew also noted that, in estimation, the pod contained MORE THAN 100 animals, spread out into smaller groups, but all making their way South.
It would have been incredible to just see ONE of these whales, but a photographer aboard, Tim Hammond, recalled that… “They were literally all around the boat. Everywhere you looked there was a blow, it was incredible.”
Check out some amazing aerial drone footage of the whales below!
Courtesy of Capt. Ryan Lawler, Newport Coastal Adventure
“To see this many of any whale type at any one time is special,” Captain Redlew shared with Pete Thomas Outdoors, making this sighting of the whales extraordinarily so, and we’re glad that everyone aboard the ship got the chance to have this experience!