It was a work day for Chris but fun for both of us none the less as Chris was the Hubbs photographer on the 2003 Whale Watch Cruise. I got to go along as a guest and did my best to help with taking some pictures to supplement Chris’ work. Here Chris is waiting for word to start loading the boat we will take on the Cruise. It is the "New Seaforth" operated by a company owned coincidentally by a gentleman married to an acquaintance in our church.

Julie had the task of getting all the Hubbs guests signed in and ready for the adventure.

Here Chris is busy loading the boat. Even though it looks like he’s unloading this is in fact during our preparation to get going. I had just finished hanging the Hubb’s banner from the stern of the boat.

Not feeling at all like Gilligan and the passengers on the USS Minnow you can see our fearless crew and snack bar hostess are ready to take good care of us on our 3 hour cruise. We are leaving from the Seaforth pier at Dana Landing on Mission Bay just across the street from the Hubb’s Sea World offices and Sea World Park.

Needless to say we got everyone to pose for the obligatory group picture.

The morning started out with a typical San Diego "marine layer" of clouds but the temperature was mild and the seas were calm. Even before we got underway everyone started enjoying the breakfast bar provided by Hubbs as well as the pay as you go snack bar operated by the boat staff.

The folks at Sea World sent a guide from their education department seen here talking with Stephanie and Chris. Fortunately for him the seas were calm as he was still feeling the effects of a party the night before.

Our real expert advisor was biologist Dr. Ann Bowles, Chris’ boss at Hubbs, and one of the senior research scientists on the staff.

Meanwhile Chris is busy getting pictures of everyone having a good time. Some shots were candid and the others not so candid.

Now that we’re underway Julie has an opportunity to visit with people on the cruise.

As we head off shore to deeper water we’re joined by dolphins……..

Sea lions……….

And other whale watchers.

It doesn’t take long before our expert crew spots the first blow off the bow by a couple of hundred yards and directs us where to look.

We work our way in for a better view as the whale repeats her 3 – 5 minute diving cycle.

Once we’re in closer we are able to see the whale’s back after she blows air and takes a breath before the next dive. This is a small 30 to 40 foot gray whale weighing in at a ton a foot. (Photo credits go to Chris for those pictures with no date stamp while I took the ones with the date stamp in the lower left corner)

You can imagine it’s not hard to get to the bottom once you get the inertia going.

Here’s Chris best artistic picture of the day with a sea gull skimming the water just over the whale’s fluke on one of the dives.

By the time we head home the marine layer has burned off and the sun is shining. We get a good view of the beach and the roller coaster at Belmont Park in Mission Beach.