A dense marine layer hung in the early morning mist, shrouding our first destination: Anacapa Island. We set out on Zodiac tours and climbed up the many stairs to hike between Western gull nests lining each side of the path. Both on the water and views from up above displayed a beautiful kelp forest brimming with life such as dolphins and California sea lions.

Our undersea team went for a dive to bring back footage with a closer look under the sea, showcasing all the incredible marine life that would otherwise be unseen. Luckily for us, we got to see humpback whales at the surface in front of the ship as well!

A scrumptious brunch fueled the afternoon’s adventures of hiking and kayaking on Santa Cruz Island. Some were even lucky enough to see such rarities as the endemic scrub jay and an island fox!