Whales watching - part 3

While we were at Moss Landing, we decided to eat at Phil's fish market restaurant. They serve all kind of fishes and crabs.

















When is too many options too many?












Claire must be very hungry.











Benoit has recovered.

Whales watching - part 2

After leaving the harbor, we headed west to the ocean. We spotted a whale just few hundred yards from the beach. Since several whale watching boats are roaming the Monterey bay, they communicate by radio the spotting so everyone can enjoy.








Bernie is ready :)

















Benoit is still OK but for how long?










First whale.














Francois seems very relax.















Lucas is looking not too good...











and Benoit is now sick.














Second whale.










Bernie and Franck.











Derek must be happy with its 400mm lens.












Third whale which has been around for at least 3 years.










Jeremy and his daughter.

















Lucas is doing just fine...


















while Benoit tries to recover.










A bunch of dolphins, probably 100 of them.



We got a new captain. I guess, he does not need a driving permit. Note: Lucas has still his lift chair ticket from the last winter ski season.












Lucas is following the instructor directions.

Whales watching - part 1

Isabelle's compagny MS2 invited us for their annual party. We all met on Saturday morning at Moss Landing around 10 AM for a whale watch tour.
The boat tour will last around 3 to 4 hours. We are supposed to see Whales and other mamal animals.
The weather was foggy but not too windy, just a perfect day at the sea.




Moss Landing power plant can be seen from far away and yes, indeed, the electricity must come from somewhere.













Santa Cruz is just a hippie town and I guess it was about thirty years ago.














Our boat can accomodate up to 35 passengers.











Our captain is giving the final instructions before boarding.










Claire is boarding.











Seal Lion.









Otter in the harbor.

MBARI

On Saturday, Francois invited us for the MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) open day. MBARI is located between Santa Cruz and Monterey bay at Moss Landing. Francois is doing its intern ship as a mechanic engineer.

They were expected more than 3000 people and had many exhibits. More about MBARI can be found here http://www.mbari.org/














MBARI building sea side on a fogy day











Benoit has been caught by a giant calamary but He seems to handle the situation pretty well.












Kids could build and test their ROV (Remotely operated vehicles)










Francois posing in front of a ROV. He is working in adding an accelerometer. What a cool job.











Francois brought me inside the building and showed me that Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUVs).

















The electronic components are trapped inside that box full of oil. Pretty cool system where a pompe will keep the pression inside the box unchanged whatever how deep the AUV goes.















Tiburon ROV can go as low as 4000 meters.












ROV Ventana. Note the big robotic arm.

















Kids are resting watching some TV :)