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Health & Fitness

Ocean Institute Insights: Blue Whales, Intriguing Night Cruise, Abundant Jellyfish

From Blue Whales to glow-in-the-dark cruises and experts on jellyfish, the Ocean Institute brings variety to the neighborhood.

The Ocean Institute, like the sea itself, is always in motion.  What’s current and upcoming?

  • A nighttime glow-in-the dark cruise known as our Bioluminescence Cruise
    aboard the Research Vessel Sea Explorer on Saturday, May 11
  • Blue Whale surprises--early sightings off Dana Point
  • Stung!  A lecture and book signing that puts “jellyfish” (jellies) in perspective on May 21

 

First and fore ost, the whales! 

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According to the Ocean Institute’s Capt. Mike Bursk, a Blue whale was spotted for the third consecutive day on April 16.  He writes in his Notes from Sea, “Twenty years ago it would be labeled an hallucination.  But, today, all bets are off, and the seasons seem to mean less and less as we continue to discover year-round krill swarms and baitfish schools.”

This Blue whale was only two miles offshore.  Capt. Mike says “We can only hope this is a preview of coming attractions.”

Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ocean Institute Marine Wildlife and Blue Whale cruises are available at 949-496-2274 or on our website.  Members: $22/adult and $19/child (4 to 12 years) and non-members $35/adult and $22/child.

Bioluminescence Cruise

This Ocean Institute cruise is one of the most intriguing.  The cruise depends on the phase of the moon and takes the adventurous on a nighttime trip off the coast
of Dana Point.  “Bug-like” organisms (euphasids) swarm in the billions.  That’s when the magic happens. The bottom of the hull of the R/V Sea Explorer glows as it strikes the bioluminescent plankton.

The scientists aboard will capture thousands of the drifting euphasids in a meter net. You’ll learn about more luminous underwater discoveries that live in the depths.  The bioluminescent cruise is priced the same as the Marine Wildlife Cruise.

Stung!  A book signing

Here’s a date worth saving:  May 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ocean Institute.  Jellyfish (jellies) will be on the agenda.  Lisa-ann Gershwin, director of the Australian Marine Stinger Advisory Services, is the foremost jellyfish expert.  She will reveal why the jellyfish population bloom is “highly indicative of the tragic state of the
world’s ocean waters.”  It’s all in her upcoming book Stung!: On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean, which is due out May 7.  Reservations can be made at 949-496-2274.

 

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