There are a number of ocean fans around Wilfair HQ, though I'm inclined to say that is all of us. How we approach our oceanic interactions probably differs -- there are likely some snorkelers among us, while a few might prefer admiring the waves from the beach -- but we all have a love of the watery part of our planet and the beasties that call it home.
I've always had a soft spot for sharks, though I'm partial to whales and dolphins and the larger creatures of the deep. (Sorry, plankton, don't be jealous.) (Uh-oh, I kind of like that for a band name: Jealous Plankton.) (Anyway, moving on.)
That's why I put sharks in a hotel in the Wilfair books. They're found in Lodge Under Ocean, a Finley family hotel up the coast.
Never, ever did I expect I'd see a shark in the wild, though, much less a Great White, which is a statement that's only leading to one inevitable end: I just saw a Great White in the wild.
It started with a boat trip to Channel Islands National Park, near Ventura (that's about an hour northwest of Los Angeles). (Reader Caitlin #2 knows it well -- hi, Caitlin #2.) The islands were beautiful and remote, I spied an osprey, then got bit on the ankle by a sand fly or something munchy, and am currently nursing my first sunburn of this millennium.
Ow ow ow.
So on the way back to the mainland the captain of our passenger boat announced that we're approaching a deceased minke whale floating in the Santa Barbara Channel. Captain advised us that the carcass was a few days old and was now providing food for other ocean denizens. The circle of life, indeed, though why the whale died was unknown. Natural causes seemed a strong possibility.
Our captain advised the squeamish among us not to venture to the railing. That is not me, so I was at the railing in moments, curious about this rare sight. Then, mere seconds after I reached the railing, a giant Great White pushed forcefully out of the water, just feet from where I stood, and chomped the carcass.
To say I gasped multiple times is an understatement. I might have yelled "oh wow!" or something equally as clever. It was unreal, a nature documentary playing out before our eyes.
I'm full of awe over seeing this, even as I give a thought to the minke. I hope it had a fine whale life. Happy trails, Mr. or Ms. Minke.
I suppose it is true what Monty Overbove says in the Wilfair books: None of us know what comes next in our story. I've long wanted to see a bear in the wild, from a respectful and very, very considerable distance, but I never thought I'd come across a Great White on the open ocean. Nor did I especially want to, truth be told, but now that it has happened I'm, well. Amazed. Agog. Both.
My phone camera was juiceless, but I'm glad -- I wanted to focus on the moment and not take pictures. But if you want to see video of what I described, you can find it on the Island Packers Facebook page. Again, to echo our captain: If you're squeamish, please tread with care. It's wild, spectacular nature at its toothiest.
Have you seen a rare wonder that you 100% never expected you'd see?
Channel Island, cr: NPS
