22.02.2022
WOW FROM THE BOW!! (and everywhere else ??)
Spirits were set high with sightings of oceanic bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins creating an exciting environment early in the day!
The afternoon is where all of the real ORCA ACTION started however! We stumbled upon Kai and Fue’s pods who despite being rare to consistently see, have been observed multiple times this week!! The tail and pec slapping started…it was on! Close pass by close pass they shot towards the boat, hanging side by side and in front of us, purely checking us out on their own terms. Suddenly, A FULL BREACH FROM THE BOW! And again! And again! The same orca breaching 6 times less than 10 metres from passengers!!
A pod of at least 50 pilot whales came into the field of view, steaming directly towards the vessel. As predicted, the orca slunk discretely further away, avoiding the pilots or as the skipper Dundee says; “angry sausages”.
Well known buddies Nibbles and Digby, followed by their pods joined in on the fun, playing nearby in the waves. The females and calves amongst them riding the wake from the boat, surging straight behind us and under the vessel, greeting passengers from below, constantly interacting and coming closer on their own accord. It is so special to have such close passes with these magnificent predators in their natural environment, and we thank passengers for supporting these wild orca encounters rather than captivity ?? Another awe inspiring day out at the Canyon, that we hope everyone will never forget!
