Naturaliste Charters Crew Sight OrcaGood Vibes and a Great Start
With a bit of good luck, a sharp-eyed crew, and positive vibes, we were set for a great day! We also have a saying here at Nat Charters: when one of the crew returns from their week off, we are in for a cracker. That ancient proverb definitely held true today!
Pods Incoming from Every Direction
Action started instantly. Pods appeared at our 11, 1, and 3 o’clock positions as soon as we reached the hotspot. We could not yet identify them, but they were heading our way fast. One pod soon changed direction, and three juveniles surged at our stern. We looked at each other in disbelief. Could it really be?
Juveniles often porpoise playfully, giving us false hope of predation. But not this time—we were not disappointed! The three pods sped west. Two more pods gained on us from the east. Within seconds, they had led us over seven miles! Guests called out from the stern, “They’re coming!” Two bulls—FUE and IRWIN—surfaced near the whitewash, flanking us and teasing with every pass.
Phones were up everywhere capturing epic footage. IRWIN’s rarely seen gang, last spotted in 2015/16, returned. They were joined by Fue’s pod and Bonkers, another infrequent visitor. The energy on board was electric.
What Were They Hunting?
The ocean ahead turned still—the orcas had dropped. We started guessing their target. Beaked whales? Squid? A blue whale or juvenile sperm whale? It had to be something big to call in six pods. Everyone scanned the surface, searching for any disturbance.
After a long dive, the orcas returned—but seemed disheartened. Whatever they had chased had evaded them. The moment passed, but the thrill remained.
Playful Encounters at the Hull
The calves quickly turned their attention to our hull. They circled, rolled, and approached close, delighting the crew and passengers alike. We could not tell if they were entertaining us—or we were entertaining them! Cheers rang out as the orcas played nearby.
Familiar Faces and a Fun Finale
The afternoon brought social interaction and courtship behaviour. We noticed fresh rake marks and playful nips. Some of our favourite orcas returned: NIBBLES, Digby, Split Tip, Little Dun-DEE, Dot, Razor, Blade, and her companion Shepp. These regulars made multiple close passes around the hull, adding extra joy to an unforgettable day in the canyon.
Spy-Hopping and Salps
We stayed still in the sun while juveniles spy-hopped, splashed, and did donuts around the boat. Crew members leaned over the side, mesmerised by the rich blue depths. On our final pass, we spotted hundreds of colonised salps—barrel-shaped tunicates drifting in groups.
Fun fact: salps are more closely related to humans than jellyfish, thanks to their rudimentary backbone!
