There’s no point avoiding the issue so let’s just come out and say it. Encountering Orcas, otherwise known as Killer Whales, is the biggest thrill in the natural world!
We’re talking face to face with the world’s most powerful predator – a super intelligent pack-hunter known even to have made mincemeat out of a Great White Shark.
We’re talking monochrome maestros whose huge, sickle-shaped dorsal fins slice through the ocean like a hot knife through butter.
We’re talking about dropping a hydrophone that picks up their excited calls as they communicate to each other through a series of sophisticated clicks and whistles that have been defined by scientists as a form of ‘language’.
And we’re even talking about feeling their misty breath on your face as they surround your kayak or freezing as their sonar beam falls upon you as you float helplessly in the water!
All this is possible in just a handful of places where you can encounter Orcas with some regularity and predictability. Here’s our top ten:
The Orcas of this part of the Northwest Pacific are the most watched and studied on the planet. So what better place to see and learn about these amazing animals than on trips guided by experts that can identify each individual and give you its life story! Although regularly seen throughout the Inside Passage and outer coast, the two best areas are western Johnstone Strait / Blackfish Sound, and southern Vancouver Island. Here, the Orcas hunt Salmon, rest, travel, socialise and play, often travelling very close to shore. Boat trips and sea kayak tours are available from a number of locations.
2. Tysfjord, Norway
Since 1987, huge numbers of Herring have arrived in the deep fjords of Tysfjord to spend the winter. Since then, hundreds of killer whales have returned every autumn to hunt them. Although the Herring have moved further offshore in recent years, there are still boat trips and a swim-with programme running through the autumn and early winter.
3. Antarctica
Not a cheap place to get to but oh so worth it! The rich seas of Antarctica are home to high densities of Orcas of three different types. One type feeds mostly on Minke Whales, another hunts seals, and the third has only been observed eating Antarctic Cod! Most cruise ships visit the Antarctic Peninsula from South America, encountering Orcas on most trips.
4. Strait of Gibraltar, Spain
Every July and August a group of Orcas return to the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet, to hunt migrating tuna. But this is no ordinary hunt. The Orcas take advantage of local fishermen using long lines to catch fish already hooked. The fish heads are always left with the hooks still attached! Trips run daily from the town of Tarifa.
5. Peninsula Valdez, Argentina
The tiny observation post and research centre at Punta Norte plays host to one of the most spectacular events in nature’s calendar as a small group of Orcas spend the month of March launching themselves repeatedly on to the beach to grab unsuspecting sealion pups. This highly dangerous technique, during which the Orcas risk stranding high and dry, lasts for up to 45 days.
6. Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
As if the Snaefellsnes Peninsula wasn’t impressive enough, this glacier-topped volcano, inspiration for Jules Verne’s novel ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’, looks even more awesome as the backdrop to a pod of orcas hunting in the midnight sun. Try watching from land at the western tip of the peninsula or take a boat trip from the nearby village of Olafsvik.
7. Alaska
The northern resident population of Orcas are most easily seen during May and June, though they are present throughout the summer. Seward and Resurrection Bay are among the best places to look.
8. Shetland, UK
There are no dedicated whale watch operators based in the Shetland Islands, situated at the extreme northern tip of the UK. But that doesn’t really matter as every year several pods of Orcas hunt seals within touching distance of the shore. There are several prominent viewpoints and bays to look for them, including Sumburgh Head and Noss, both of which also support impressive seabird colonies. Spend a week and get yourself on the local grapevine to be part of the mad scramble when somebody spots them!
9. Monterey Bay, California, USA
Every April and May, Grey Whale mothers and calves migrating northwards face an unenviable challenge. Previously protected from Orca attack by shallow coastal waters and kelp beds, they must now cross a wedge of deep water that cuts across their path. The number of encounters with Orcas and attacks on Gray Whale calves varies from year to year, though the Gray Whale migration alone is impressive if you miss out on their deadly enemies.
One of the most exciting things about Orcas is that they can, and will, turn up where you least expect them. They travel across huge areas of ocean, inhabit deep and shallow water, and will even swim up rivers in search of prey. So whether you are travelling by ferry, picnicking on the beach, walking a coastal path or out fishing, no matter where you are you might, just might, bump into Orcas!
Members can watch videos about Orcas in the amazing locations listed above by clicking here
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