Boating with Killer Whales

D

Dave S

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TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
6,014
Upstate South Carolina
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Amazing video of killer whales following a boat.

[video=youtube;vbh6qg8H3CY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vbh6qg8H3CY[/video]
 
Wow that's pretty cool. It looked like they were going to jump in the boat for a second. We get a lot of dolphins here but they don't tend to follow the boats.
 
Very cool video and fun to watch. Kinda made me wonder if those Orcas were practicing their 'group hunting' techniques and were waiting for someone to fall off the boat. Now THAT would have been a video to watch.

If you encounter Orcas in WA you are subject to a citation and fine if you're within a certain distance which I think is 1/4 mile, and you have to shut off your engine. If they swim up to your boat you're in a Catch 22 situation because you can't start the engines to move away, and you can be cited for being too close to them. Go figure.
 
I've been in that situation. We were watching from the side and then they approached from behind. I elected to stay put and let them pass. Here's our closest encounter.
[video=youtube;ev-ODBltvZs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev-ODBltvZs[/video]
 
Gofirstclass said:
If you encounter Orcas in WA you are subject to a citation and fine if you're within a certain distance which I think is 1/4 mile, and you have to shut off your engine. If they swim up to your boat you're in a Catch 22 situation because you can't start the engines to move away, and you can be cited for being too close to them. Go figure.
Click to expand...

We've been caught in a pod with the wildlife guys following it keeping boats back a couple of years ago. They did ticket one boat.

In an effort to improve boater behavior around the southern residents, the Washington Legislature passed a law (RCW 77.15.740) in 2008 placing legal restrictions on the activities of vessels near the whales. This law was updated in 2012 to correspond with current federal regulations. It is now unlawful to:


Marine enforcement officers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have enforced the law since its inception Violation of the law is a civil infraction that carries penalties of up to $1,025.

•Approach within 200 yards of a southern resident whale;
•Position a vessel to be in the path of a southern resident whale at any point located within 400 yards of the whale. This includes intercepting a southern resident whale by positioning a vessel so that the prevailing wind or water current carries the vessel into the path of the whale at any point located within 400 yards of the whale. Vessels are defined as including aircraft, canoes, fishing vessels, kayaks, personal watercraft, rafts, recreational vessels, tour boats, whale watching boats, vessels engaged in whale watching activities, or other small craft including power boats and sailboats;
•Fail to disengage the transmission of a vessel that is within 200 yards of a southern resident whale; or
•Feed a southern resident whale.


Here's a shot while we're drifting with the pod.

DSCN0276.jpg
 
What is the chance that of one of these Whales could swim into the prop? Does that happen?

I imagine they could get very hurt.
 
Gofirstclass said:
Very cool video and fun to watch. Kinda made me wonder if those Orcas were practicing their 'group hunting' techniques and were waiting for someone to fall off the boat. Now THAT would have been a video to watch.

If you encounter Orcas in WA you are subject to a citation and fine if you're within a certain distance which I think is 1/4 mile, and you have to shut off your engine. If they swim up to your boat you're in a Catch 22 situation because you can't start the engines to move away, and you can be cited for being too close to them. Go figure.
Click to expand...


that law must have been written by someone from Ma. or someone who works for the EPA and has never been on a boat.
 
I was in a 23 lb carbon fiber racing kayak off the coast of central cal and ran into a pod. Amazing animals.
 
Wow. I kept asking myself how in the world do those things swim so fast while appearing as if it were effortless.
Great video work too. Clear focus, steady hand. Looks real nice on the 55" flat screen.

Thanks for posting it.
 
Years ago, I was teaching a sailing class off the coast of Monterey, CA in a 20-footer. An orca came up to the boat within touching distance. I told the class this was normal and not to get excited but had to change my shorts after getting back to the dock.
 
AFD said:
that law must have been written by someone from Ma. or someone who works for the EPA and has never been on a boat.
Click to expand...

Yea. I'd interpret that as; "you're screwed if you are within sight of a whale unless it's from behind and if he/she turns around and begins to swim the other way then you're screwed even if you WERE behind it". How's that for a legal interpretation of a law that was probably written by someone who's scared of the water and has a number of whale skin wallets? :grin:

I'm sure they just wanted to cover all the bases. There are a lot of idiots out there. :smt038
 
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If you swimming off the back of your boat and see those things in the area do you get out of the water? I never heard of one of them eating anyone, just wondering.
 
Woody said:
If you swimming off the back of your boat and see those things in the area do you get out of the water? I never heard of one of them eating anyone, just wondering.
Click to expand...

I will tell you that it's exhilarating simply being close. I'm not going to lie. I would not feel comfortable being in the water right next to them even though they have not have any reported cases of an attack on humans. They are part of the dolphin family and my favorite animal.
 
Great Video, Over the years we have had some wonderful experiences as a family enjoying them. I can tell you it is very intimidating when there that close and you are in a 10' inflatable.
Unfortunately now with all the tour boats and self appointed enforcement groups and new regulations including law enforcement the harassment is absolutely horrible. We tend now to avoid the chaos.
 
Woody said:
If you swimming off the back of your boat and see those things in the area do you get out of the water? I never heard of one of them eating anyone, just wondering.
Click to expand...

I sure would, especially after one killed a trainer at SeaWorld not so long ago, and it wasn't the first time he'd tried apparently. Expect they are not called "killer whales" for nothing, but then again that's opening up another whole can of worms about such great creatures being in captivity. Remember seeing them in the wild when travelling to Alaska, just beautiful.
 
Wow! That's awesome! Thanks for posting it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Todd
 
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