Kayaking and a VERY close experience with Killer Whales in Sooke, BC
Theyre All Around Us! Who knew when I woke up on this Thursday morning that it was going to be an extraordinary day that would produce a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was a beautiful afternoon with calm seas; so, Allan from West Coast Outdoor Adventure Rentals www.westcoastoutdoor.ca and I decided to take the Hobie kayaks for a spin. Heading out towards Secretary Island just off Sooke, BC in the Juan de Fuca Strait, we got word there was a large pod of Orcas close by. We were so excited to receive this news and at the prospect of seeing killer whales; we were immediately intrigued. As luck would have it, the whales were just as intrigued by us. We could see the whales were swimming near Otter Point, about a mile and a half from where we drifted and bobbed about like buoys in our kayaks. We could just make out the black specks of dorsal fins on the horizon. The killer whales were hugging the shoreline, so we were completely amazed at the events that would take place over the next 30 minutes. Even though we were in the open, usually turbulent, waters of the Juan de Fuca Strait, we were in a flood tide so paddling was smooth—effortless. We held our position and the whales got closer, and closer. The entire pod was heading our way. The pod got a little closer, then a lot closer. Then they were all around us! And under us! And beside us! A mother and her calf gave us an unbelievable experience; if I hadnt caught the scene on video, I would never have believed it. I can …
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June 13th, 2010 at 6:38 am
@jjdiver
Hey Jeff, thanks for the comment and I appreciate your knowledge in whales and their behavior. What do you think the top speed of those kayaks are? What do you think the speed of those Orcas are?
Answer: About 5:1 for the Orcas.
L-Pod has many members in the family. They were spread out of a distance nearly a kilometer apart, something you cannot see in this wide angle video. We were a mile from shore. What would you have done in a rubber kayak?
June 17th, 2010 at 12:06 am
Wow!
June 17th, 2010 at 6:03 am
awww he was just given you a lil love tap!!!!
June 17th, 2010 at 6:38 am
i watch this vid alot and show it to my friends. i love orcas and this just looks it would feel amazing to be there for that. so awesome guys! great vid!!! absolutely amazing footage!!!! -Dan
June 17th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
@deanstrat
Thanks, Dean! Glad you enjoy it and are showing it around. Appreciate it!
June 17th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
6:09 is so funny. I think I would have croaked at that point!!
June 19th, 2010 at 6:53 am
Don’t these whales attack humans? how can you get this close???!!!
June 19th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
@cogar911
It wasn’t our intentions to get this close to the whales. They move fast and we were only a mile off shore. We pretty much got caught up amongst them as they were spanned out quite a bit too.
As for them attacking humans, there has never been a known Orca attack on humans in the wild.
June 19th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
nice fag eye jewelry….you look ridiculous….your parents must be proud of their homo son…..gonna grow up any time soon?
June 19th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
wow, didnt know it was possible to get this close to them in the wild. Awesome video, would love to do that myself.. gonna show it to my friends and convince them to do it! Daniel
June 20th, 2010 at 1:16 am
@aquaskye review what you wrote, then ask yourself.. do you need to grow up?
June 20th, 2010 at 9:37 am
wow,
i’m impressed…
you where really lucky to get that close!
greetings from belgium
June 21st, 2010 at 12:01 pm
You guys are nuts, I would fill my kayak with poop in a second if I was there
But nice video and it looks like your really enjoying it, so that`s cool.
June 21st, 2010 at 10:35 pm
@vivienleighfan
then don’t look at it ?
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:22 am
Nice video. Gay sandles and toes. lol
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 am
GREAT video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 22nd, 2010 at 4:52 pm
you have a funny laugh
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Thanks for posting this amazing video.My hands would have been shaking too! Thanks again!
June 24th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Calf *surfaces*: Hey lookit!
Mother: Uh huh…
*next encounter*
Calf: It’s so bright! And it’s not coming down.
Mother: That’s nice, dear.
*last time*
Calf: It’s making funny noises like it’s trying to talk like us.
Mother *steering the calf away from the strange animals*: Come on, back to the fish.
June 25th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Usually a seal will try to get away from a Killer whale by jumping into your boat..
June 26th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
em thats a peddle boat not a kayak but great vid i was actualy kayakin today
June 27th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Someday i WILL do this!! Amazing.
June 29th, 2010 at 3:22 am
great paddle!!
June 29th, 2010 at 4:54 am
What a beautiful and wonderful experience..I like it when they pass below your Hobie Kayak checking out on you…it was soooo amazing even thou they are dangerous alright…but I love watching your footage…keep it up!
June 29th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
That was really awesome! What an amazing experience.