Sea Kayaking with Orca whales

This short clip is a glimpse of what we experienced one day while on the water on a week-long paddling trip in Johnstone Straits during the summer of 2008.  Jim is taking photos from the rear cockpit while I'm using the video option on my camera from the front of a tandem Current Designs Libra XT, to capture this encounter with these amazing Northern Resident Orca whales. 

If you've seen our Orca whale photo gallery collection currently on display, or placed in the top three in your paddling division in last year's Orca Challenge Race, you'll recognize some of the shots!

**On this particular day this Northern Resident Orca whale sub pod included one big bull with six females and juveniles.  With not one other boat in sight for miles, this small, tight knit family of whales continued to follow us for nearly an hour.

This unbelievable experience we shared, of spending a whole hour alone together out on the open waters with just us and a pod of wild 'killer' Orca whales, while they played with us in our kayak as if we were their 'mousey'- Along with nearly two decades of similar encounters for Jim from paddling with the Endangerd Southern Resident Orcas in the San Juan islands- Puts us in the camp of thinkers who believe there is no disputing these fellow mammals' hyper-intelligence and sensitivity to their surroundings- including their acute awareness to the 'quietest' visitor such as us-  the paddler.

Please be Whale-wise when in the presence of these great friends. 

- Stop paddling.
- Give them space. (Meaning = they're really big, can travel super fast, and are wild animals!)

- If they want to come close to you, let it be their choice.

- We recommend maintaining a minimum 200 meters/ yards distance between you and them.

- Raft up if there is more than 1 boat in your group.

- DO NOT position your vessel in the path they are travelling.

- DO NOT point your boat bow towards the whales.

-DO NOT swim with, touch or feed any marine mammal, even if they look like Flipper or Shamu.

-DO take your camera out and attempt to capture a few great shots for the folks on their sofas back at home, while trying not to wet yourself with the overwhelming excitement and fear in the event one of these big bulls bears down on you hard, head on.  (Yes, it is possible to laugh and cry at the same time:)

And do your part in making a difference to save and protect their quickly deteriorating marine environment homes.  From our industrial toxins and sewage dumping to noise pollution from the constantly closely following power boats- both private and commercial.  Every Action has a Reaction.

~ Paddle Quickly, Think Slowly~