There can only be 1 – Whale Watch Western Australia covers 3 oceans and 8 cetacean species on their annual Whale Watch program and though we love all cetaceans there really is only one that stands head and shoulders above the rest… the Orca!
Today was a magnificent weather day and sightings from a long way were light blows and glimpses as we headed past The Patch to the east and found the honourable Pilot Whales as they pranced across the Southern Ocean at speed. It took some time to catch them up at 20 knots but eventually they grouped around our vessel excitedly and our Pod Members were treated to an incredible display of Pilot Whales as they glided through the waters matching the rhythm of the Wandering Albatross above our heads as they showed off their prowess in the canyon waters.
The experience of our team knew we were close but how close was unexpected as we had another long sighting of what were distinctive friends of ours, the Bremer Bay Orca! Our Pod members and research team were delighted to see our Queen and her Pod swim straight to our vessel for a lovely morning greeting and then a brisk move to the west as we Joined the Pod with Queen and Alki’s pod not far off as she always is spreading the F.L.O.T line for over a kilometre as they echo-located potential prey.
They glistened in the sun as the water cascaded from their backs, darting to and fro under our bow and the feet of our very delighted Pod Members. Multiple Sunfish were sighted in the calm clear ocean and the Orca ignored them for the most part to the relief of this extraterrestrial looking creature but still majestic and beautiful in their movements. As other vessels followed in behind us we noticed Queen’s Pod move distinctively toward the sound footprint of our vessel and stayed close by for the next 3 hours as Alki also moved further from her position to the south where we watched her from afar as her smaller pod tightened and moved deliberately westward.
The question is often asked of the Whale Watch team ‘What is your favourite cetacean?’ Which is often politely replied to as ‘All of them’ but at times like today, when only the experts in the field gather to hunt with the oceans apex predator, there can only truely be one…the Bremer Bay Orca!
