The local Bottlenose Dolphins escorted us out of Bremer Bay and it was the beginning of what was going to be a very special day ahead. On our arrival the Orca were sighted charging across the canyon as something up ahead had captured their attention. We followed and watched as one half of the pod diverted to the left and the remaining three continued moving forward, what had caused this change of direction? We didn’t have too long to think though as the distant angled blow of a Sperm Whale caught our attention as he surfaced from one of his deep 90 minute dives. This young male was very curious towards us and moved over for a closer look before lifting his massive fluke as we watched in awe of his sounding dive.
The head of this male Sperm Whale was covered in battle scars that he would have obtained when wrestling his dinner, colossal squid! We continued back towards the Orca but instead found the possible reason for their original change of direction as we watched 200 Long Finned Pilot Whales come racing towards us. They were actively feeding as we watched little oil slick after oil slick come to the surface all around the Pilots as they finished their meals and came over to us for some socialising. Spy hopping, tail slapping and a sea full of buzzes and squeaks as these canaries of the ocean played just next to us and seemed to be singing into our hydrophone!
A further two Sperm Whales were sighted today and all three sightings were of different individuals which was fantastic news. This did make us think though were the Orca and Pilot Whales scavenging from the Sperm Whale leftovers with all three species in very close proximity to each other. We met two individuals today for the first time this season, a large male called Maleko and his friend Jet who were both moving straight towards the last large bull Sperm Male we sighted today. Seeming to pick up on their approach this male quickly replenished oxygen and then we waved goodbye as the beautiful grey flukes disappeared into the southern ocean.
