A group of kayakers in the Vancouver area found themselves surrounded by a pod of orcas in an up-close and awe-inspiring encounter.
An exciting return trip
On May 1, a group of high school students were on a tour with Deep Cove Kayak in the Vancouver area. They were on their way home from an overnight trip to Granite Falls in Buntzen Bay, when one of the guides spotted whale spouts in the distance, identifying the activity as a pod of orcas. At the instruction of the guides, the group quickly got into a raft formation to give the orcas space to pass. However, instead of simply passing by, the orcas came up to the kayakers, swimming several feet in front of the group, with a couple even making their way underneath the boats. Deep Cove Kayak guide Rhiannon Henley managed to film the moment, capturing the closeness of the whales and the group’s excited reactions.
Face to face with orcas
Vancouver is a known destination for orca sightings, although such close encounters are uncommon. Bigg’s (Transient) orcas and Resident orcas are two types commonly found in the area. Their size and “killer whale” moniker may make meeting an orca an intimidating experience, but there have been no reported instances of orcas hurting humans in the wild. Though they may not be a risk to people, they still need to be respected.
If you encounter orcas while paddling, it’s recommended that you stop your movement and allow the whales to move around or underneath you. Don’t try to chase them or engage in any activity that will disrupt their behavior. Stay where you are, don’t panic and enjoy the moment. If you spot orcas at a distance, maintain space and try not to get too close.
“Holy shoot!”
Vancouverite and guide Rhiannon Henley filmed the group’s now-viral meeting with the pod and it’s her voice exclaiming “holy shoot!” that can be heard in the background of the video. In an interview with CBC News British Columbia, Henley described her reaction to the sighting as pure amazement and awe.
It wasn’t a totally unique experience for her, but certainly the most special.
“I was doing my Paddle Canada 2 certification course in Howe Sound by Gambier Island and a similar thing happened,” she told CBC. “We were actually practicing rescues, so some of us were in the water. And maybe 50 meters away a couple orcas popped up. But what happened on the weekend is the closest I have been to a whale.”
The group assembled into a raft formation, grouping their kayaks together to form a single mass. Rafting up keeps paddlers together and makes it easier for whales to navigate around, as opposed to maneuvering around scattered individual boats. Henley’s video picks up once the group was in their raft and several orcas glide in and out of the water mere feet in front of them. One orca is even visible passing underneath the boats. Henley explained to CBC that some participants were scared, but most were excited by the sight.
When asked if this type of encounter with nature ever gets old as a professional guide, Henley expressed that the wonder never goes away.
“We are so lucky at Deep Cove Kayak and other people paddling around the Inlet to see these beautiful whales,” she continued. “They’ve been coming up definitely more frequently. So I think the most important thing is to keep protecting them and keep allowing those moments and those viewings of the orcas to occur in the best way possible for them and for us.”
