Friendly Orca Encounter Monterey Bay

I had a chance to confirm what I was thinking on Sunday, based on the incredibly curious nature of the Orcas. That one moment when they lined up parallel to each other as they investigated us was simply profound.. Our visit on Sunday was with Aurora’s Pod. I met Aurora and her matriarchal clan a few years ago, a ways offshore in my kayak. It was a paddle I will always treasure.

Sunday’s experience was equally unforgettable. Aurora’s official name is “CA51As”. The largest male “Jimmy” CA50B is actually not her son but a close associate or distant relative who has joined Aurora’s group. It’s possible that Jimmy’s mom has died and he’s been accepted into Aurora’s clan. We also met Aurora’s daughters, Andi (CA51A2) and Dipper (CA51A3) who both had calves with them. Its thought that one calf was born in late August and the other in January. It was certainly a day of teaching and exploration for those young Orcas! A wonderful informative site to follow on facebook is the California Killer Whale Project: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaKillerWhaleProject I am back out on the Bay today.

If you get a moment, take a look at other parts of the world where we have profound encounters among whales and other wildlife: at https://bluewaterventures.org/whale-watching/

From the Beluga whales of the sub arctic to the humpbacks of Tonga, and of course a chance to kiss a gray whale calf in Baja all remain on my personal bucket list. However, what we experienced Sunday is equalling profound and it’s in our front yard!