Killer Whales or Orcas - Seawolves of the Sea of Cortez

Killer whales (also known as orcas) are found in many oceans of the world. They range in size from 15-30 feet and have distinctive black and white markings. They are known as "killer" whales because they are skilled predators. Pods of orcas will kill a whale and often eat only the huge tongue, leaving the rest for other sea creatures.

While on our Sea of Cortez cruise on the American Safari Cruises' Safari Quest, the 16 passengers and 8 crew had a very unusual, personal interaction with a group of killer whales. They surrounded the ship, "bumped" the skiff we were pulling, and generally entertained us for about an hour before we boarded the skiff to get even closer. While in the skiff, the orcas rode the wake (highly unusual activity for them) and exhibited all sorts of playful behavior. None of the crew, including our expedition leader, had ever seen anything like it (nor had we). It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and here are some of the photos to prove it!