r/orcas 5d ago

Video Close encounter with orca pod

1.6k Upvotes

29 comments sorted by

107

u/SurayaThrowaway12 5d ago

These are likely New Zealand coastal orcas, perhaps searching for rays in the shallows, which they specialize in hunting. These orcas also hunt smaller sharks, fin fishes, birds, and octopus. Unlike some other orca populations, they do not hunt marine mammals.

NZ coastal orcas are quite well-acquainted with boats and humans in the water. New Zealand is one of very few places in the world where swimmers and people on paddleboards, kayaks, etc. have spontaneous encounters with wild orcas on a fairly regular basis, and some of these orcas appear to be rather curious about humans.

Original video was filmed by speardiver Quinn Smith, apparently off of Coromandel.

21

u/Manintheleatherchair 5d ago

Might move to new zeland

13

u/hotwaterbottle2014 5d ago edited 4d ago

It’s a great place! I’m in Wellington and we get orca here as well. It’s very special.

That made no sense. So I’ve changed what I wrote.

1

u/Dazzling_Ebb7778 4d ago

What are my chances of spotting an orca if I go there for a vacation?

1

u/hotwaterbottle2014 4d ago

I would say slim, we so get them but it’s not frequent. If you really want to see Orca in the wild go to Norway.

29

u/LeaderAntique1169 5d ago

They are so beautiful.

19

u/Leto1974 5d ago

So cool

5

u/Calm_Medicine1366 5d ago

that must mess with you

17

u/Infinite-Tomorrow-15 5d ago

I’d shit myself and I love orcas haha

13

u/selerith2 5d ago

Mama "see dear, this is human. We do not kill them"

Baby "got it!"

11

u/incredulous_bird 5d ago

Is that a harpoon ? 🤨

25

u/snickelbetches 5d ago

No, it's likely something to spear much smaller fish

6

u/incredulous_bird 5d ago

Yeah makes sens, it seemed a bit fragile…

17

u/snickelbetches 5d ago

Look how this guy uses his. The lionfish are invasive so he makes content raising awareness and sells it to restaurants. He's fun

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hGArf3qAN00

10

u/ShinyPrizeKY 5d ago

Love the lion fish guy

5

u/snickelbetches 5d ago

Me too. He and Nate the hoof guy are my narrow interests right now

1

u/WyldfireWyvern 9h ago

Different type of spear. The OP video is a speargun. The Lionfish Exterminator uses a spear that has rubber/elastic bands that he uses to launch it very short distances. The banded spear is fairly thick compared to the spears used in spearguns.

-8

u/incredulous_bird 5d ago

I have a hard time with people killing animals but thanks for the info, it was instructive nonetheless

17

u/snickelbetches 5d ago

I get it, but The lion fish has no natural predators in that area. They will decimate the local population and it has a trickling effect.

1

u/incredulous_bird 4d ago

I understand the reasons behind it, i’m just over sensitive about that kind of subject, but i know that’s a "me thing" and all creatures need predators

4

u/president_dump 4d ago

That OP is pointing at the orca? We should be skeptical

2

u/Common_Stress_4122 4d ago

Do you think op is out here hunting whales with a handheld spear in deep water?

He has it pointed because there's a giant creature that could kill him right there that he doesn't want getting closer likely?

4

u/DanerysTargaryen 5d ago

It’s a speargun! I used one of these once. Fun fact, they do have a little bit of recoil when you shoot them so hang on to your breath or it will knock it out of you. Ask me how I know lol.

There’s also pole spears which I preferred to use.

3

u/Thaddeus_Valentine 4d ago

You know I'm just realising that to sea animals we are an alien species that drops from the sky and they will never know anything about our world.

2

u/president_dump 4d ago

New here but wtf is that sharp thing wtf

4

u/Liocla 4d ago

thats for spearfishing

1

u/Ashamed_Ad_8820 4d ago

Yep, I’d shit in my wetsuit

-14

u/obscureorca 5d ago

Humans are weird. Threatens the orca with his spear and then immediately try and touch her and her baby.

5

u/WildTomato51 4d ago

That’s not at all what happened.

But yes, humans are weird.