Once commonly referred to as “killer whales,” orcas once had a negative reputation, possibly due in part to a late 1970s adventure film featuring a doomed Bo Derek. However, these intelligent creatures are unlikely to attack humans.
Interestingly, orcas are not actually whales; they belong to the dolphin family and are highly social animals. Like their dolphin relatives, they travel in groups known as pods. A female typically leads each pod, and they communicate with one another as well as with other pods. If you’re interested in where to dive with orcas, read on!
Our Top Places You Can Dive with Orcas
New Zealand
Tutukaka, New Zealand, serves as the gateway to the Poor Knights Islands, one of Jacques Cousteau’s preferred dive sites. Orcas can be seen here throughout the year.
Costa Rica
Playas del Coco is a hotspot for bull shark enthusiasts, and orcas also swim in these waters. During the colder fall and winter months, orcas join rays, dolphins, and sea turtles in these nutrient-rich waters.
Norway
Norway’s cold, crystal-clear waters, fed by fjords, provide an ideal location for spotting pods of orcas. Large numbers of these magnificent mammals can be seen, sometimes in pods of 200 or more. Orcas are especially abundant in the winter when they come to feast on large quantities of herring found in these waters.
All in All…
It is important to remember that while orcas are not known to attack humans without provocation, they are still predators, and caution should be exercised when diving or snorkeling near them. Orcas can be found all over the world, but they are most commonly seen in the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as off the western coasts of the United States and Canada.
