Swimming with Orcas in The Galapagos

This video documents an absolutely incredible experience I had on a June 2004 trip to the Galapagos. I was fortunate to come across some Killer Whales (aka Orcas) in the wild and film a pod of them swimming, playing and actually killing and eating a manta ray. For more info see www.jameslalonde.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• galapagos
• equador
• orca
• killer
• whale
• orcas
• diving
• manta
• ray
• james
• lalonde

[jameslal]

I was with a tour guide but I didn't ask for permission. Once i dived in everyone on the boat screamed...obviously they missed all the fun

[KillerWhaleResearch]

This must be such an awesome experience you had all seem so relaxed and happy to be near you, your so lucky hopefully I will get to experience this one day.

[jameslal]

@KillerWhaleResearch yes I am swimming with them. I jumped off the small boat at 1:56 in the video to join them in the water. One of the most incredible experiences of my life. Glad I had my underwater video camera with me a the time.

[S0XF0X]

They're very quiet, aren't they? I wonder why they aren't vocalizing as much (from what I can tell, the audio from the recording is included in this upload).

[jameslal]

@S0XF0X the music overlay cut most of it out. they were talking the whole time. you can hear them at the end of the video when the music ends

[bbykaitie]

you are the luckiest person in the world i want to become a marine biologist because i want to study aand swim with a whale soon idc f they kill me i love them atleast i will know i died in piece inthe water with a orca :)

[xxtasha10xx]

You know you got more chance surviving a pod of orca than a gang of people.These are what make the planet special not a tank full of artificial water and fake behaviours they like to call "tricks". If you love orca you wouldn't go to see them in sea world.They can't offer them the beautiful life they have in the wild.This is how they are meant to live.Please don't take these AMAZING animals away! Or you will be taking apart of Earth away.

[BIytheisGreat]

It's people with courage who change the way people see the world.

[Flannagorn]

Fabulous :)



[winskel]

There are few recorded cases of wild orcas threatening humans; none of these have been fatal.. all fatal attacks have happened in captivity... in norway they have trips in the winter for people who want to swim with these fantastic creatures.

[theringer1217]

@beautifulstar33 because echo location is how they sense what is around them. Think of it as ultrasound waves as sight for a dolphin..orcas are dolphins and have that. Sharks are not of the same family, but some do have similar adaptations.

[carvajal8491]

@jameslal sss ooooo LUCKY I LOVE THESE ANIMALS they are so Beautiful I would love to do something like this where can I swim with them in the wild like that?

[beautifulstar33]

@jameslal did u really gfo inside the water with these orcas? If so, did they try to come after u? It must have been scary.

[beautifulstar33]

@theringer1217 what exactly is echolocation in reference to their diets and us not beign part of it? How come sharks eat us sometimes then?

[theringer1217]

@beautifulstar33 The people who were "eaten" by orcas would be missing then..and I'd imagine someone would look for them. They don't prey on humans because it is not apart of their diet and they understand the difference between prey and humans. Echolocation has a lot to do with that.



[beautifulstar33]

@theringer1217 is it not recorded b/c those who were eaten by orcas didn't live to tell their tale?

[beautifulstar33]

@jameslal weren't u scard that theyd attack u?