Dolphins safe or not?

[Belmont]

I wonder if divers have had any experiences with real killer whales in the wild?

 

[vladimir]

I wonder if divers have had any experiences with real killer whales in the wild?

Here you go:

To be on the safe side he dived to the bottom, seeking cover. As he looked over his shoulder, however, he saw that the orca had followed him down. "Thinking it was just a chance encounter, with me going in one direction and the orca in another, I swam faster, but to my horror the orca followed me. "Things got infinitely worse when the orca opened its huge mouth - rows of white teeth greeted me, just centimetres from my flippers. The orca then sped up and put its mouth around my right foot, ankle and flipper,

Read the rest here:

Diving with orcas

 

[W8less]

A place called "God's Pocket" on an island north of Port Hardy, Vancouver Island B.C. is the base site for some truly remarkable diving. It is common to encounter Pacific white sided dolphins in the open water between dive sites. These are LARGE pods of dolphins with hundreds of individuals. It was a unique experience to drysuit snorkel with these creatures. You could rotate the bezel of your dive watch and create a pattern of clicking sounds that the animals definitely responded to.

On another trip we were diving on the Cape Breton (wreck) off of Nanaimo and a large pod of Orcas were feeding in the vicinity. These pods are always being trailed by an entourage of marine biologists et al. The scientists radioed out to the dive boats to recall the divers as this was a transient pod and unpredictable. We were called back on board and were fascinated to watch them from the boat until they swam through. No incidents.

 

[Thalassamania]

An old friend of mine, Amos Nachoum,will be glad to take you diving with wild orcas. Big Animal Expeditions. epic wildlife experiences.

 

[lock_washer]

This is a recent incident that happened off New Zealand. Killer Whales attacking False Killer Whales
Killer whale attacks dolphin in front of tourists - Telegraph

Another with a Killer Whale is killing a Mako Shark off New Zealand.
Killer whales: Death by karate chop, the deadly tactic used by orcas to take out sharks | Mail Online

There was a couple of recent incidents involving swimmers and divers encountering the local Killer Whales pods off New Zealand where the whales got too close to the swimmers, and they felt a need to retreat to some rocks to get out of the water, but nothing happened. The whales were probably hunting for stingrays in the shallows, and the swimmers weren’t use to seeing them that close to shore.

But if you ever get a chance to watch this PBS Documentary:
Killer Whales: Up close and personal
KILLER WHALES UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL - American Public Television
The same director that put out “March of the Penguins” does this documentary. This is the story about the Killer Whales pods off the Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean that launch themselves on the beaches to feed on seals and penguins like they do in Argentina. But what is so interesting about this documentary is the level of trust between the killer whales, the researchers, and underwater cameraman. Twenty years earlier one of the killer whales got stranded on a beach, and researchers managed to help the whale back into the ocean. After that the divers were able to get into the water and film as the whales were launching themselves on the beach, and while feeding at sea. The whales completely trust the researchers to let them get unbelievably close. You will get blow away by the underwater scenes. Especially the whales feeding underwater on a minkie whale carcass. This is a really isolated spot in the world, so just encountering this small group of humans leads to an unbelievable encounter between man and killer whale.

Lock Washer

 

[jbb]

[QUOTEBut what is so interesting about this documentary is the level of trust between the killer whales, the researchers, and underwater cameraman. Twenty years earlier one of the killer whales got stranded on a beach, and researchers managed to help the whale back into the ocean. After that the divers were able to get into the water and film as the whales were launching themselves on the beach, and while feeding at sea. The whales completely trust the researchers to let them get unbelievably close. You will get blow away by the underwater scenes. Especially the whales feeding underwater on a minkie whale carcass. This is a really isolated spot in the world, so just encountering this small group of humans leads to an unbelievable encounter between man and killer whale.[/QUOTE]

I get a little concerned when people attribute human emotions to animals. We have no way of knowing and if a whale can feel what we feel. There was no "trust" between species at least that we know of other than the researchers apparently being daring enough and hungry enough to try and get some very exclusive film footage of the event. Maybe the whales were simply dismissive or unmindful of these little ugly awkward rubber covered things in the water while they were intent on getting some much needed nutrition.

I personally would not get in the water with any captive mammal as I would think they are probably very bored and what might be "play" to them might easily result in my death. I would be less concerned in open water but most of these ocean mammals are far better adapted, bigger, faster and better equipped with lethal means than I am. Our only saving grace is that we probably don't taste very good or are at least of low energy/nutritious value compared to others. I resist the urge to project human emotions onto these creatures or any others, not that they might not have "emotions" but that I'm not sure what that "emotion" is to them. Heck people have a hard time dealing emotionally with each other and we can communicate. Have you seen video of one chimpanzee troup going after another with lethal results? Frighteningly violent and brutal, just like humans.

I for one will maintain a respectful distance (whatever that is). I'm sure if I encounter an orca while diving I will rapidly soil my dry suit.

 

[lock_washer]

[QUOTEBut what is so interesting about this documentary is the level of trust between the killer whales, the researchers, and underwater cameraman. Twenty years earlier one of the killer whales got stranded on a beach, and researchers managed to help the whale back into the ocean. After that the divers were able to get into the water and film as the whales were launching themselves on the beach, and while feeding at sea. The whales completely trust the researchers to let them get unbelievably close. You will get blow away by the underwater scenes. Especially the whales feeding underwater on a minkie whale carcass. This is a really isolated spot in the world, so just encountering this small group of humans leads to an unbelievable encounter between man and killer whale.

I get a little concerned when people attribute human emotions to animals. We have no way of knowing and if a whale can feel what we feel. There was no "trust" between species at least that we know of other than the researchers apparently being daring enough and hungry enough to try and get some very exclusive film footage of the event. Maybe the whales were simply dismissive or unmindful of these little ugly awkward rubber covered things in the water while they were intent on getting some much needed nutrition.

I personally would not get in the water with any captive mammal as I would think they are probably very bored and what might be "play" to them might easily result in my death. I would be less concerned in open water but most of these ocean mammals are far better adapted, bigger, faster and better equipped with lethal means than I am. Our only saving grace is that we probably don't taste very good or are at least of low energy/nutritious value compared to others. I resist the urge to project human emotions onto these creatures or any others, not that they might not have "emotions" but that I'm not sure what that "emotion" is to them. Heck people have a hard time dealing emotionally with each other and we can communicate. Have you seen video of one chimpanzee troup going after another with lethal results? Frighteningly violent and brutal, just like humans.

I for one will maintain a respectful distance (whatever that is). I'm sure if I encounter an orca while diving I will rapidly soil my dry suit.[/QUOTE]


All I can say is...go rent or watch this documentry on PBS. Its very well done, and gives you an insight into killer whales that you will probably never get a chance to see for yourself in the wild. As for attributing human emotions to the whales itself, maybe you are right on that. But its hard to view this documentary, and not come away thinking this is unique encounter with a unique animal.

Lock Washer

 

[Whalebone]

I once had the opportunity to snorkel with wild dolphins off the coast of Zanzibar, Indian Ocean. Went out on the boat, while a little kid sat on the bow keeping a lookout. Once we spotted some, I just slipped into the water with them. No signs of aggression. In fact, they were very curious. And would swim up and look me right in the eye.

But one thing I remember is how fast they were—as fast as they might come and check me out, they were off in a flash. Don't expect to swim "with" them. And I agree with the poster who suggests keeping a respectful distance, but you can bet that whatever distance that is will be entirely up to them.

Not the intimate and up-close experience one might have with the captivity industry, but exhilarating for that very reason.

 

[marcosdutra]

My cousin told me that is the best world experience

 

[robbcayman]

Dolphins make great whites and saltwater crocs look timid. I have a hard time believing anyone has actually swam with them uncaged.