Orcas and squid

[MaxBottomtime]

Merry and I went out to install thermographs for the Catalina Marine Society this morning at White Point Rock and the Marineland Platform. We managed to get the sand screws in place but couldn't get decent photos. The visibility at Marineland was less than two feet and we had less than four feet at White Point. The platform and surrounding sand was covered with new squid eggs and we managed to see several mating squid when they passed in front of our eyes.
We headed for home, feeling like we had a lousy day when we heard a report of Orcas off Manhattan Beach. We raced up there to find three large females and two juveniles. One juvenile was eating part of a common dolphin the pod had killed earlier. We found the heart and lungs floating nearby.

Corynactis anemones eating squid

Common dolphin heart and lungs

Orcas

 

[FrankPro1]

Wow! That is so awesome. What a treat being able to see those magnificent animals. Too bad the vis wasn't up though. I was supposed to dive ML this morning but called it. I did take a hike at Ladera Linda though and conditions didn't look that bad.

 

[farsidefan1]

fabulous pic, thanks. By the way, I was watching one of the old Sea Hunt reruns and the plot was a killer whale that killed one of his dive buddies and went on a rampage killing some other people. Good old Mike Nelson in his commentary said "they like to eat mammals and have been known to tip over boats to get to people". WTH?? I thought - think, that they are quite peacefull toward people, other than the occasional sea world accident. Anyone every hear anything at all to back up Mike?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

fabulous pic, thanks. By the way, I was watching one of the old Sea Hunt reruns and the plot was a killer whale that killed one of his dive buddies and went on a rampage killing some other people. Good old Mike Nelson in his commentary said "they like to eat mammals and have been known to tip over boats to get to people". WTH?? I thought - think, that they are quite peacefull toward people, other than the occasional sea world accident. Anyone every hear anything at all to back up Mike?

I've read that there have been no known attacks on humans in the wild.

Wow! That is so awesome. What a treat being able to see those magnificent animals. Too bad the vis wasn't up though. I was supposed to dive ML this morning but called it. I did take a hike at Ladera Linda though and conditions didn't look that bad.

The top twenty feet was green, but vis was about ten feet. Below that was baaaaad.

 

[Blackwood]

Very cool. I saw Jamie Astorino's picture from a few weeks ago. Great to see more. I saw orcas many years ago while driving south on 101 through santa barbara, but other than that the only time I've seen them in CA was at Sea World.

 

[Dive California]

wow Phil...geat shots...thanks

 

[drbill]

I've read that there have been no known attacks on humans in the wild.

I've read that too. I've encountered them a few times while in small boats with no sign of negative interaction.

Ah, "The Mutual Eating Society" as I taught my students in Ecology class.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

wow Phil...geat shots...thanks

That was all Merry. My shots sucked big time yesterday. We were supposed to get shots of the installation of the thermographs, but with less than two feet of vis, my camera wouldn't focus.

 

[Mochosla]

Awesome pictures.

 

[DwayneJ]

There's a great show on Discovery or Science Channel about the Norcal Orcas who have learnt how to kill Great White Sharks - Stun them with a blow from under then hold them upside down until they drown.

Orcas are definitely at the top of the food chain in the ocean and need to be treated with great respect. These are highly intelligent mammals who at a whim might like a change in diet.

Dwayne