June 10th - Sidney, Stanley, Lucky and Darcy (T123's) on the Strait of Georgia

Our today’s adventure was definitely “A day at the sea, a lifetime to remember”. Just before leaving Nanaimo Harbour, Captain Mike received a report of Orcas swinging near Valdes Island, thus we headed there right away to check it. Luckily the report was right and we found four whales from T123’s pod.

This Orca’s family is formed by Sidney, the mother who was born in 1985 and rules the pod, her older son Stanley, born in 2000, and her daughters Lucky, born in 2012, and the little Darcy, born in 2018. The whole family was active today, at first Lucky and Darcy were chasing seabirds, maybe just for fun, but most likely to improve their hunting skills. At this moment, Stanley was travelling half of a mile away from the rest of his family, probably searching for a prey.

Suddenly, we saw a Harbour Seal on the water. Everybody onboard got excited with the chance of watching a seal hunt, and that is exactly what happened. All the family started to work together on the hunt, holding the seal under the water trying to drown it, including Stanley who came to check what was happening.

Orcas are very efficient predators and a harbour seal usually has no chance of surviving an encounter like this, but today we can say was the seal’s lucky day as it successfully escaped from the Pod.

Enjoy the best photos from today’s tour taken by our Marine Naturalists Rodrigo Menezes and Cheyenne Brewster.

Mommy Sidney (T123) and her last calf Darcy (T123D). Photo Rodrigo Menezes

Sidney (T123) and Lucky (T123C). Photo Rodrigo Menezes

Darcy spyhopping. Photo: Rodrigo Menezes

Little Darci (T123D). Photo Rodrigo Menezes

Lucky (T123C) and Darci (T123D) swimming together. Photo Rodrigo Menezes

Lucky and Darci swimming together. Photo Rodrigo Menezes

Lucky has a quite discrete saddle patch and a lot of scars. Did you know that most of these scars are caused by other Orcas? Photo: Cheyenne Brewster.

Little Darcy (female born in 2018) next to her big brother Stanley, born in 2000. Photo: Cheyenne Brewster.

Darcy with his mother Sidney, born in 1985. Photo: Cheyenne Brewster.

Darcy and Sidney. Photo: Cheyenne Brewster.

Stanley and Darcy. Photo: Cheyenne Brewster.

Harbour seal trying to swim away from the Orcas. Photo: Cheyenne Brewster.

If you would like your chance to personally witness these majestic creatures, you can book with us by calling (250) 667-5177 or online through our website! We hope to see you out on the waters!

Jilann LechnerJune 12, 2019Comment