September 2024 Update – Orca Pod Spotted in Sydney

As we headed North on our morning Discovery Cruise, spirits were high and the conditions were perfect. Ocean Dreaming II had been following a pod of Humpbacks on their Northern migration and after some long down times, we decided to leave them alone so not to stress them out. Skipper Jason decided the best option was to push further East to find some more active whales and what we found would turn out to be much rarer and more exciting than we could have imagined.

The crew spotted some blows a few hundred meters from the boat, we picked up speed to catch up to what looked like two Northbound pods. As we approached we saw the surface of the water was starting to churn. There was something happening just below the surface, the humpbacks were moving with speed and the splashes on the surface were not being made by the gentle leviathans.

Searching intently around the boat, we noticed quick glimpses of large black dorsal fins. Too big to be sharks, but they moved differently to the dolphins. Whatever they were, they were agile and coordinated. A few sleek shapes buzzed past the bow of the boat and then we saw them break the surface, Orca.

Orca have not been sighted in Sydney waters since 2018 near Botany Bay. While there was a sighting back in early July near Newcastle, the likelihood of seeing them 8 miles from Curl Curl beach is unheard of. Our first thoughts were that we must be mistaken, the idea that they might be False Killer Whales, which have been seen recently at Bondi, seemed much more likely. As soon as the white eye patches and powerful black bodies skimmed past the boat and began to ride the wake, there was no denying it, these were the real deal.

We spotted a few larger dorsal fins further out from the main pod and assume that was the matriarch leading the charge. While the main group were investigating the boat and darting close to the humpbacks. After initially considering the chance they could be hunting for the Humpback calves, a later conversation with orca specialists confirmed they were in fact Antarctic Type C orca, also known as Ross Sea Killer Whales. They are the smallest of the orca ecotypes and luckily for the Humpbacks, they are fish eaters.

We can only assume that the commotion and energy in the water was due to a huge bait ball or something that had sparked the interest of both species, and a relief for us that no calf would be harmed. The orcas stayed close by for around 20 minutes and we estimated there could have been as many as 20, although with all the activity in the water it is hard to confirm.

It was a highlight of the season and an experience that left us speechless.