The video begins by showing whales swimming after a boat. Dorsal fins pop up out of the water periodically and the flash of a sleek whale can be seen under the water in the boat’s wake. A few jump out of the water on either side of the wake, thrilling the tourists onboard who are recording the encounter with cameras. Orcas generally leave humans alone and do not act aggressively toward people. They are quite formidable for other ocean life, however, including seals, fish, and squid. They have even been known to take on other whales that are larger than they are! These whales begin to gain on the boat, which is traveling at high speeds. They dive in and out of the water as they chase. People onboard scream, excited and perhaps a bit nervous that these large sea mammals are getting so close. Orcas can swim up to 35 miles per hour. While the boat is going fast enough to outrun them, these whales aren’t about to slow down. They begin to swim on their sides, showing off their distinctive black and white coloring and pattern. They have black backs, white bellies, and a white spot just behind their eyes. The whales come up so close that the people on the boat are startled. Cameras start to get shaky and water sprays nearby. “Look how cool that is,” one woman yells over the loud roar of the motor. One whale even gets so close that it looks as if they are pushing against the boat. “Unreal,” the woman says as the whales begin to fall back. It’s unclear why the whales took such an interest in the boat, just that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these tourists.
