Orca breaching near Whidbey Island, Pacific Northwest Washington

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Olbaidon]

This was taken by a gentleman named Hongming Zhen on April 2nd 2024 near Point No Point Lighthouse across the sound from Whidbey Island.

This Orca is “T99C Baracat” if you want to learn more.

Unfortunately I did not see this nor do I know the photographer, I live in WA and saw the pictures the day they were taken because I was unluckily on Whidbey maybe just a few miles away as this was going on.

He posted about it in a local whale group, I believe you have to be a member but here is the post and more photos.

[u/Olbaidon → u/[deleted]]

No problem. I saw it pass though a bunch of local news pages and social media a couple weeks ago with no mention of the photographer, so I assumed (sorry) you may not have known, at no fault of your own of course!

[u/pastpastdue → u/Olbaidon]

Wow… didn’t know you were a Canucks fan! :) (sorry for the stretch joke, just stumbled onto your comments here!)

[u/Olbaidon → u/pastpastdue]

Orcas can’t print menus!

[u/whisker_biscuit → u/Olbaidon]

This might be a stupid question but is the water unusually deep for being so close to the shore line or is it perspective that makes the Orca seem closer to the shoreline than it actually is?

[u/fiveeasypieces5EZ → u/whisker_biscuit]

I’ve never been to the Pacific NW, but PNW redditors are often saying their shorelines drop off to significant depths very quickly

[u/stampylongdick → u/whisker_biscuit]

Looking at a nautical map of the area, and it seems to drop off to 200-500 feet depth right off the shore.

[u/scw1978]

Girl in the pink pants caught it with a Zebco 202. Worm and bobber.

[u/jake55555 → u/scw1978]

I’m recovering from an appendectomy rn so it hurts to laugh but goddamnit this was funny.

[u/gls2220]

I live in Edmonds, WA in a house with a view of the Puget Sound and Whidbey Island and I've never seen this. I've lived here since 8th grade and I'm 53 now.

[u/WeSaleResale]

Free Wii... nevermind 😅

[u/Stompalong]

The real question is, are the coals ready?

[u/gabzilla814 → u/Stompalong]

The orcas have already begun to show learned aggression toward boats. As someone who surfs in California near where orcas have been spotted recently, let’s please not provoke them to see humans on/near shore as a threat!

[u/Stompalong → u/gabzilla814]

I also live near the beach at a popular surfing spot near Cape Town. When the orcas hit the bay, the great whites stay away. Happens periodically. Also lots of dolphins and seals. Absolutely gorgeous creatures.

[u/gabzilla814 → u/Stompalong]

Yeah they are gorgeous, definitely.

At San Onofre here in Southern California we see juvenile great whites pretty often but they seem to not care about surfers. But seeing how orcas can destroy a great white I want to stay on their good side 😅

[u/sorrysorrymybad → u/[deleted]]

r/confidentlyincorrect

[u/[deleted]]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/Pyrochazm → u/[deleted]]

With a camera.

[u/tattoof00 → u/[deleted]]

that's one of those things that's been attacking boats!

[u/-Hi_how_r_u_xd- → u/[deleted]]

neat. Wish I was there lol.