I thought I would add something I learned from a killer whale
researcher I met when I used to work for the Coast Guard here in BC -
The Orcas are separated into two distinct groups: residents and
transients.  The resident whales only eat salmon, while the transients
eat seals, and thus avoid competition for food.  Apparently the
transient whales can mistake the human form for a seal.  There is a
record of a couple of attacks, but I have no further information.  

-Sean


On Sat, 8 Jul 2000 15:48:19 -0800, Kent Lind wrote:

>Hi Fiona:
>
>We have resident pods of Orcas throughout Southeast Alaska.
>
>I have never heard of a single incident of a diver/orca interaction much less
>an attack.  Same thing in Puget Sound and British Columbia where Orca are also
>present at times.
>
>You would be EXTREMELY lucky to have the opportunity to see one underwater.  I
>see them on the surface all the time but I've never had one approach
>underwater close enough to see with the limited vis we have.
>
>Don't worry.  Based on my experience, they will totally ignore you and, unlike
>sea lions, they won't even approach out of curiousity.
>
>Kent Lind
>Juneau, Alaska
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Fiona Watson [mailto:fiona.watson@ze*.co*.uk*]
>> Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 4:16 AM
>> To: techdiver@aquanaut.com
>> Subject: Orcas
>>
>>
>> A pod of Orcas seems to have made its current home in Breiwick,
>> Shetland, inconveniently this is just where we've planned to dive tomorrow.
>> Whilst watching them catching seals for lunch yesterday from the
>> safety of Safeways car park, I contemplated the possibilities of
>> ending up as whale-munchies, and the idea that we've got just under
>> an hour where we're going to be 'exposed' whilst on stops.
>> As a confirmed wimp, are they likely to just leave us alone or should
>> we re-consider if they're still there by the morning?
>>
>> cheers
>> Fi

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