They're back: Killer whale pod spotted by San Diego whale watching group

Above: Video of orca pod sighting in San Diego in January 2024.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The pod of orca whales that made headlines for their rare, prolonged tenure in Southern California earlier this year has made a splashing return to the region's coastal waters.

On Saturday, San Diego whale watching tour, Gone Whale Watching, encountered the creatures as they hunted for dolphins — one of the species' main food sources. Once they finished, the whales swam up to the group's boats, breaching the water and showing off their feast.

Video of the encounter was posted to the tour company's Instagram.

Dominic Biagini, who owns Gone Whale Watching, said the thrilling interaction came after one of their tour boat captains had noticed something called a "dolphin stampede," where a group of dolphins all begin to bolt at high rates of speed to chase food or run away from a predator.

"As we drove our boat towards all that activity, we saw the unmistakable shape of a killer whale," he recalled. "We knew immediately that we were in for something pretty special."

Based on the whales' markings and dorsal fins, which Biagini likens to human fingerprints in their distinctive individuality, his team knew it was the same pod of eastern tropical Pacific orcas that had traveled up and down the coast last winter, leading to a remarkable surge in sightings.

Up until about a decade ago, this pod, who is native to the warm waters of Central America, seldom roamed as far north as San Diego and Orange counties. If they were spotted, it would have been years before they were seen again.

This changed around 2017, when sightings in Southern California started to become more frequent. As Biagini explained, scientists believe the whales' home range — or stretch of water they normally swim through — shifted slightly north during this time from warming oceans and success hunting dolphins in the area.

"When you're talking about animals like killer whales that can cover 100 miles in a day no problem, even a subtle shift of 100 miles or so can really make a difference as far as how often we get eyeballs on them," he said.

While it still remains a rare occurrence, the Gone Whale Watching owner added it is the second time their tours have spotted the pod since the spring — a possible sign this might not be the last encounter for season.

"There's been a real shift where a lot of times, one sighting is often a harbinger of more to come," Biagini said. "A great example of this really is the last year: We saw these guys a couple different times before the big kind of winter event."

Seeing these animals in their natural habitat remains a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

"It's like right when you walk into Disney World with a five-year-old and the kid's face like lights up," said Gone Whale Watching Captain Erica Sackrison. "You're like beside yourself because you're just like 'Wow, I used to watch this stuff on TV and now it's happening right in front of me."

Sackrison, who caught the most recent encounter with the pod on video, said she could see every guest on their tour light up with excitement as the orcas swam up to them and began to play around their boats.

"One person almost looked like they were about to have a heart attack because she wasn't expecting the killer whale to be so close," she said. "It's really cool to see adults get giddy over something that you know is so special, and it's so rare."

Biagini encourages those hoping to catch a glimpse of the whales themselves to sign up for a whale watching tour. While it is never guaranteed, when encounters do occur, professional operators are able to gauge the whales' behavior to make sure they remain comfortable, making the experience for both the animals and spectators the best it could be.

For those with their own boats, he urges people to lower their speed and stay at a distance if they spot creatures like whales or dolphins — let them come to you if they want. When traveling alongside them, it is best to avoid cutting the animals off, stay behind and parallel to them.

"The approach is everything," he said. "We don't own these animals — these animals are for everyone to enjoy, as long as it's done right."