Going kayaking amid orcas is not as risky as it sounds

By Susan Scott

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 08, 2011

~~<p>When an adult male orca dives beneath your kayak, is it reasonable to feel a tinge of fear? The question crossed my mind last week as I sat, barely breathing, listening to the whale's whistles and wondering where the big guy would surface.</p>
<p>For years I've seen photos of people kayaking with orcas in the Pacific Northwest, but I never pictured myself doing it. The locations were remote, the expedition prices high and the air and water temperatures cold, a real negative to a long-term Hawaii resident. And even if I did manage to get myself into a sit-inside kayak in killer whale waters, there was no guarantee the animals would show up.</p>
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When an adult male orca dives beneath your kayak, is it reasonable to feel a tinge of fear? The question crossed my mind last week as I sat, barely breathing, listening to the whale's whistles and wondering where the big guy would surface.

For years I've seen photos of people kayaking with orcas in the Pacific Northwest, but I never pictured myself doing it. The locations were remote, the expedition prices high and the air and water temperatures cold, a real negative to a long-term Hawaii resident. And even if I did manage to get myself into a sit-inside kayak in killer whale waters, there was no guarantee the animals would show up. Login for more...