Come now kids, don't play with the stand up paddleboarder.
This spectacular footage emerged earlier this week of Bruce Miller off the coast of New Zealand, where he found two baby Orca’s playing the bay. They paddled right up to him, coming within meters of his board before momma-whale came to collect her calves and carry on in the big ol’ blue.
While some raised concern with the proximity of Bruce and his stand up paddleboard, others are super jealous of getting to see these amazing creatures up so close. We’re in the latter camp, but for those in the former, Bruce clarified what happened by commenting on YouTube…
“The orca seldom surfaced until the start of that video clip that you've seen, so I was taken quite by surprise when they turned towards me and the little one appeared on the surface right in front of the board. Then when two of them did a swim around and underneath, I was left in no doubt that it wasn't an accident and that they chose to be right there to check me out. There was also a couple nearby who turned up on a jet ski (and turned the engine off) who are witness to how the orca repeatedly came close to my board following that first encounter.
I have had numerous close encounters with dolphins over the years, including from a surf board and from a kayak and, on those occasions in particular, I have been in no doubt that they have chosen to come to me out of curiosity. This encounter with orca seemed to be no different.
It never occurred to me that it may look as if I was chasing them on the video clip and I certainly didn't expect to be having to defend myself. In reality I was just the lucky bugger who happened to be in the right place at the right time with a camera and wanted to share my experience with the world.”
We’re glad he chose to show everyone! Check out this amazing encounter that’s only possible with a sport like stand up paddling.
Hillsborough, NSW
