The volunteer crew from RNLI Longhope were joined by six orca while on a routine training exercise in Scapa Flow on Sunday morning (17 December).
The RNLI members were off the coast of St Margaret’s Hope, Orkney, when they encountered the pod of around six orca, who treated them to a fantastic and prolonged display. The orca, who were from the ’65 pod’ and included ‘Busta’ the bull, are regular visitors to the Orkney Islands.
Trainee navigator Alan Mackinnon said: “It was an amazing encounter. There were about six orca including a calf and a bull. They were swimming around and under the boat, tail slapping and jumping in the air. They gave us a brilliant acrobatic display.
“To see these majestic creatures up close, and in their natural environment, was an absolute privilege and an experience that I will never forget.”
Photo credit: RNLI/Longhope
