Where is the best place to see orcas in the US?

Puget Sound in Seattle is a year-round orca playground. There are two different types of orcas that ply Western Pacific waters: resident and transient orcas. Seattle is known for its resident orcas living in pods that operate as family units, feeding on salmon, and staying in Puget Sound and nearby coastal waters.



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With that being said, the whales live in the San Juan Islands year round. In fact, the San Juan Islands are the best place in the world to see wild orcas. You'll also find humpback whales, gray whales, and minke whales here. They are just much more predictable with their patterns and sightings in the summer.

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The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the best places to spot whales in the whole Mediterranean Sea. These waters are mainly inhabited by orca whales, also known as killer whales, which come to feed off of bluefin tuna during spring and summer.

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Most liveaboard trips in Norway to swim with orcas cost between $5,195-$6,427 (USD).

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The reality, however, is that they do exist in Hawaii, but they aren't a part of a resident population that is regularly spotted in the islands. There have been a handful of orca sightings off the Big Island of Hawaii as well as Maui and Lana'i, and a dead orca once washed ashore along the southern coastline of Lana'i.

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If you see an orca, Natoli said, you should keep a distance of about 50 to 100 meters (164 to 328 feet) and turn off your engine or, at the very least, slow down. "Try not to approach them from the back or from the front. Stay on their side instead," Natoli told the Khaleej Times.

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There are many cases where nomadic killer whales have gravitated to humans, bonding with them and playing games. Trainers at places like Sea World say very little goes into orca training. The whales seem to understand people, and are eager to cooperate and create bonds.

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