We had another boat trip today, put on the smaller boat called the Zodiac. The highlight was to be the chance to snorkel with the whales if the conditions were right.
Last night there had been a few reservations about whether to go on the trip from a few people and Steve and Caroline had decided not to go after the really choppy conditions yesterday. On the way back to the room however, a conversation with one of the receptionists had changed her mind. Steve decided that he would rather have a "duvet day".
We met for breakfast and then made our way to be shoehorned into our drysuits. Getting your head in was the worst bit as the rubber seal around the neck was really tight.
That done, we were taken to the docks and boarded the boat, which was an open dingy type vessel that could carry about twenty.
The first thing we saw was a sea eagle that swooped down from about 250m to gather a fish that had been thrown from the boat. It was magnificent, so majestic and graceful. I could have gone home happy then. But no, our job was to find killer whales, and to jump in the water with them!
Next, we saw a grey seal - a rarity for these parts, apparently.
Then, shortly after, Rolf, the boat's captain announced that Orca were ahead and masks and snorkels were handed out.
The boat came closer to the pod, consisting of several adults and one or two younger ones and the call came to get into the water.
It wasn't as cold as I expected and I saw a flash of white below me for a second which may or may not have been a whale. We were helped back on the boat and there were tales of mixed success.
The boat followed the whales and once close enough, in we went again.
I saw nothing, and got out to be told that one had been right behind me!
Off we went again until we came upon more. This was certainly more successful than yesterday and we were so close to the whales that you got a real feel for their elegance and grace as they swam through the water.
The shout went up again to go into the water.
This time I had the fortune of being able to see three Orca as they swam past me and disappeared into the gloomy distance. I was elated! They were so graceful as they glided past me. Fantastic!
This pattern continued and at one point we were surrounded by whales. One surfaced near the boat and those in the water at that time said that as it dived beneath the boat it turned over on its back.
One time I was in the water I had a whale swimming beneath me for what seemed like ages. Unfortunately someone close to me knocked my snorkel out, forcing me to surface.
Interspersed with the whales, we got to see more sea eagles dive towards the water, picking off fish. All in all, the whole morning was superb.
The drysuits did their job and were incredibly bouyant, so much so that it was sometimes difficult to manouvre. They were also surprisingly warm and I was much warmer than I was yesterday.
Finally, it all had to end and the boat sped back to the dock. Once there a group of us decided that one further dip was required and we leapt from the dock into the water! This time, it was cold but very refreshing. Then it was back to the centre to be pulled out of the suits and to have a cup of coffee.
We then had a rest before meeting up for a chat and a drink, then a further rest before meeting up for dinner and viewing todays video before retiring for the evening.
