9/17/2006 - False Killer Whales (pseudorca crassidens)

Yesterday during our first dive at Virador, we could hear it very close, the hypnotising mermaid-singing of whales or dolphins. Once back at the surface, the captain allready pointed into the direction where they were swimming.

 As we catch up with them we quickly identify the group of False Killer Whales. These "small" whales usually measure 5 to 6 m / 15 to 18 ft and are resident along Costa Ricas Pacific Coast but rather rare to see and shy fellows.

Not this time, they stay around the boat. With no time to waste, we put back on our snorkeling gear and glide gently in the water.
The first thing I see is an individual Eagle Ray with a fishing hook in one of its wings. And then the whales start turning around. Not immediately aware what happens, I take some pictures of these apparently friendly mammals and enjoy their posing in front of my camera. Searching the surface to find out which direction they take, I see some tales sticking out of the water as if they try to push into something...I guess the eagle ray does not suffer anymore!

Just before they disappear in the blue, one of them passes by bolow me, pushing an unidentifiable noise: is it a “thank you for hunting with us”?

All excited about this encounter, I try to find out more about this type of whale and ralize that they are known as rather agressif! And what they tried to tell me was probably “next time we’ll have you for desert” which is not excluded as they can also feed on dolphins!

Costa Rica is very aware of it’s biodiversity and makes a lot of efforts to keep this in a harmoious balance with economic growth. Since the beginning of 2006, laws have been established to regulate whale-watching tours to cohabit, observe and protect the cateceans in a sustainable way, which satisfies our curiosity without disturbing the existence of the biggest creatures ever alive on earch.