Laguna man’s surprise encounter with orcas proves an online hit

Laguna Beach resident Rich German has spent the last five years paddling in the ocean, but Jan. 7 was special.

That afternoon, German, who has spotted dolphins and gray and blue whales while on the water, spied another type of marine mammal off the Laguna coastline for the first time — orcas.

German, 45, saw a group of boats about two miles off the coast from Emerald Bay and decided to check them out from his usual starting point at Shaw’s Cove. He had heard reports of orcas, also known as killer whales, being spotted off the coast of Long Beach the previous day.

German and boat passengers were treated to a group of five orcas frolicking in their natural environment. With a camera attached to his head, German filmed the black-and-white whales as they glided under water and came to the surface to breathe.

In the video, a whale is seen swimming under the tip of German’s board.

“A lot of people ask if I was afraid,” German said while narrating the video. “Truth is, I was too excited to be scared. At one point I dropped down to my knees because I thought the whales would knock me off my board.”

German spent two hours watching the marine mammals, which he described as “friendly” and “interactive.” At sunset, the orcas headed toward Catalina, and German paddled to shore.

German posted the footage on his Facebook page and the clip had been watched more than 80,000 times as of Monday.

German, who teaches business owners how to grow their companies, was reluctant at first to post the video, but he changed his mind at friends’ suggestions.

Orcas, which range from 23 to 32 feet long and can weigh 6 tons, hunt in groups of up to 40, the National Geographic website states.

The creatures are predators and have been known to kill animals as large as blue whales and great white sharks, but there are no known instances of a wild orca harming a human, according to Dana Point-based Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari’s website.

Brad Hanson, a wildlife biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, saw German’s video and said the whales looked like transients, which migrate long distances and eat marine mammals.

“Transients have more pointed-type [dorsal] fins,” Hanson said.

Orcas can be seen off the southern Orange County coast year-round but are most frequently observed during the winter, Captain Dave’s website says.

German takes photos and records videos of marine mammals as a hobby. He’s concerned for their safety and determined to educate the public about their behavior.

“My main concern is I love marine animals,” German said. “If people knew what was going on in the world with the slaughter of dolphins and killer whales ... I want to raise awareness and spread the love [of these creatures].”