Freediving with pilot whales

By Jarrett Corke, Project Coordinator, WWF-Canada
Returning from a family vacation to Baddeck, Cape Breton last Saturday – the first family trip we had taken in over 10 years – I found myself among a crowd, buzzing with excitement near the Canso Causeway. What was causing the excitement? Pilot whales. Long-Finned Pilot Whales to be exact and whale watchers didn’t even need to venture offshore for this brilliant display.

Pilot whales – the most common whale found close to shore in Nova Scotia – are a long, but stocky whale that can range in size from 12 to 25 feet and are most easily identified by its bulbous head and black or dark brown colour. Its dorsal fin, set ahead of the mid-body, is longer at the base relative to its height.
Large numbers of these whales have been turning up in the Strait of Canso for the last week or so according to whale researchers at Dalhousie University. Judging by their behaviour at the surface, it seemed most likely that it was food that had brought these whales here. As the diet of Pilot whales in the North Atlantic consists mainly of mackerel and squid, this is likely what they were after.
After the initial excitement wore off, the only thought that crossed my mind was, “To dive or not to dive?” Being an avid freediver and a lover of all things ocean, the decision wasn’t hard and it wasn’t more than 10 minutes and I was suited up, GoPro underwater camera in hand, and in the water.

The swim out took much longer than expected. It appeared as though the harder I swam, the further away they seemed. After an exhausting 25-minute swim, it looked as though the whales were out of reach. Feeling defeated, I turned back, but it was at this moment that a handful of whales broke off from the larger pod and began to swim towards me. Taking note of this, I turned around and laid in wait.

The ocean was quiet, but it wasn’t long before I heard their calls. And what started quite soft and distant began to grow much louder. My heart was beating out of my chest. Not fearful, but excited.
Emerging out of the shadows of the dark green water, the first thing I saw was their bubbles, then the distinct outline of three Pilot whales swimming in close formation. As they approached, the one closest to me – now being a mere 10 feet away – turned to look at me exposing the white anchor-shaped patch on its belly. It examined me closely as they passed by, followed by another pair. And just like that, they disappear back into the murky water, their calls fading in the distance.
Feeling grateful for the experience, I turned around and started to swim back to shore periodically stopping to see if they would come back again, but no such luck.
The underwater world is a mysterious and beautiful place, a place that deserves our respect. Following World Ocean’s Day in June, it is important to remember that we depend on healthy oceans to sustain life on earth. This includes safeguarding marine species such as the Pilot whale, but there are many other species facing extinction due to human activities all across the planet, like sharks. We can all do our part by spreading the word that oceans need our help to be safeguarded for future generations to come.