There have been a handful of killer whale sightings in Belize
1989 or 1990
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Captain and Dive Instructor Demi Mejia observed pod while onboard a live aboard dive boat
Turneffe Flats management staff Peter and Liat Comerford and boat captain Paul Hyde travelled with a pod along the eastern side of Turneffe from Grand Bogue to Northern Blackbird Caye Julie Robinson reported swimming with a pod of 5 Orcas (1 alpha male, 3 females and 1 calf) halfway between Turneffe and Lighthouse Reef. The Orcas were very curious, coming up the boat and bow riding. The encounter lasted about 1/2 hour. Amigo's del Mar dive crew observed off Mauger Caye a small school Jason Westby observed a single killer whale while trolling between Ranguana Caye and Tom Owen's Caye along the southern Belize Barrier Reef. |
1989 |
Captain Demi Mejia quickly put on his mask and jumped in the water to film the killer whale he observed on July 21!
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2001 - Turneffe Atoll - East side- Key Bokel to Northern Blackbird Caye
On March 1, 2001, while heading north along the eastern side of Turneffe after having just dove the The Elbow, Paul Hyde, captain at Turneffe Flats, came across a pod of 6-20 killer whales! About a mile North of Blackbird Caye Paul radioed the lodge:
Captain Paul Hyde Peter Comeford
Pete Man theres Orcas! What did ya say Pablo?
Orcas man Pete Orcas! What Killer whales!
Then Liat saw them from the balcony at Turneffe Flats and we took the boat out and hung with them out front of the lodge and up past Lindsays for about 1/2 hour. They were there I reckon for about 20- 6 or so hanging very close to us while the others were out and away from us but there were quite a few- the big boys and the ones in the photo were very close and curious - amazing.
Captain Paul Hyde Peter Comeford
Pete Man theres Orcas! What did ya say Pablo?
Orcas man Pete Orcas! What Killer whales!
Then Liat saw them from the balcony at Turneffe Flats and we took the boat out and hung with them out front of the lodge and up past Lindsays for about 1/2 hour. They were there I reckon for about 20- 6 or so hanging very close to us while the others were out and away from us but there were quite a few- the big boys and the ones in the photo were very close and curious - amazing.
2014 - Jan 27 - Turneffe Atoll, Mauger Caye
2016 - Southern Belize Barrier Reef
Dec 29, 2016 while fishing between Ranguana and Tom Owen Caye James Westby and his guests got the sighting of a lifetime, a killer whale!
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Photos James Westby
Adele Ramos's awarded winning ESRI Story Map summarize some sightings in Belize and the Caribbean.
