‘Tuck your legs up’: Swimmer has close encounter with pod of orcas near Horseshoe Bay

A recent Instagram video shot near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver is as awe inspiring as it is shocking.

Posted on Sunday, Aug. 9, the footage shows long distance swimmer Debbi Collingwood and her coaches in kayaks encountering a pod of orcas around 10 metres away.

"That's quite unusual," gasps the man behind the camera.

"Tuck your legs up to the hull of the kayak."

The group is so close to the iconic creatures that the video even picks up the sound of the orca's breathing.

View this post on Instagram

Close encounter with a pod of orcas in Batchelor Bay this morning. . Supernatural British Columbia 😍 . 📍Whyte Islet ———————— #orcas #killerwhales #podoforcas #batchelorbay #westvancouver #beautifulbc #supernaturalbritishcolumbia #kayaking #kayak #kayaklife

A post shared by ↟ m e y r i c k j o n e s ↟ (@meyrickj) on Aug 9, 2020 at 10:29am PDT

According to a follow up post by one of Collingwood's coaches, the BC-based long distance swimmer is training in the waters of Batchelor Bay in preparation of swimming the English Channel.

Located just south of the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, Batchelor Bay has its fair share of orca sightings.

On the Instagram video, several other people enjoying the coastal waters have shared similar experience of close encounters.

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Hi Everyone, . I want to update you all on my post about Debbie Collingwood the other day... . You likely know that I’m the guy in the photo, and a couple of days ago I started a GoFundMe (LINK IN BIO) for my friend Deb (who you can see swimming in the background.) . Deb (@dc2daec) is training to swim the English Channel. The swim was actually supposed to happen last month but COVID got in the way. . Deb now has two more years of dedicated training, training events, travel, and two more years of all the related expenses in front of her. So I want to help her out! . 📣ANNOUNCING: anyone that donates $75 (or more) to Deb’s cause via the GoFundMe (Link in Bio) will earn the opportunity to join Deb and I for a training swim in beautiful Howe Sound. I am a certified kayak instructor, I have an extra kayak, and all the safety equipment. You will be in great hands in the most beautiful waters in the world! An up-close look at a Channel swimmer’s training session is an experience you won’t forget. You may even get to see a pod of orcas like we did yesterday! . Please consider supporting Deb. She’s an inspirational athlete and this is when we need to come together to power her through the next two years, and from here to England and on to France! . 📍join us at Batchelor Bay once you donate! —————— #gofundme #channelswimmer #englishchannelswim #fundraiser #kayak #kayaking #swimming #marathonswimming #batchelorbay #howesound #whytecliffpark

A post shared by ↟ m e y r i c k j o n e s ↟ (@meyrickj) on Aug 10, 2020 at 4:36pm PDT

Super natural British Columbia, you gotta love it.