Orca Paid a Visit to Surfers in West End Yesterday

Salt Spray Surf School participants had an unusual instructor on Monday.

Angela Alexander said the afternoon started off with her taking part in the usual Monday women beginner class. 

The waves that day were not too big, so it was hard to stand up "or do anything remotely cool," she said. 

But the afternoon took an unexpected turn. 

"All of a sudden we're sitting out in the water and I look out and somebody starts pointing and shouting. And the orcas had just come around the corner from Otarawairere." 

The fin of one orca "was so massive," she said. 

"It looked almost like a person standing, kiteboarding out of the water."

Angela Alexander on seeing the Orca initially

Excited by the sight, she began waving to her mother in law who was visiting from Kansas. 

Her mother in law thought she was waving at her, so did not initially see the orca. 

Not wanting her to miss out on the action and seeing an opportunity for some pictures, Alexander swam in. 

When she came out of the ocean, she said people looked confused at her haste, but after yelling "Orca," everyone on the beach wanted a bit of the action too. 

Once she had her phone, "The orcas had just kind of come closer and way more shallow into the beach. And they were going through the surf school."

"And it was just a magical moment."

Surfers were sitting on their boards watching in awe she said. 

Onshore, people started running alongside the animals "so it was quite a vibe, and it's definitely going to be in my top ten experiences, that's for sure."

Angela Alexander on the atmosphere

Alexander was gobsmacked at witnessing taonga in the area, and getting to see them so close to the surf class. 

The surf class had been taught what actual dangers are, "So none of us were afraid and we got to experience something so cool," she said.

"I think we were all really overwhelmed and giddy and buzzing and excited. And I was also relieved that I didn't get to see any of my friends get eaten."

She thought the pair were a male and female, both fully grown. 

Orca at West End Beach VIDEO: Supplied 

Another beach goer, David Turner, said the orca were quite inquisitive. 

"Someone yelled out 'hey look,' and there were two orca that had come in real close and they were kind of cruising around out where people were swimming, stayed for a little while and then moved off down the beach," he said. 

One orca had a fin the size of a person on a surf board he described. 

Once the orca had left, there were a few stingrays hanging around closer to the beach than usual Alexander said. 

"They were probably like, oh, my God, how do I get away from these big things?" she said. 

Orca at West End Beach VIDEO: Supplied 

Before Monday, Alexander had only ever seen orca in the harbour. 

It was rare to see them on that side of Ōhope and in so shallow she said. 

She posted her video online to share with others, and she said it received a heart warming response. 

Others shared their videos too, proud to show the unique experience with others in the area. 

She said she feels lucky to live in a place with the ability "to have a absolute mind-blowing once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience."

The experience showed Alexander the area is not only beautiful in nature but with humans and animals too.