Killer whales on the lookout for tuna were spotted by a group of dolphin watching tourists about 4.5 kilometres off Galé beach, Albufeira.
"We know that at least twice a year orcas pass along the Algarve coast, following the tuna migration routes," said marine biologist Tiago Sá from Dreamwave which organises the whale watching trips.
The trip for around 70 tourists last Friday was interrupted by a family of four orcas, "There was general amazement. Everyone liked it," says Sá, describes the reaction of to the mammals which measure between five and six metres when fully grown.
The orcas are called ‘killer whales’ but they are not whales and do not eat humans. That’s not to say they are not capable of inflicting fatal wounds but the orca is far more interested in tracking down shoals of tuna.
In fact, "orcas are the largest species of dolphin that exists," said Sá, explaining that the black and white orca hunt the tuna that move from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean during the spawning season, and then return to Atlantic waters - giving plenty of passing opportunity.
There are sightings of orcas most years off the Algarve coastline with four orcas were detected about 11 kilometers from Carvoeiro, Lagoa, last August.