why-animals-do-the-thing:

I want to clarify that the statement was about wild cetaceans and wild sharks. I was mostly thinking about wild bottlenose dolphins when I stated that, because they’re what everyone wants to swim with, but it can also apply to pretty much any marine mammal. (And yes, I know killer whales are dolphins). 

I’m hesitant to say anything about if swimming with wild orcas is “safe” of “unsafe” because there’s actually a ton of weird history behind how western culture viewed / views them as a species. In the 1950′s we literally thought of them as monsters that would eat people alive and supported killing them en mass – it wasn’t until the first one was accidentally captured (instead of killed) and brought into an aquarium setting that the public mentality shifted to wild orcas being “sweet puppies that would never ever hurt a human being ~uwu~”. Reality is likely somewhere in between.

But, think about it this way: all cetaceans, including orcas, are large, powerful, highly intelligent mammals. Sharks are fairly prehistoric fish that – while they can be smart – exhibit less behaviors indicative of complex cognition. Sharks get a bad rap because they investigate everything with their unfortunately toothy mouth, but cetaceans are also really well known for fucking with people and things. Bottlenose dolphins get the worst reputation for like, having sex with literally everything, but some killer whale populations also tear apart baby whales and then play with their eyeballs. 

If I had to pick one wild animal to be more comfortable sharing water with, it would be a shark over any cetacean, no matter the species.  

Same. I don’t trust marine mammals at all. Sea lions are way bigger and faster than me, so even they make me a bit uneasy. Even male sea otters are nasty, nasty little creatures, worse than dolphins in the “having sex with everything” department. You don’t want to know. 

Marine mammals make me nervous because they’re unpredictable and have no reason not to mess with me. Sharks, as potentially deadly as some are, are largely predictable and also largely uninterested in humans. 

I’ve been snorkeling near wild sea lions, and I’ve encountered a leopard shark of roughly the same length, and I can tell you right now I would much rather meet the leopard shark again. It was fast, sure, but had absolutely no interest in me or anyone else. It just wanted to eat fish. The sea lions were checking out every single diver, and, though they were mostly focused on eating the squid (night dive, lights, lots of small squid), they were definitely interested.

That’s not all marine mammals, though. Baleen whales are chill and might not even notice you if you don’t get close. I’ve seen monk seals, and they also seem pretty calm. I wouldn’t try to get close to them, but I wouldn’t actively avoid any water containing them. 

I’m not actively afraid of sharks. If I saw a large one while diving, I’d keep my eyes on it, but I wouldn’t try to leave unless it was getting way too close. Dolphins, on the other hand, I’d start trying to avoid as soon as they were within my vision. They make me uneasy. 

I’m not saying you should be afraid of marine mammals like people are afraid of sharks. I’m saying they’re wild, unpredictable animals, stronger and faster than you, that like to mess with things. I’m also saying you should not go and pet them.