Deck officer Craig Palmer, 36, spotted the four killer whales in the North Sea, near Aberdeen, as he headed out to an off-shore windfarm.
Orcas are seldom seen off the coast of Britain due to their limited numbers – and rarely breach.
It was the first time Craig had ever spotted an orca despite being at sea for over 15 years.
Craig – originally from Cumbria – has over 15 years experience in his role
Craig said: “On a daily route we see minx whales, dolphins, but this is the first time seeing orcas.
“It was exceptional to see four of them together. It was an absolutely unbelievable experience.
“I’m based in Aberdeen for a while, but I’ve not seen anything like it around here – it was fantastic.”
Craig posted the videos on his TikTok account @gwp0721 – where he shares insights into his life as a deck officer – before passing them to a friend who works at Aberdeen Harbour Tours.
Video grab of a pod of orcas leaping into the air has been caught on camera
The company put the videos online across several social media platforms, and the footage now has millions of views and thousands of comments.
Craig added: “It was an absolute joy to be able to see these incredible animals while I was travelling as part of my job. I feel so lucky to have had this experience.”
The Wildlife Trust says there are just eight orcas, four males and four females – known as the ‘west coast community’ – that frequent UK waters.
A Trust spokesperson said: “Orcas are incredibly clever animals, roaming huge distances in search of prey in tight family groups that share their own special language.”
The ‘west coast community’ is considered a small, critically endangered, group of orcas – which hold a protected conservation status in the UK.
