Photo: Orca Fin Northern Vancouver Island

An Orca shows off his pectoral fin off Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

A Northern Resident Orca rolls and plays in the waters off Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada and gives whale watchers an excellent view of his pectoral fin. This is just one of the many behaviors that you may see an Orca do in the wild.

The pectoral fin(s) of an Orca are a rounded but paddle like shape made up of bones which are joined by connective tissue. There are thick cartilage pads that are lengthwise between the bones of the fin. The blood that flows in each fin helps the Orca to keep a stable body temperature.

Along with regulating the Orca whale's temperature, the pectoral fins are very important in the way an Orca swims. These fins are used to steer and stop with the aid of the tail flukes and can grow to be about six feet in length and three feet wide.

On a whale watching trip off Northern Vancouver Island you are never sure what is in store but it is always fun to watch an Orca play with kelp. ... continue below the picture...

This picture is part of the photo album "Killer Whale Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.

... They love to have the kelp slide over each fin as well as their tail flukes. You should always be prepared with your camera as depending on how much fun they are having and what kind of mood they are in, a breach could be next in line.

Killer Whale off Northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada