After the hunt on Monday, Biagini said the orcas started to approach boats and poke their heads out of the water to see what is going on — a behavior known as spy hopping.

The sea lion nearly caused the boat to flip over. Orcas, or killer whales, are known for feasting on sea lions and seals. The apex predators have fearsome hunting techniques.

A group of orcas off the coast of California has honed a brutal set of hunting skills. Trapping prey near an underwater canyon, they flip, drown, ram, and slap their targets to death.

A group of orcas off the coast of California has honed a brutal set of hunting skills. Trapping prey near an underwater canyon, they flip, drown, ram, and slap their targets to death. Killer whales ...

Too many boats with inexperienced operators around a pod of orcas runs the risk of impeding their hunting behavior or potentially hitting them, said Schulman-Janiger.

A group of orcas off the coast of California has honed a brutal set of hunting skills. Trapping prey near an underwater canyon, they flip, drown, ram, and slap their targets to death. Killer whales ...

A group of orcas off the coast of California has honed a brutal set of hunting skills. Trapping prey near an underwater canyon, they flip, drown, ram, and slap their targets to death. Killer whales ...