In the middle of whale watching season, local nature photographer David Cruz was lucky enough to snap these photos of gray, humpback and killer whales while aboard an excursion off the coast of Monterey last weekend. According to Cruz, researchers on his trip believe the pod of Orcas was actually out to ambush the gray whale calves as the bigger cetaceans migrate north.

One fun fact we didn't know about Orcas? They live about 70 years and most of them die of gum disease. Halitosis seems like a tragic way to go for an apex predator.

Cruz also managed to get the majestic creatures on video: