Merimbula diver John Smyth was a deckhand with diver Greg Finn and reported the sighting to Atlas of Life citizen science group.

My Smyth said it was the closest encounter he‘d had with the killer whales in 30 years of diving.

He said Mr Finn was about to resume diving when a large male killer whale surfaced alongside their boat, followed by a smaller whale.

Five more soon surfaced near the boat.

“We were just this side of Morwarry rocks and we were catching the last of the quota,” he said.

“Greg was about to jump back in and it came up between the point and us, right where he was going to jump in.”

“They looked like they were on a mission and were heading south.”

Mr Smyth said they also sighted a lone humpback at Green Cape.

The killer whale sightings are the most recent in a string of reports from southern New South Wales and Victoria in late spring.

To log sightings with the Australian Orca Database call 0401 011 022, or look on Facebook.