Yet another incredible experience yesterday with Corona and Fader the humpbacks. Corona got everyone’s attention by breaching, tail slapping and pec slapping for a solid 20 minutes. We watched her more or less doing the back stroke and slapping the water over and over again. This seemed to draw the attention of the other humpbacks near by, possibly her intention? Because as soon as she was joined by Fader they started swimming circles. Our boats were completely shut down for the experience as the whales didn’t seem eager to go anywhere. These whales grew as curious about us as we were about them and started circling our boat. Keeping a distance of 50 meters or so, we sat, engines off waiting for them to pass. Every time they surfaced they’d be in a new spot, but still angled towards the boat. Checking us out from all angles. Just when we were sure they were heading off, they came in for one last inspection. Corona went first, passing under the boat and giving us a beautiful fluke and Fader followed right after, his nose popping up feet from where I was perched on the front of the boat.
I don’t know how people reach for their phones during these encounters. I freeze. My heart stops and I start to shake. There’s nothing more breath taking than watching a 50 foot, 20 tonne animal choose to be so close to you. Seeing their breath rise from the surface and looking below to see their massive bodies traveling right below you. There’s nothing more magical than hearing that breath, and watching their large bodies expand as they inhale, before arching their backs and returning to the deeps.
I will never be the same after this summer. Spending so much time with so many incredibly amazing animals. ❤️ I am so beyond blessed to be where I am right now in life. I wouldn’t change a moment of it. 🐋 🐋
