Splashdown!

Some boaters and kayakers in British Columbia have a whale of a tale to tell, because they got a spectacular show from a humpback whale who took a moment from nursing her calf for a meet-and-greet, up close (really close) and personal.

https://youtu.be/803qr5RAhz0?rel=0

I think Julie got that, Ginette C.

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17 thoughts on “Splashdown!

  1. beemoused August 17, 2016 / 11:28 am

    This is very much like an experience my husband and I had during a whale watch in Alaska! Mother and baby were having a wonderful time playing–leaping and broaching, a total blast. The baby figured out that every time he jumped, the people on the boat would yell and cheer and that just made him do it more and come closer. The captain kept backing up the boat to keep them safe from harm, but he just kept following us, loving the attention. It was the highlight of our Alaska cruise!

  2. Murray C. August 17, 2016 / 12:37 pm

    That was heart-stopping. Yep, Julie got it alright!

  3. Birdcage August 17, 2016 / 1:17 pm

    I have also humpback-whale-watched in Alaska, just up the coast from the area of BC seen in the video, and it was a life highlight for me. Saw dozens of whales, right up close (though our tour boat operator was super-respectful about maintaining distance). I saw babies and teen whales. And they did some bubble-net feeding right near our boat which was spectacular. I love these whale watching videos. Whales are so full of awesome.

  4. debg August 17, 2016 / 1:57 pm

    Do you think the whales see kayakers as insects on the surface of the water?

    So cool.

  5. JLM August 17, 2016 / 2:33 pm

    We were off the coast of Baja California on a whale watching expedition. The whales come over to the small boats and you can reach out and touch/pet them. So I, of course, went in for the KISS!!!! It is a highlight of my life. Luckily, my husband grabbed me by the back of my pants.

  6. Gigi the cat lady August 17, 2016 / 2:51 pm

    My only whale story is dated 35 years ago when I was picked from the crowd to pet and kiss an orca (I refuse to call them killer whales) at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
    I do have a photo but it’s the old fashion paper kind and I have yet to digitize all my photos.

  7. Phred's Mom August 17, 2016 / 6:06 pm

    On a whale watch off Massachusetts, one of the crew would, once humpbacks
    were sighted, lean over the side and whack the hull with her hand. It was a
    signal to the whales to come visit. They did, diving under the hull and coming
    up to lie in the water next to us, making prolonged eye contact. The engines were
    off, we were wallowing in gentle swells, and I was so enthralled, that even though
    I was very seasick, I alternated upchucking into a barrel thoughtfully placed on
    deck for the purpose, then running back to the rail to commune with these wonderful
    creatures. They stayed a good half hour, then left and once a short distance off,
    put on a fabulous breeching (breaching?) display. It was almost a religious
    experience. Heck, it WAS a religious experience.

    • Murray C. August 17, 2016 / 6:10 pm

      You must be one of the saints in that religion – I don’t think I could get past the sickness. I find it so appalling, close to a phobia. Good for you to be able to rise above it and enjoy a fabulous experience.

      • Phred's Mom August 17, 2016 / 6:46 pm

        Having had nausea included migraines so much of my life, I developed
        an attitude. If it ain’t gonna kill me ( though at times I wished it would)
        then it too shall pass. Nausea is the pits. The whales were worth it.
        Kinda like childbirth. Sorta.

        • Murray C. August 17, 2016 / 7:43 pm

          One of the reasons I avoided having children was the throwing up part – like I say, a phobia.?

          • Laura August 17, 2016 / 11:22 pm

            I had two children and never had even an *instant* of morning sickness. Or any other kind. It’s not a requirement, fortunately.

            The closest I’ve comes to whales is whale-watching in Alaska, but the boats there are required to stay, I think, at least 50 or 100 feet away, so we only got to see them from a distance.

            I’ve also gone whale-watching of Southern California, where we were in some fun big waves. I have never gotten seasick in my life, so even though the only whales we saw were a long way off, the ride itself was great fun. But everyone says I’m weird.

            Maybe that lack of seasickness relates to no nausea during pregnancy. In any case, I’m not complaining!

            • Murray C. August 17, 2016 / 11:57 pm

              You are fortunate and I think it’s terrific – it’s only fair that someone should escape such miseries!

              And all these wonderful tales about whale watching are delightful – they are magnificent beings – long may they reign in their underwater kingdoms.

              • Phred's Mom August 18, 2016 / 7:46 am

                My pregnancy nausea was morning noon and night
                sickness. For months. One of the reasons I have one
                (terrific) kid, no more. Like to say I did it right the
                first time, don’t need to do it again.

            • Phred's Mom August 18, 2016 / 7:48 am

              Our boat in Mass. stayed away, the whales came to us,
              which was especially wonderful. They recognized
              Hazel’s rapping on the hull and came for a visit.

  8. Chase August 17, 2016 / 6:08 pm

    Oh awesome! I live on Vancouver Island in BC and love when some of the beauty of the coast is shared here on Cutetropolis! Truly breathtaking. I loved the kayakers applauding the whales!!

  9. 6rabbits August 17, 2016 / 8:41 pm

    I envy all of you! Whale watching is on my life list, but no opportunity yet. ? I did get to go dolphin watching, and having them swim beside the boat and look at you with one eye was awesome. We saw a mom and baby cavorting, too. ? No pics tho, camera malfunctioned.? Still, I can’t imagine what it would be like to be among WHALES. *sigh*

  10. Doug August 18, 2016 / 9:50 am

    “Alright Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my CLOSE-up”

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