‘It’s like babysitting a 40-ton animal’: Divers describe the sheer delight after an incredibly close encounter with a 30-foot juvenile humpback whale who swam with them for a ‘playful’ hour
- The inquisitive 30-foot mammal approached and swam between the divers
- They were off the coast of French Polynesia when the whale swam towards them
- Humpback whales are critically endangered with an estimated 35,000 individuals left
Incredible footage shows the moment a curious humpback whale swims between a group of divers, giving them a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the giant mammal.
The hair-raising footage was filmed off the coast of French Polynesia as the 30-foot humpback whale approached the group of divers.
Professional diver Kayleigh Grant filmed the giant mammal swimming between divers and breaking the surface in September, its pectoral fins skimming inches from her.
The whale stayed with the divers for almost an hour before saying goodbye, staying so close to the group that they were forced to dodge its giant fins as it moved around them.
Professional diver Kayleigh Grant filmed the giant mammal swimming among divers off the coast of French Polynesia
Ms Grant, of Kona, Hawaii, said that while whales do not harm humans, these encounters are still dangerous because of their sheer size.
She said, “You have to be careful, just because of their size, a tail flip could be dangerous for a human.”
The majestic mammals can grow up to 62 feet long and weigh up to 53 tons.
Ms Grant added that encounters like this are very rare and have only happened to her a handful of times in her decades-long diving career.
She added: “We have seasons with whales. They’re not always around like sharks, so maybe once a year you’re that lucky if you’re a diver.
“If you are a normal person, it is very fortunate, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Ms Grant said encounters like this are very rare and have only happened to her a handful of times in her decades-long diving career
The hair-raising footage was filmed off the coast of French Polynesia as the 30-foot humpback whale approached the group of divers
Incredible footage captures the moment a curious humpback whale swims between a group of divers off the coast of French Polynesia
This behavior only occurs in juveniles recently separated from their mothers, who remain curious and playful with humans compared to adult whales.
Layleigh said: “It was really beautiful. It is strange that such an animal is aware of its body and approaches it playfully and curiously.
“It’s really quite rare that they care so much about it. It stayed with us for an hour or more, it seemed quite playful and boisterous.
“This has only happened to me a few times and I’ve had hundreds of whale encounters.
“It’s like babysitting a 40-ton animal. They really do have the playful nature of an infant of any kind, even a human infant.’
This playful behavior is found only in juveniles recently separated from their mothers, who remain curious and playful with humans compared to adult whales
Professional diver Kayleigh Grant filmed the amazing moment with her fins pictured
Humpback whales are popular with whale watchers for their acrobatic displays – including spectacular breakthroughs in which they throw their school bus-sized bodies completely out of the water and smack the surface with their pectoral fins or tails.
They are often found along the Pacific coast from California to Canada, feeding in the summer and fall before migrating south to breeding and natal ranges off the coast of Mexico.
They are among the most endangered cetaceans in the world, with an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 remaining whales.
About 2,900 live along the Washington and Oregon coasts, according to the Marine Mammal Center.
It is also a federal crime in the United States to approach a humpback whale.