'Playful' humpback creates spectacular scene for whale watchers
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We can think of few places more peaceful or pleasurable than the Australian coast when the sun is shining. Add a picture-perfect vista to this, and you've got yourself a scene like no other!
If you don't quite believe us, then just ask the members of Cooly Tweed Cruises, who experienced one such moment off the Queensland coast this past Sunday.
Leanne Gordon, who was with her daughter and four international students, was suddenly surprised by a 'playful' humpback whale that decided to breach right beside the boat.
'It was very slow for the first half hour, and then we saw around four different pods,' Gordon told 9News.
'In the end, we had close encounters with approximately six.'
The highlight for the small group was certainly the breaching whale, whose fin grazed the side of the boat as it dove back into the water. Commenting on the experience, Gordon said that a crew member was left 'in shock'.
'I saw it come up beside the boat, and then it just came out of the water. [One of the crew members] had just moved to where she was and was very surprised,' she said.
'Its fin hit the side of the boat as it came down. I was the only person lucky enough to capture the moment.'
The vast migration of humpback whales is a yearly occurrence, taking place as the whales move all the way up from the frigid waters of Antarctica to the warmer coasts of Australia each May.
Dr Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist, told 9News that this year's waves of whales are starting to make their journey back north, with some also heading south.
'Generally, humpback whales swim up from Antarctica to warmer waters every year to have their young, but how long they stay in those waters varies,' she explained.
'It's dictated by a number of factors. These include environmental or social factors; for instance, mothers with young may prefer quieter waters, or perhaps whales might hear the call of others and decide the waters over there are worth swimming by.'
Plus, their appearance isn't the only surprise you can witness along this incredible whale highway. Who could forget about the sighting of a rare white whale just a month ago, fuelling hopes that the famous Migaloo might still be around?
Considering their gigantic size, it goes without saying that keeping a safe distance should always be practised when encountering these gentle giants.
'You should keep at least 100-metres away,' Pirotta urged, adding that it's best to keep the vessel in neutral or turn off engines until the whale is sighted at a safe distance from the vessel.
Are you planning to go to the sea to check out the breathtakingly beautiful whale migration so close to our shores? Don't forget your sun hats, camera, and binoculars! You don't want to miss this.
Members, if you've been lucky enough to witness a humpback spontaneously breaching off the coast, we'd love to hear your stories in the comments section below!
If you don't quite believe us, then just ask the members of Cooly Tweed Cruises, who experienced one such moment off the Queensland coast this past Sunday.
Leanne Gordon, who was with her daughter and four international students, was suddenly surprised by a 'playful' humpback whale that decided to breach right beside the boat.
'It was very slow for the first half hour, and then we saw around four different pods,' Gordon told 9News.
'In the end, we had close encounters with approximately six.'
A mum from Queensland had a remarkable encounter with the ocean's gentle giants over the weekend when a breaching whale put on quite the show. Credit: Pixabay/ArtTower.
The highlight for the small group was certainly the breaching whale, whose fin grazed the side of the boat as it dove back into the water. Commenting on the experience, Gordon said that a crew member was left 'in shock'.
'I saw it come up beside the boat, and then it just came out of the water. [One of the crew members] had just moved to where she was and was very surprised,' she said.
'Its fin hit the side of the boat as it came down. I was the only person lucky enough to capture the moment.'
The vast migration of humpback whales is a yearly occurrence, taking place as the whales move all the way up from the frigid waters of Antarctica to the warmer coasts of Australia each May.
Dr Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist, told 9News that this year's waves of whales are starting to make their journey back north, with some also heading south.
'Generally, humpback whales swim up from Antarctica to warmer waters every year to have their young, but how long they stay in those waters varies,' she explained.
'It's dictated by a number of factors. These include environmental or social factors; for instance, mothers with young may prefer quieter waters, or perhaps whales might hear the call of others and decide the waters over there are worth swimming by.'
Plus, their appearance isn't the only surprise you can witness along this incredible whale highway. Who could forget about the sighting of a rare white whale just a month ago, fuelling hopes that the famous Migaloo might still be around?
Considering their gigantic size, it goes without saying that keeping a safe distance should always be practised when encountering these gentle giants.
'You should keep at least 100-metres away,' Pirotta urged, adding that it's best to keep the vessel in neutral or turn off engines until the whale is sighted at a safe distance from the vessel.
Are you planning to go to the sea to check out the breathtakingly beautiful whale migration so close to our shores? Don't forget your sun hats, camera, and binoculars! You don't want to miss this.
Members, if you've been lucky enough to witness a humpback spontaneously breaching off the coast, we'd love to hear your stories in the comments section below!
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