The first up-close whale swims yield rad underwater footage in Western Australia
The first face-to-face experience with a humpback whale off the west coast of Australia has been captured by an avid Instagram user.
According to WA Today three humpback whales got up close and personal with the first of many swimming with humpback whales encounter tours. Swimming with humpback whales has always been off limits on the west coast. But not anymore! Although conditions apply.
Ningaloo Whale Sharks tour guide Laura Stokes told WA Today that the humpback whales were hard to track down at first.
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"We lined ourselves up and got the group in and we couldn't see anything - we were just looking down and after floating in the water for about a minute, one of the customers pointed down and you could just see the white of [the whale's] fin. Then he just very slowly came up from the deep, and came up very gently just to have a good look at us. He went by and two others came along and they circled us very slowly so everybody got a really good look in that group."
Stokes also reported that three whales they witnessed were brazenly inquisitive and "actually made a concerted effort to take a look at us."
Because the humpback whale can reach speeds of 24 to 26 kilometres (15 to 16.5 miles) per hour, the experience is less "swimming with whales" and more "float about and watch these emperors of the sea drift by."
The tours are part of a trial by the state government to inspire a boost in eco tourism to the west coast. Tour members aren't allowed to swim with calfs or get closer than 30 m (98 ft) of the majestic giant mermaids -- that is unless unless the whale approaches them, just like high school dating but underwater.
Environment Minister Alert Jacob has emphasised that the safety of the whales, and the humans floating about them in awe, was paramount on tours like this.
