600mm zoom shot with my Canon

Friend saw these on the boat from Newcastle to Edinburgh. Anyone knows which animals these are?

There were more than four of them that day, so excited they put on a whole ballet for us in the open sea. This breach was the highlight, still can't get over how something that size clears the water like that. No idea how many tons of ocean it's fighting on the way up, but it looked effortless from the boat.

One of the more unusual humpback behaviors I've been lucky enough to capture off Maui. It rolled over and repeatedly brought those enormous pectoral fins out of the water. Watching the size of those fins from this distance was incredible.

I dont remember much about it, just that a diver get to close to the whale tail (i dont remember if it was a blue whale or a humpback whale), and the whale move the tail laterally and hit the man in the face, then the docu proceed to explain why do sharks move their tails laterally and whales vertically, to then rescue the diver, thats all i remember, i saw it like in 2015 or 2018.

These beautiful creatures, a mother and son, have been left to die in an abandoned aquarium in France. Please pray they are relocated to safety soon. Sign the petition to Save these wonderful Whales.

I commercially fish in Alaska and these dudes like to eat the Sablefish heads we toss overboard as we dress them before icing them in the holds….

Whales cmon Reddit let me edit the title

A rare white humpback whale has been spotted along with their normally-pigmented mother! It's impossible to know if their coloration is caused by albinism or another condition without observing the color of their eye (which albinism would make pink) or conducting a genetic test; albinism is likely the cause, though, as in species that are darker in color albinism often produces this sort of creamy yellowish coloration. In any case, they are a very special whale🤍They were observed by the research station Whale Point, who had this to say:

On a very foggy Tuesday morning Shelby Fisher notified us of a resighting of the white humpback whale “Spirit” just outside the Gitga’at harvesting camp, Kyel. This time we were very fortunate to not only get a fluke shot of Spirit but also a perfect ID shot of her/his mother. The mother is BCX 2002, Kuleana. They travelled all the way into Taylor Bight and passed our Lab very closely on their way west.
We are grateful to Shelby for notifying us and for Janie of BC Whales for her help identifying the mother.

Just got back from an Alaskan Cruise (NCL). It was a sight to see.

Grommet (and I believe Quill for the team breach) gave us an awesome show with multiple breaches and plenty of pectoral fin slaps!

Check the fundraiser out here, and learn more about PacMam here.

I've spent multiple seasons in Rurutu, French Polynesia watching people get in the water with humpbacks for the first time. The ones who have the best experiences are rarely the strongest swimmers or the most experienced freedivers. They're the ones who understand one simple thing: you are not in charge here.

Here's what actually matters!

Let the whale decide

Get in the water calmly, at least 150 meters away, and wait. If a whale wants to interact, you'll know. It will circle back, swim slowly beneath you, or surface nearby. I've watched adult whales make repeated passes directly at swimmers, rolling onto their bellies mid-approach. It looks intimidating. It's play. Don't chase. Ever.

In 2025 we had a week in late August where adult activity was explosive, six-whale heat runs, prolonged mating activity, juveniles everywhere. Guests who stayed calm and let the whales come to them had the longest, most extraordinary encounters. The ones who kicked forward the moment a whale appeared? The whale left.

Never touch a whale

Humpbacks have sharp barnacles on their fins and bellies that can cause serious cuts. More importantly, touching disrupts their behavior and teaches them to avoid humans. One bad interaction affects every swimmer who comes after you.

Mothers and calves are a completely different situation

Stay at least 20 to 30 meters away and let them come to you. A calf looks small until you realize a "small" juvenile is 3 to 4 meters long and has far less body control than an adult. They can hit you accidentally while playing and not even notice.

Here's something most guides won't tell you: if a mother places her calf between herself and you, that is a sign of trust, not a warning. It means she's comfortable enough to let you close. When that happens, slow down even more. Stay at the surface if they're near a mother and calf. Some of our best encounters in late September 2025 lasted hours because guests understood this and let the mother set the pace.

Stay away from the tail

Three pumps of a humpback tail can launch a 40 ton animal out of the water. Always position yourself near the head and within the whale's field of vision. If you can't see its eye, you're in the wrong place.

How to actually move in the water

Twist your body and swim on your side. This keeps your fins below the surface, reduces splash, and lets you move faster and quieter. Sudden splashing can startle whales and, in some locations, attract oceanic whitetip sharks. Move like you belong there.

On diving

Wait until the whale has interacted with you multiple times before attempting any dive. Stay horizontal when you go down, vertical postures can look like a predator approaching. Never dive on a mother and calf. Stay at the surface and let them come up to you.

You need to be a comfortable ocean swimmer

This is open ocean. Waves, currents, deep water. You should be able to swim 200 meters unaided without panicking. If deep water makes you anxious, practice before you go. Your comfort in the water directly affects the whale's behavior around you.

One thing 2025 taught us again: the quietest weeks produced some of the most memorable encounters. Mid September was rough, windy, difficult. But we still had one day that week that guests called the best of their lives. The ocean is unpredictable. So are the whales. That's the point.

Anyone else had a close call with a mother-calf pair? Curious how others handled it.