Whale Encounter---PRICELESS!!!!

My husband and I went out of Oceanside, CA harbor, April 12, 2008 looking for dolphins, whales and a good day of fishing. Our dolphin adventure turned strange when we were following them and they suddenly disappeared. We decided to turn our motor off and just sit and eat our lunch---all of a sudden we heard a familiar sound---"Thar she blows". We knew there were whales in the area and just looked and listened for more spouts to blow. There were 3 whales (a large, medium, and small version—surmised by the size of the spout) off the front of the boat (16' Hydrasport with a 50 hp motor) about a couple of football fields away. We followed at this distance for a while and then figured we had gotten our "whale fix" for the day. Lunch took on the new priority---when out of the blue the "baby" came and blew her spout about 10' from our boat and then proceeded to explore under the boat. We were really scared and really excited!!! But, we also knew that the "Mom" would be close behind and sure enough she came on the other side of the boat and nearly scared us to death. She took her time and went under the boat lengthwise and widthwise---confirming our thoughts that "yes, she is bigger than we are and she could flip us over if we were viewed as a threat". Oh, did I mention that our boat is small and it happens to be a light gray---we have a theory that the "baby" may have thought we were a playmate---it was his adventurous yearnings that brought them to us!!! We did have my camera and took this video—which I have to add, is not even close to being an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING experience!! Finally, after about a 15-minute encounter the "Mom" explored our motor one more time and then came within 3 feet of the boat -- lifted her head one last time and I was eyeball to eyeball with her----and she slowly gave us the last glimpse of her large, sleek, powerful body----and went on with her life. About us---well, we will NEVER be the same, this is why we will refer to this as: PRICELESS!!!!!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• whales
• finner
• whale
• baby
• spout
• blowhole
• Gale
• Nelson
• John
• Oceanside
• CA
• sightings

[jir250]

check out the boot????

[galesnelson]

@jir250

Did you mean "Checking out the Boat??" The whale was checking us out maybe sizing us up to see if we were a threat to her and her baby!!

[poweredparagliding]

Very nice!

Why were you whispering?

[galesnelson]

@poweredparagliding We were kind of scared---we had been watching a LARGE whale off in the distance --> maybe three (3) football fields away! Then about 10 minutes later the baby surfaced right next to our boat---and took us by surprise! I think we may have been thinking that the LARGER whale was nearby and we just didn't want to threaten the baby and cause the adult whales to retaliate.

[caladesistar]

Priceless is right. I live in Florida and do alot of boating. I have had similar experiences with pods of dolphins. I have felt the power of the experience and am left feeling blessed. Im sure you were blown away.

[galesnelson]

You may want to check out the video I put up of a dolphin encounter last

weekend: "Dolphins~I Touched One!" I live for the time I can go out and be in this ocean environment ~ we see something new every time we're out there!!!! Things that make me go, "W O W"!!

[buffytariq]

They are so beautiful.  It's moment like this when you think 'How could anyone kill such a beautiful animal?' what an experience!

[Gazjohnful]

@tasuki199 Nah, thats extremely unlikely to happen... If you were a big school of shrip a whale might try bite you... but the whale in the video isnt a killer whale... so the only threat they actually came in contact with is if the whale decided it didnt really like the look of the shape of the boat and rammed it, tipping it over.

[LetternotePlayer]

@tasuki199 To be honest with you---my husband and I were both "really scared" that the mother whale would do something drastic to protect the curious baby. Plus, I can't remember if I mentioned in the writeup about this video---but a MUCH larger whale was with these two a little bit earlier, but "he" just kept on swimming along and left them "in the dust" (so to speak)--so we weren't sure if he would just come right back over and really make "a splash"!!! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[tasuki199]

If you stick your hands or feet into the water is it dangerous? Killer Whales are the only ones who might bight, right? I would be the foolish one stretching my arms out to pet them as they swam by.

[tatertotwebkinz4]

this is 4 days after my birhtday!

[lemonrind]

OK, so the ladies like the whales, but they don't dig my morbid obesity? Hypocrites!

[TheStaticage01]

@ezinhadinali They kill whales because whales and dolphins dropped the atomic bomb on their country back in 1945 lol...haven't you ever seen that episode of South Park?-jeesh! LOL

[TheStaticage01]

Lol-Do you think he would knock us over? Answer..If he really wanted too, we all know he could lol?...I love whale watching too, and when I go to coastal states its one of my favorite things to do...but then that question always comes up...Do you think he would knock us over?..and the answer is always the same..If he wanted too...YES! Great video gang-have fun-and be safe-STAT

[captom100]

That is a Minke whale, smallest of the baleen whales at a max of about 30 feet. They are fish eating whales that will sometimes get friendly, but are mainly very shy. A very lucky and great look.

[ljmuzza]

Your gonna need a bigger boat. A MUCH bigger boat