Support NeoGAF

[XiaNaphryz]

http://blog.sfgate.com/stienstra/2013/11/30/santa-cruz-kayakers-agog-over-whales-22-pic-gallery

For a paddler, having a whale rising up next to you is like sitting in an electric chair, not a kayak.

Giancarlo Thomae, a naturalist, marine biologist and photographer, captured this amazing series of photos in the past month of humpback whales lunge feeding and rising breaches, tail salutes, pectoral waves and chin slaps.

“You just hang out and the whales come right up to you,” he said of the episodes off Capitola, Santa Cruz and Moss Landing.

Two weeks ago, Thomae counted 50 humpback whales a short distance offshore. Last week, as the humpbacks started their migration to their wintering grounds, about 15 whales, primarily mothers with their calves, remained within two miles offshore. A rich food chain has been the key to the high whale sightings and bringing the whales inshore.

Gray whales are expected to join the show in the coming weeks along the California coast.

Note that it is violation of ethics and federal law to approach the whales within 100 yards or otherwise change their behavior. What kayakers and boaters alike have discovered is that once you’re in range, you can turn off your engine – whether it be motor-powered or human-powered. Instead of you going to the whales, they instead come to you.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

The sheer scale of those creatures would impress and unnerve me, that is if it came up right next to me.

 

[Tizoc]

Man I'd freak the fuck out if a whale jump out of the water close to me....

 

[DrEvil]

Captain, there be whales here!

 

[TCRS]

I'd be scared shitless. especially about one of them knocking me over.

 

[bean breath]

I saw a video posted by The New York Times about whale watching in Monterey and how there's currently an unprecedented number of them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YI7zqT3U44

 

[Sanjuro]

Man I'd freak the fuck out if a whale jump out of the water close to me....

I'd go Ahab over it.

 

[Scoot2005]

I'd pet it.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

And yet everyone pegs my alma matter as a party school, and the only reason you would go to UCSC is for the weed.

 

[Phire Phox]

Holy crap. I'd probably shit my pants if that happened to me.

 

[Baraka in the White House]

If I were a whale I'd be a huge fucking asshole, jumping out of the water and bellyflopping next to boaters and kayakers all day like DUUUUUURRRRRRR *splash*

 

[XiaNaphryz]

If I were a whale I'd be a huge fucking asshole, jumping out of the water and bellyflopping next to boaters and kayakers all day like DUUUUUURRRRRRR *splash*

Aim for the ones with the most expensive camera equipment first.

 

[thesuperfunk]

Amazing scenes!

 

[Psxphile]

Human watching is big business, pulls in thousands of metric tons of krill and plankton every year.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

terrifyingly beautiful

 

[hipbabboom]

How can we be sure these aren't North Korean and Chinese whales implanted with Nuclear warheads?

 

[Aiustis]

I would shit my pants and die of fright.

 

[foxuzamaki]

I do find it amazing how whales swim so close to people in boats and such and yet you never hear them ramming or coming up for food over a boat, its kinda like birds and how you never get hit in the face from a bird flying close to you as they always know where to go, bugs can go for that extra brain power tho.

 

[Thursday War]

I'd pet it.

yep

 

[abstract alien]

The sheer scale of those creatures would impress and unnerve me, that is if it came up right next to me.

While in Cabo I went snorkeling and a whale popped up not too far from where we were. Needless to say, I nearly freaked the fuck out. I'm a HORRIBLE swimmer, but I made it back on the boat in record time.

 

[Henchmen21]

Captain, there be whales here!

Hoping for STIV quote. Did not disappoint.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

While in Cabo I went snorkeling and a whale popped up not too far from where we were. Needless to say, I nearly freaked the fuck out. I'm a HORRIBLE swimmer, but I made it back on the boat in record time.

I'm sure the whale just wanted a hug.

 

[tapedeck]

How can we be sure these aren't North Korean and Chinese whales implanted with Nuclear warheads?

Yeah this was my first thought.

 

[abstract alien]

I'm sure the whale just wanted a hug.

I'm not man enough yet. Can't even lie about it :^(

 

[Alucard]

I would shit, my brain would go into shock, and I would faint. Like...I would SHIT.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

I would shit, my brain would go into shock, and I would faint. Like...I would SHIT.

Could be worse:

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

Could be worse:

whats that? an arm in an orcas mouth?

 

[Ninja Scooter]

whats that? an arm in an orcas mouth?

somebody surfing while what I imagine is their GoPro or some type of camera captures a giant fucking Great White Shark just beneath them.

 

[LastGamer84]

whats that? an arm in an orcas mouth?

Look at the bottom of the picture...

The water would be quite brown if that happened in real life...

 

[shira]

America? I'm surprised nobody shot the whale

 

[Acid08]

America? I'm surprised nobody shot the whale

California aka greatest place on this planet.

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

somebody surfing while what I imagine is their GoPro or some type of camera captures a giant fucking Great White Shark just beneath them.

oh shiiieeeeeeeetttttttttt

 

[XiaNaphryz]

somebody surfing while what I imagine is their GoPro or some type of camera captures a giant fucking Great White Shark just beneath them.

Yep, the surfer didn't realize anything was under him until he went through the camera after.

 

[Xyrmellon]

It's all fun and games until someone gets eaten.

 

[Log4Girlz]

It's all fun and games until someone gets eaten.

You have a point...whales do look delicious.

 

[akira28]

It all looks like horsemeat to me. But I wonder if whales enjoy human music?

Or would it enrage them?

 

[Bladenic]

I would freak the fuck out, even if they are docile. They're so huge.

 

[Passive Assassin]

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/humpback-whale-punches-an-underwater-photographer/ good idea.

 

[lastplayed]

Captain, there be whales here!

*Admiral

 

[ZealousD]

True story. I'm basically committing genocide against the English and Spanish in Assassin's Creed IV. Once I started harpooning whales, I started feeling guilty.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

*Admiral

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

I do find it amazing how whales swim so close to people in boats and such and yet you never hear them ramming or coming up for food over a boat, its kinda like birds and how you never get hit in the face from a bird flying close to you as they always know where to go, bugs can go for that extra brain power tho.

 

[lastplayed]

I do find it amazing how whales swim so close to people in boats and such and yet you never hear them ramming or coming up for food over a boat, its kinda like birds and how you never get hit in the face from a bird flying close to you as they always know where to go, bugs can go for that extra brain power tho.

 

[GaimeGuy]

The sheer scale of those creatures would impress and unnerve me, that is if it came up right next to me.

And then a blue whale comes up to you from the other side.

 

[Arkos]

Man I'd be pissed off if I had all those barnacles all over me lol. Awesome stuff though, amazing creatures, would be a (really scary) treat to be so close to them.

 

[foxuzamaki]

I bet it swerved last minute.

 

[lastplayed]

Magpies don't. They'll leave holes in your head the little fuckers.