Close encounter with a leviathan
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22 Sept, 2007
A female whale, seemingly enjoying the company, links up with me and follows me around, careful not to swipe me with her huge fluke.
This morning, after an easy launch, we headed out to sea near Cape Infanta, on South Africa’s Western Cape coast.
In great conditions, with no current to speak of and clear water, I jumped overboard to do some snorkelling, albeit somewhat apprehensively with all the whale activity around, wondering what I would do if one swam up to me.
The boat was drifting about 300m (984ft) away when, out of the blue, a huge black and white shape emerged.
As it got closer I realised that this was the head of a gigantic 40 ton (36 tonne) whale, and the white markings were the callosities, or patches of rough skin, that had formed on her face and head.
At first I froze, afraid to move a muscle, as this massive mammal swam right up to me. But as we came eyeball to eyeball, it dawned on me that she meant me no harm.
After a few minutes I realised that she seemed actually to be enjoying my company. Every time I moved away she followed; every time I dived to the bottom she followed me down and lay on the sand next to me, and as I resurfaced she followed me again, breaking the surface next to me and then just lying there, apparently happy to have me by her side.
It was impossible to get away.
The rules about getting up close to whales are always top of mind, but thinking back on it afterwards, she was the one that found me and seemed to adopt me.
What struck me about this experience was how gentle she was and how she knew exactly where I was at all times during this encounter. Whenever I drifted past one of her flukes she would tuck it under her belly so as not to strike me with it, then turn and position herself so that I was next to her massive head. She seemed to be quite content to have me hovering in the vicinity of her watchful eye.
There are no words to adequately describe this amazing encounter – simply put, the most incredible experience of my 25 years of being in the sea.
– By Barry Skinstad, Earth-Touch crew © Earth-Touch
More about this clip
Country: South Africa
Habitat: Marine coastline
Location: Western Cape
Tags: Fluke, Leviathan, Massive, Mammal, Gigantic, Callosities, Follow, Encounter, Rule, Regulation, Strike, Swipe, Eye, Snorkel, Current, Dive, Southern right whale, Mammals, Vertebrates, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa, Marine coastline
Comments
subscribe to commentsriaanp
said on 10 Oct, 2008
I just read the following on Wikipedia: The callosities themselves are grey; the white appearance is due to large colonies of whale lice around them. Callosities arise naturally and are present even in late-term whale fetuses, although the work of lice digging into the surface of the skin may make them more jagged and hard over time. Very interesting!
eirrac
said on 01 Nov, 2008
Brilliant footage Graeme, and equally interesting additional information re the callosities Mr 'riaanp'... thanks
dingo20
said on 01 Aug, 2008
Cool
Patricia L
said on 02 Jul, 2008
Just amazing.
Christine
said on 15 May, 2008
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am sure Graeme is spiritually richer for it.
tara
said on 18 Mar, 2008
I have watched this clip so many tims - I think it may be my all-time favourite on Earth-Touch :) I even downloaded it in HD on my slow home connection - would definitely encourage others to do the same!
richardvw
said on 03 Oct, 2007
Barry - this one is brilliant - well done - I am knocked out....
graemeduane
said on 01 Oct, 2007
We considered this, but honestly speaking - who knows? One thing is for sure, these whales interact with humans on another level. Despite their size, they're extremely aware of a human in their direct environment. They're also very very agile for such big, heavy creatures.
Lets face it... they have free choice, if they don't want to interact, they have the entire ocean to retreat to. This one, on the other hand, chose to stick around.
Just for the record, this animal's estimated weight is 40 tons.
riaanp
said on 19 Nov, 2007
Thanks for the reply, Graeme. 40 tons - very impressive.
riaanp
said on 01 Oct, 2007
Could it be that perhaps this whale had lost its baby somewhere along the line and perceived the diver to be a small whale? The behavious seems bery peculiar!
Brilliant to see such a large mammal so up close. Great work!
