People on a whale watching expedition got a very special experience on Sunday when a Humpback Whale got within feet of their boat.
The passengers were on the Catallac, a vessel operated by Davey’s Locker Whale Watching, on Sunday afternoon off the coast of Newport Beach when the whale began to linger close to the boat.
According to a spokesperson from Davey’s Locker, the “curious” giant weighed approximately 60,000 pounds and was estimated to be 40 to 50 feet long.
“The curious Humpback Whale…approached the vessel and lingered nearby, offering an unforgettable show of spy hopping, rolling and investigative behavior just feet from the boat,” the spokesperson, Jessica Rodriguez, said. “These unique moments, known in the whale watching community as ‘muggings,’ occur when a whale becomes so curious about a boat that it chooses to closely inspect it, sometimes for 30 minutes or more.”
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Passengers on a whale watching expedition got a very special experience on Sunday when a Humpback Whale got within feet of their boat. (Davey’s Locker) -
Passengers on a whale watching expedition got a very special experience on Sunday when a Humpback Whale got within feet of their boat. (Davey’s Locker)
Rodriguez added that while the boat is being “mugged,” the captain is required to shut off the engines and wait until the whale swims away.
While the waters off the coast of SoCal are known for their seasonal whale migrations, this encounter is remarkable because the whale initiated the interaction.
“Encounters like this are exceptionally rare and deeply moving for those lucky enough to witness them,” Rodriguez said.