A spectacular sight near the shores of SoCal!
Whale watchers aboard the Zodiac Safari vessel, part of the Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari fleet, were treated to a rare visit from a sperm whale this week.
The largest toothed predator on earth, sperm whales aren’t traditionally seen along the Southern California coast. However, this marks the second time a sperm whale has been spotted recently, according to experts at Captain Dave’s.
“These deep-diving animals usually remain far offshore and out of view, making this encounter a once-in-a-lifetime experience for both guests and crew,” they said. “Currently, two sperm whales have been observed in the waters off Southern California, a highly unusual presence in local waters. Sightings of even a single sperm whale here are exceptional; seeing a pair is extraordinary.”
This encounter was an especially close one too, as the people onboard the boat were “mugged” by the enormous marine mammal as it swam within feet of the boat’s hull.
“Whale watchers know this type of close approach as a ‘mugging’ — when a whale circles or lingers near a vessel, often out of curiosity,” a Captain Dave’s press release explains. “On this occasion, the sperm whale surfaced just feet away from the rigid hull inflatable boat, giving passengers an exceptionally close look at one of the ocean’s most elusive giants.”
For more information on dolphin and whale watching, visit the Captain Dave’s website.