A California paddleboarder got an unexpected surprise when he came face to face with a blue whale that surfaced just a few feet from his board.
Bill Clements was paddleboarding about five miles off of the coast of Dana Point, a cove just south of Huntington Beach known to see a whale or two. Thankfully for us, Bill had his GoPro handy on his paddle to capture the moment.
Clements muses repeatedly, as we see a silhouette emerge from the depths below.
“Oh my God…
He’s right there…
Holy Shit!”
The water breaks and a school bus sized whale breaks the surface, propelling water from its blow hole.
You can hear Bill laughing in nervous excitement as he paddles to keep up with the moving sea mammal.
“Aha Look at Him!
He’s coming up!
Oh my God!”
The blue whale surfaces for a second time and Bill can hardly contain himself. He sounds like a kid on Christmas, bursting with excitement as the whale’s tale nears the water’s edge.
“Wooo hoo hooo
He’s right underneath me!
Oh my God…
Look at the Tail!
Bill then takes his Go Pro from his head and thrusts it underwater, revealing the body of the world’s largest mammal casually cruising below.
Bill posted the video to his Instagram and said that any fear he had was overshadowed with excitement and awe to be in the presence of such an amazing creature.
“Thee most INCREDIBLE encounter I’ve ever had paddling!!! For over an hour I paddled with the LARGEST mammal on the planet! Blue whales are typically 70-80 feet and can weigh up to 150 tons!! Fear was overshadowed with excitement as I was in awe to be in the presence of this amazing creature. I still have chills!”
According to National Geographic, Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth, growing to upwards of 100 feet long and weighing as much as 200 tons. Their hearts alone can weigh as much as an automobile and their tongues as much as an elephant.
Blue Whales are also known to make complex, haunting whale calls, and are some of the loudest creatures on the planet. Experts estimate that they can hear each other up to 1,000 miles away…
Now that could give a Garth Brooks a run for his money.
