A group of friends on a whale-watching trip in Newport Beach got a surprise on Monday when a humpback whale breached just behind them as they posed for a photo.
Video taken by one of the passengers shows the whale leaping from the water near the Ocean Explorer, a vessel operated by Davey’s Locker Whale Watching. The group, visiting from Las Vegas, was preparing for a picture when the whale surfaced.
Jessica Rodriguez, communications manager with Davey’s Locker, said the whale breached so close that some guests were splashed.
“It was a moment of pure joy and perfect timing, capturing the thrill of a once-in-a-lifetime encounter,” Rodriguez said in an email to NBC4.
Rodriguez said humpback whales have been feeding off Newport Beach daily since Nov. 5, likely drawn by large schools of anchovies near shore.
“Humpback whales migrate through Southern California waters every year, but the consistent sightings and spectacular activity we’ve seen this November are remarkable,” she said.
Rodriguez added that whale sightings are expected to continue through the Thanksgiving break.
Source: NBC Los Angeles