Swims with whales

Yesterday I got to have a magical moment with some very distant relatives, a couple of humpback whales. I didn’t take this video, but it’s the same encounter…

We were told this is a mom and calf… but I don’t really have any idea. We were in with them for maybe 20 minutes.

It’s definitely a wow, once in a lifetime thing, although in fact they hang out around the island for months each year so if you live there it’s more of an everyday thing.

Thinking back, I’m most struck by how not scared I was. They’re really big, and they weigh 20 or 30 tons. But they certainly knew we were there, and they never moved fast or threateningly. The energy was calm, except when a couple of overeager spectators got too close and got yelled at by the boat captains.

I’m really glad I got to do this. It’s not exactly last chance tourism, but I’ve grown up so steeped in the idea that whales are in dire trouble that it sort of feels more amazing.