Tourists swim with 2 humpbacks — then more join in. ‘How many whales can you count?’
.jpg "The encounter took place in Ningaloo Reef, according to social media posts.")
A boat full of eager tourists was cruising through the waters of Western Australia in hopes of spotting some whales, and, if they were lucky, the opportunity to swim alongside the massive creatures.
That’s when the group spotted two humpbacks, according to an Aug. 31 Facebook post from Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim, the tour agency operating the boat. Equipped with fins and scuba gear, the tourists jumped in alongside the creatures.
Soon, the group was treated to another surprise as another group of whales joined them, bringing the total number of humpbacks to 15, the post said.
“The most mind-blowing encounter on our humpback whale interaction tour today,” the tour agency posted. “After jumping in with two humpback whales to begin with, they merged into a larger pod of humpback whales passing by and even picked up a few more stragglers along the way!”
A video shared by the agency on Instagram shows the whales swimming below and next to the tourists.
Jasmin O’Brien, an underwater photographer for the tour agency, was aboard the boat at the time of the encounter.
“How many whales can you count?” she wrote in a Facebook post. “I am absolutely (shook) by this insane encounter today! The sea was thick with whales, as our small pod suddenly turned into a super pod of 15 whales!”
“I have encountered a few large humpback whale pods on the Ningaloo Reef, but I have never experienced anything like this,” O’Brien said in an email to McClatchy News. “There is nothing more humbling than being surrounded by fifteen 40 ton animals in the water. The Ningaloo Reef is a place that just keeps on giving and after working 9 whaleshark seasons, I’m still experiencing new and exciting wildlife encounters!”
“Unbelievable experience,” a passenger from the boat commented on Facebook. “Didn’t know where to look there were whales it seemed in every direction.”
Social media users shared their shock about the encounter.
“MAGIC!!!!” one person commented on Facebook.
“Mind blowing,” another Facebook user wrote.
“How beautiful,” another commenter said.
This story was originally published September 6, 2023 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Tourists swim with 2 humpbacks — then more join in. ‘How many whales can you count?’."
