Watch ‘curious’ sea creature approach tourists in California. ‘Incredible’
A boat of tourists recently had an up close and personal visit from a massive sea creature in California.
The Monterey Bay Whale Watch vessel was resting in neutral observing the “humpback whales spread out in every direction” when something “incredible” happened: One of the whales came over to get a closer look, the tour agency said in an Oct. 18 Facebook post.
A video shows the “curious” creature approaching the boat and blowing through its blowhole before diving into the water.
Humpback whales spend time in Monterey Bay between late April to early December. They are in the area during their annual migration to “their summer and fall feeding areas” off the California coast from “their winter calving and mating areas” in Mexico, according to experts with the agency. The creatures come to Monterey Bay to feed on anchovies, sardines and krill.
The agency said in recent years, the population of humpbacks in the area has started getting more “friendly” with the boats — often approaching whale-watching vessels to circle or rub up against the boat or interact with people onboard by pec slapping or tilting its head with an eye open.
Social media users were excited by the recent interaction.
“Humpbacks are definitely at the top of the list for ‘who is on that boat? I’ll go say hi real quick,’” one person commented on the agency’s Facebook post.
“So beautiful,” another person wrote.
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 2:57 PM with the headline "Watch ‘curious’ sea creature approach tourists in California. ‘Incredible’."
