Massive sea creature has ‘friendly encounter’ with boaters. See the ‘rare’ sight
.jpg "Bystanders witnessed a “rare” sea creature sighting while off the coast of California, a tour group said.")
A massive sea creature had a “friendly encounter” with boaters off the coast of California, and the group is calling the moment “wonderful,” a whale watching company said.
The “rare” sight happens when whales — like these humpbacks — “get curious” about boats, according to a May 23 Facebook post by Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
At times, they’ll even spend “over an hour staying right by the boat rolling around to get a peek” at the passengers, the company said.
Even though the sight is a treat, the encounter is on the “whale’s terms,” as a safety precaution for passengers onboard and the “beautiful” animal, the group said.
“Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 10 years,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Calves stay close to their mom for up to a year before weaning, with the mother being “protective” and “swimming closely and often touching them with their flippers,” according to the NOAA.
Over the course of two days, groups got the chance to see 21 humpback whales feed and raise their pectoral fin before slapping it against the water, along with 15 Risso’s dolphins, the group said.
Monterey is about a 120-mile drive south from San Francisco.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Massive sea creature has ‘friendly encounter’ with boaters. See the ‘rare’ sight."