This is the spectacular moment tourists had a close encounter with a huge Bryde's whale that sprayed water from its blowhole.

The holidaymakers were on a whale-watching trip in the Gulf of Thailand near Phang Nga province on April 6 when they spotted the giant marine mammal swimming close to their boat. The whale surfaced for a moment and blew a geyser of water into the air before swimming back underwater, delighting the tourists who witnessed the impressive sight.

The friendly creature is believed to be a Bruda or Bryde's whale named Chao Srisuk by locals. Known as 'tropical whales' for their preference for temperate waters, these whales can usually be found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans.