This video captured a curious 40-tonne humpback whale coming within inches of a group of divers.

Footage shows the 32-foot humpback whale playfully rolling around on its stomach in front of the divers.

Images show the humpback whale rising out of the 164-foot deep waters very close to the group of amazed underwater explorers.

Wildlife Videographer Renee (27) from Penn Yan, New York, US, captured a video of a 40-tonne humpback whale coming inches from her Go Pro camera.

Renee captured the footage of one humpback whale curiously approaching the group in Chintsa, South Africa.

There were seven divers and one skipper there watching dolphins trying to find sardines when the whale approached the group unexpectedly.

The group watched first from the boat as the whale approached, capturing footage on Renee’s smartphone before they got into the water with the whale to capture more up-close footage.

Once in the water, the whale circled the group inquisitively but never touched them, making sure to keep inches away from everyone.

Renee and her team felt very comfortable with the whale being so close to them, as it seemed very aware of them and made sure not to get too close to them for the 40 minutes the whale spent with them in the water.

“We were busy in the water watching dolphins trying to find sardines when the whale approached us,” she said.

“It stayed around us for about 40 minutes.

“The whale came right up to the divers.

“It very rarely happens, we try to stay a respectful distance from them roughly due to cetacean protection guidelines however when we are approached by the whales whilst in the water it is an incredibly humbling experience.”

The team found the experience incredibly special as it is very rare to be able to be so close to a humpback whale in the wild, especially one who approaches itself and is happy to join the group for 40 minutes.

“It was incredible how big and agile they are in the water, it is incredible,” she said.

“The whale was rolling around us and turning back to investigate us over and over. It was definitely as entertained by us as we were by it.

“At first we were a little cautious as they are such big animals that even if they hit you by accident they could cause a serious injury but we soon realised the whale knew exactly where we were in the water.

“The Whale manoeuvred itself inches away from us without touching us.

“People who have seen the footage have been blown away by how close and playful the whale was. Such a special and intimate interaction.”

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Giant Humpback Whale Encounter

By Shannine O’Neill

**EXCLUSIVE**

THIS FOOTAGE captured a curious 40-tonne humpback whale coming within inches of a group of divers.

Footage shows the 32-foot humpback whale playfully rolling around on its stomach in front of the divers.

Images show the humpback whale rising out of the 164-foot deep waters very close to the group of the group of amazed underwater explorers.


Wildlife Videographer Renee (27) from Penn Yan, New York, USA captured a video of a 40-tonne humpback whale coming inches from her Go Pro camera.

Renee captured the footage of one humpback whale curiously approaching the group in Chintsa, South Africa.

There were seven divers and one skipper there watching dolphins trying to find sardines when the whale approached the group unexpectedly.

The group watched first from the boat as the whale approached, capturing footage on Renee’s smartphone before they got into the water with the whale to capture more up-close footage.

Once in the water, the whale circled the group inquisitively but never touched them, making sure to keep inches away from everyone.

Renee and her team felt very comfortable with the whale being so close to them, as it seemed very aware of them and made sure not to get too close to them for the 40-minutes the whale spent with them in the water.

“We were busy in the water watching dolphins trying to find sardines when the whale approached us,” she said.

“It stayed around us for about 40 minutes.

“The whale came right up to the divers.

“It very rarely happens, we try to stay a respectful distance from them roughly due to cetacean protection guidelines however when we are approached by the whales whilst in the water it is an incredibly humbling experience.”

The team found the experience incredibly special as it is very rare to be able to be so close to a humpback whale in the wild, especially one who approaches itself and is happy to join the group for 40-minutes.

“It was incredible how big and agile they are in the water, it is incredible,” she said.

“The whale was rolling around us and turning back to investigate us over and over. It was definitely as entertained by us as we were by it.

“At first we were a little cautious as they are such big animals that even if they hit you by accident they could cause a serious injury but we soon realised the whale knew exactly where we were in the water.

“The Whale manoeuvred itself inches away from us without touching us.

“People who have seen the footage have been blown away by how close and playful the whale was. Such a special and intimate interaction.”

ENDS