Blogs

A little close for comfort! Kayakers stunned when 40ft whale rises from water just a few feet away from them

Casually minding their own business, the kayakers were paddling along trying to spot whales in the distance at Monterey Bay in California, USA

Yahoo! News UK – Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Yahoo! News UK/GIANCARLO THOMAE/CATERS - Whale of a time: Kayakers are interrupted by the huge whale. (GIANCARLO THOMAE/CATERS)

Sperm whale causes a big splash in Norway

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/sperm-whale-causes-big-splash-193441041.html

These kayakers were joined by an unexpected guest during a gentle paddle - when a 40ft whale rose from the water just a few feet away.

Casually minding their own business the kayakers were paddling along trying to spot whales in the distance at Monterey Bay in California, USA.

But suddenly the 80,000lb beast rose from the water almost within touching distance of the shocked pair, who couldn't believe their eyes as the once-in-a-lifetime scene unfolded.

Laws state that nobody can approach a whale within 100 yards of them, but the mammoth mammal decided to take them by surprise instead.

The incredible moment was captured by Giancarlo Thomae, a marine biologist from Moss Landing in California, while on a day trip whale watching last weekend.

A kayaker looks on as the once-in-a-lifetime moment unfolds. (GIANCARLO THOMAE/CATERS NEWS)

He said: 'We were kayak whale watching and the whales just came right up to us. For being some of the largest animals on the planet they were very graceful.

'The whole encounter that happened between Karen and I lasted about three-quarters of a second. The whale dove three-feet from her kayak and didn't get one drop of water in it.

'Humpback whales are very curious and playful animals and get very friendly with kayakers and boaters - although maybe sometimes a bit too friendly.'

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/a-little-close-for-comfort--kayakers-stunned-when-40ft-whale-rises-from-water-just-a-few-feet-away-from-them-105218944.html#8SxURql

Video: Iceberg flips out in front of stunned tourists

Awe-inspiring footage showing an enormous iceberg flipping over in South American waters has been sweeping the Web.

Iceberg Flips Over

http://youtu.be/tt6digvuLsk

Appreciate the impressiveness of a gigantic iceberg flipping over in the middle of the ocean. It has something to do with ice being less dense than water and when the ice above the surface starts to melt, the larger amount of ice below the surface wants to float and causes the iceberg to flip.
The incredible moment was filmed by Israeli sightseers who were lucky enough to catch the amazing scenes from a catamaran.

During the clip, the bottom edge of the iceberg is seen slowly emerging from the ocean – sending water rushing down its sides.

The excitement of the tourists can be heard in the background as the iceberg flips over at Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina.

Osi Baruch, who filmed the event, provides a description of the video on YouTube, in which he explains how the iceberg was “calved” by Argentina's Upsala Glacier.

He says: “While we were passing by it with a catamaran, the huge berg lost a part of itself (look at the right side sinking) and then flipped over with a huge roar.

“In the process of melting this happens all the time, but it is seldom that it is captured on video when it happens...”

Iceberg calving is the sudden release and breaking away of a mass of ice from a glacier.