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

Pictures of the week: From a dramatic lightning storm to a

playful whale

Lightning strikes the Willis Tower in Chicago during extreme weather earlier this week (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A burnt Jeep is charred white, while its wheels are turned to liquid after wildfires in the Black Forest, Colorado, raged through homes and communities (Reuters)

"That tickles mum!": African lion 'Tiombe' plays with her six-week old cub at Monarto Zoo, Adelaide, Australia (Dylan Coker/Newspix / Rex Features)

An aerial view of the Chrysler Building in New York City (Jason Hawkes)

The base of a tree is covered in caterpillar's webs. Hundreds of moth caterpillars have invaded a Cambridge park and covered the trees in the creepy white stuff (Rex Features)

3-2-1... blastoff: A soldier runs away from the launching pad as China's manned spacecraft prepares to launch for a 15-day mission (Reuters)

Protesters supporting whistle-blower Edward Snowden march to the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong where he is in hiding. The National Security Agency contractor revealed the U.S. government's top-secret monitoring of phone and Internet data (Reuters)

Dozens of sheep, goat and cattle storm down a hill in Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China (Reuters)

Still waters under a small yellow ferry as it passes through thick fog over Xin'an River in Jiande, Zhejiang province, China (Reuters)

A ball of fire rises into the air after an explosion in Istanbul's Taksim Square. Protesters are still occupying the square and Gezi Park after two weeks of protest and fierce clashes with police. At least five people have died and 5,000 have been injured (Reuters)

A boy walks past a mural painted outside the house former South African President Nelson Mandela once lived in, in Johannesburg's Alexandra township. Mandela has spent more than a week in hospital with a recurring lung infection. His condition has been described as stable but serious (Reuters)

A humpback whale puts on a spectacular show for spectators as it jumps out of the water and crashes onto the surface in Newcastle, New South Wales (Peter Lorimer/Newspix / Rex Features)