Scuba diver Craig Capeheart filmed a magical event off the southeastern coast of South Africa when he witnessed a 40-ton humpback whale leaping fully out of the water. Looking surprisingly spry for such a large animal, the whale caused other boat passengers to shout with awe as it splashed down.
The majestic animal is performing an act known as breaching. Researchers believe that breaching is a way for distant groups to communicate, different from the tail and fin slapping that is reserved for close range communication.
Though it’s considered a breach any time the whale’s body is at least 40% above sea level, it’s quite rare to see their entire body fly out of the water. This makes Capeheart’s close-up video a unique gem. “It seems that never before has a recording been made of an adult humpback whale leaping entirely out of the water! A very rare event, indeed,” Capeheart writes. “Dolphins and even Great White Sharks have been seen flying out of the water, but this is a first for an adult humpback whale!”
This humpback whale jumps fully out of the water, a rare site captured on film by a scuba diver in South Africa.
h/t: [Mashable]
Related Articles:
Interview: Intimate Underwater Portraits of Humpback Whales by Jem Cresswell
Marine Photographer Captures Captivating Shots of Adorable Newborn Whales
Rare All-White Orca Whales Spotted in Pacific Ocean
Interview: Photographer Christopher Swann Captures Images of Whales and Dolphins in All Their Glory
Photographer Accidentally Captures Candid Shot of a Seal Surfing on a Humpback Whale
The post Rare Video Captures 40-Ton Whale Gleefully Leaping Fully Out of the Water appeared first on My Modern Met.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings