A Dance with a Humpback Whale: An Unexpected Encounter in Tahiti
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A mesmerizing encounter between a humpback whale calf and a free diver has been captured in the waters off Moorea, Tahiti. Pablo Prieto, a photographer and free diver, was admiring a mother humpback and her calf when the curious youngster began to mimic the diver’s movements.
The 26-foot-long calf, roughly the size of a London bus, spent nearly two hours interacting with Prieto, originally from Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, and currently resides in Plymouth, Devon.
A photographer and free diver has recorded the once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the underwater giant frolicking in the water. Source: Caters News
The playful whale was initially 150 feet away before approaching and engaging in a beautiful underwater dance with Prieto.
The diver recalls the extraordinary experience as the whale mirrored his spins and movements for 20 minutes while maintaining eye contact. “It was like a real dance,” said Prieto, who emphasized the importance of keeping a respectful distance from the creatures.
Prieto was the last person in the water as he reluctantly ended the encounter. He described the once-in-a-lifetime experience as the highlight of his trip to Tahiti, emphasizing the need to protect these majestic animals and the ocean.
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Pablo Prieto captured the incredible encounter near Mo’orea, in Tahiti. He was observing a sleeping mother whale and her young when the calf decided to investigate the stranger watching from a distance. Source: Caters NewsMr Prieto, originally from based Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, and now based in Plymouth in Devon, said the whale was 150 feet away when the curious calf got closer and did a pirouette. He said the whale began to play with him by mirroring his actions as it glided through the water. Source: Caters News
During the dance, a remora fish, known for following larger marine animals, trailed the whale’s circular motions. Prieto also captured images of the mother and calf swimming close together, exhibiting their close bond.
This incredible encounter highlights the beauty of nature and serves as a reminder that it’s crucial to respect and protect these magnificent creatures and their environment.
He said: ‘The overall bonding was about 20 minutes long, but it was really confident, and there was this eye contact, I didn’t want to leave. But I had to because I was on a boat and was the only one left in the water for the last half hour so they couldn’t drag time out any longer. I had no choice but to leave’. Source: Caters NewsMr Prieto said he was humbled by the experience and called it the highlight of his life. ‘I really felt the connection to the whale, like he was synchronized with me and appreciated the eye contact at the end of the clip,’ he added. Source: Caters NewsOther photographs taken by Mr. Prieto show the calf and its mother swimming close to each other. Source: Caters NewsThe mother whale and her calf are swimming and diving beside each other. Touching fins is said to be a gesture of affection between a mother whale and its young, according to National Geographic. Source: Caters News
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He also captured a photo of a diver in the water near the whale, showing the huge difference in size between the two of them. Source: Caters News
