The kayakers in the clip below got more than they bargained for on this deep-sea stroll. Out on the water near Moss Landing, California, the pair was treated to a big surprise. They may have been in the area to see some whales, but there was no way they could have anticipated they'd get this close.
Given the area, it's not all too surprising that there were whales (or whale watchers) nearby. According to Go Whales, "The central California population of Humpback Whales migrates from their winter calving and mating areas off Mexico to their summer and fall feeding areas off coastal California," so the timing was perfect. It's a common whale watching destination, and Sanctuary Cruises just happened to be the one to catch the moment. It was definitely more eventful than most California whale watching tours.
Advertisement
The captain of the cruise noted in his captain's log that these two kayakers were lucky to get out with their lives. It all happened quickly, but the video tells it all. As the captain puts it, "They came very close to getting crushed to death by the mighty humpback whale. A full-size humpback can weigh in at 40-tons." He went on to describe it as "one of the more dangerous situations" that he'd ever seen on the water.
What you're witnessing is referred to as a "full breach," and had the kayakers been directly under foot, it surely would have been a solemn scene. Considering how it all went down, though, these two will likely remember this as one of the most notable moments of their lives.
It's likely one of the most dangerous situations anyone has seen on the water, let alone this captain. Humpback whales are surely powerful creatures, but they're not exactly prone to attacking humans. And more often than not, humans involved in close encounters are likely to be on a much larger vessel.
Advertisement
Nonetheless, when these two kayakers came up to the surface, they turned out to be all right.