Check out the crew's perspective of this same encounter on their youtube channel! Short: ruclips.net/user/shortsGvB78q48TCE Longer Vid: ruclips.net/video/Heioe2YcyOo/видео.html If you're curious which one I am on the boat, I'm the one with the maroon/red-ish shirt (that some people have called purple??) and a gopro on a black pole (its gopro's El Grande pole). You can hear me say such iconic lines as 'My whole screen is blue whale.' and 'Holy shit'.
I've read that deep sea divers getting shocked because they'd turn around and out of no where there's a blue whale staring at them. They said they moved so quietly and gently its like they were made of something else. The fact that such a large animal can move with such grace is truly an amazing thing to experience.
well they may be massive but in water they weigh nothing Seriously though if you go up to one with a scale it will read 0 along with there strong flippers and humans terrible vision and hearing under water its very easy for one to just come out of the blue ehhehehehe out of the blue
That is so incredible to be that close to a blue whale. Normally blue whales are shy but they are curious sometimes at boats and they are considered gentle giants.
I've heard grey whales were very agressive towards humans during times the whale hunt was common and legal everywhere. In the present they are friendly and curious towards people in tourist boats. Can it be blue whales are usually timid because they've learned (by generations) humans are dangerous? And now they're protected for quite some years: when humans' behavior has changed towards it seems likely theirs towards us will change as well.
Not really. Blue Whales aren't shy. A creature such as that can never be shy against a single diver. It views it with curiosity maybe just as we humans may view a squirrel. Against a lage ship however it is understandable that fear would take over for the whale.
Their eyes are so small compared to their body so we rarely pay attention of them but when we do…wow suddenly we realize a connection is actually happening with these beautiful animals.
Its real c: The company I was out with posted a couple videos of their perspectives of this same encounter. I linked the short they posted in the descrip if you wanted to see that perspective too. c:
It was an exceptionally rare encounter! We had stopped the boat and to everyone's surprise (including people who are out on the ocean every single day) the whale came over to check us out for a very extended period of time. Definitely once in a lifetime!
They eyes of whales and elephants are so undeniably human. Every time you look into one you can see the intelligence is there, that they’re forming an opinion on you, that they’re actively being quiet and gentle just to look at you so they don’t scare you off, just take a second to think about how much thought and motive something like that takes. They have thoughts and feelings and it’s so endearingly pure when they approach people out of curiosity and when they interact with their family. This footage is absolutely breath taking thank you for sharing.
I’ve always believed that animals like Blue whales are as smart as humans. I think they understand everything. I just think they collectively choose not to advance technologically, that they’re just content living how they do. Which makes me sad that humans hunted them to near extinction.
This has to be the most beautiful footage of a blue whale I have ever seen, and an up close encounter, no less. Such a massive yet gentle and curious creature, if only we could speak to them. It's such a well done recording, I'm surprised this hasn't been shown on international news yet. Someone needs to show this to National Geographic.
I hate to break it to you but it is very likely it's cgi actual whales look like this ruclips.net/video/CChQ6pDUXmk/видео.html edit i was incorrect it infact was not CGI proof: ruclips.net/user/shortsGvB78q48TCE?feature=share
Thank you! haha Its because I haven't really done anything with it. Just posted the videos here on youtube and small clips on instagram but that's about it so I don't imagine National Geographic knows about it.
It’s just stunning to be able to see an animal this magnificent so close up when normally you would not even know it was underneath you in the ocean. Thank you for doing this and sharing it - will be coming back to this for sure.
Wild how you can't very close to all of a blue whale at once. When the diver reached the tail then looked ahead at the rest of the whale and how far away and huge it is. Magnificent! I'm so sorry humanity has been destroying such wonders of evolution.
Yes! Lots of people have asked why I wasn't afraid that it would tip the boat or hit it but this whale seemed incredibly aware of us and how large it was. It never once even tapped the boat.
@@WMMtravels - I think that people are starting to realize that big animals are very aware of how big they are and how they might scare smaller animals (such as humans). I bet that whale enjoyed that gentle encounter with humans. That whale could have probably done damage to the boat simply by swimming away quickly, and the whale seems fully aware of that. Also, I doubt he was in a hurry to get anywhere right then.
I've never been more moved by a video of a whale. It'e the eye. When you see its eye looking back at you it's like you can see into each other's souls, and we're having a conversation with no words. Truly amazing. Deeply moving. I've wondered if something so huge would barely even notice if a diver is nearby, as it effortlessly moves with a singular purpose: giant schools of krill. Like an aircraft carrier, once in motion and at speed you're amazed how long it takes to stop itself. The same goes for when they both make turns. It takes tremendous energy & time. But this video...what a wonderful, unique, and unforgettable experience it must have been to film this. Once in a lifetime! Wow!🤯 Thanks for posting!
Your words expressed exactly what I was verbalizing to myself watching the video. The moment the eye locked on brought on a real emotional response. Incredible.
Very well said. I couldn't agree more. It is the eyes. Too creatures from different worlds looking into each other's souls. Lets help preserve that on our planet so we can continue too have these awe inspiring once in a lifetime encounters.
Imagine the thoughts of this creature. Mammals have proven to be some of the most empathetic species. I bet he's just vibing and happy that you're just vibing next to him.
What a distinguished honor! To be approached by nothing less than the largest living being this Earth has _ever known!_ Something so extremely rare, even amongst the diver population! Never forget this precious encounter. ❤️
Thank you!! It was a really cool moment - definitely felt honored. Worth noting tho - I wasn't in the water. This big guy was seen on a whale watching trip so I was in a boat just dipping the gopro in the water. I'd definitely love to take the gopro on dives in the future eventually though.
Actually some sauropods were larger than blue whales, patagotitan and giraffatitan come to mind. Although I believe they weren’t as heavy as blue whales
I suppose it’s up to your own definition, I don’t consider the fungi the largest organism alone because the way I see them is that each one is one little individual thing, it’s just that they all connect together, but if you see them as one thing (which they technically are) then they would be the largest. I don’t consider the blue whale the largest because I don’t think about weight like that, weight would make it the heaviest not the largest. I believe that dinosaurs like argentinosaurus would be the largest living organism because they are one singular animal and they are the LARGEST not the heaviest.
That was not just one of the largest animal species alive right now, that's the largest animal species to ever be alive, period. That's amazing that you had such great footage of them!
@@NathanielTavington A few sauropods were longer than the Blue Whale but none were more massive. Argetinosaurus is the largest animal to have ever walked on land, it was thought to have averaged 90 metric tons, possibly getting up to 120 tons. The Antarctic Blue Whale averages 112 metric tons and the largest ever recorded was 190 tons.
@@Fancy_Bear Most likely around 70 tonnes - sauropods were massive, but thanks to lightweight skeletons and very stretched out proportions, they still can't hold a candle to the giant mysticetes of today
I've never seen anything more beautiful. Thank you for respecting the creature's space. Absolutely magnificent video I'll save to watch over again. Peace on your travels.
It was a huge honor for sure! Tho worth noting we were in a boat (engines off for animal's safety), I don't imagine this big fella would have come so close if we hadn't been.
Besides their astonishing enormity and hydrodynamic sleekness, another interesting characteristic of Blue Whales is the near-absence of external parasites. Most baleen whales, particularly, Humpbacks and Right Whales are often heavily infested with parasitic crustaceans commonly called "whale lice" (Family Cyamidae) which can be clearly seen even from many yards away. Sometimes these parasites lead to strandings. Occasionally the irritation becomes so intense that whales swim into coastal shallows where they attempt to remove the pests by rubbing their backs and bellies on the sandy bottom. Usually, this is harmless, but tricky tides can leave a whale grounded and helpless. Many whales are also unwilling hosts for colonies of whale barnacles, which are also crustaceans, though they filter feed on platonic organisms rather than on the skin of the whale itself. They don't appear to irritate the host, though large colonies probably make swimming more difficult due to the drag they cause. Most Blue Whale footage I've seen shows no whale lice or barnacles. though some have "hitchhikers" clinging to the trailing edge of their pectoral fins and tail flukes. These look like a fringe of rather thick filaments like strands of rope. I don't know what these are, but they resemble parasitic copepods that infest fish and sharks. I haven't seen any on this whale, but there is something hanging on the very tip of his dorsal fin at 3:00.
Thank you! Really good information. Yeah this guy just had a little bit on the tip of his dorsal fin possibly. We've also seen them with remoras clinging to them (I have footage of a blue whale calf with some) but this guy was remarkably clean.
Thank you! haha that's totally fair! I think i was too stunned by what I was watching to feel much other than shock but later on I was definitely really excited about it!
Same I thought that because as the camera went under water that second it was deep enough to catch the shot of the whale coming up! A beautiful video never the less but i would question if it was real myself personally with whale encounters they are very much of a real moment encounter the videos are not this graceful you hear breathing apparatus the water isn’t as clear, but again this video is a beautiful video never the less
For some reason, this makes me incredibly emotional. I'm sure it does even more so in person, but such an awe inspiring animal being so gentle and so clearly itellligent just fills me with reverance for it, such an amazing creature. It may be impossible to communicate, but clearly we both wonder about each other in the same way, just from vastly different worlds.
I honestly felt the same in the moment - just honored that it even acknowledged that we were there. Even watching the footage back now four months after this happened still brings back a lot of feelings.
What a moving experience just to watch this beautiful creature in our oceans, and in my humble opinion, I believe that this video ought to get some kind of wildlife award !! It's just a stunning video. Thank you for sharing with RUclips channel 😀 😊
Finally a person who recently recorded a whale it's a great thing to see one I was wondering if people still record them cos it's fun to just watch them
This is an absolutely stunningly beautiful video. I'm so envious that you got to experience this wonderful creature up close and personally! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve been fortunate to dive with manta rays in the Maldives. These large, beautiful creatures are so inquisitive and very gentle allowing emotional encounters so long as you show patience and refrain from trying to touch them. I’ve also snorkled with young whalesharks in Baha but neither of these memorable events come close to what that diver experienced. So envious but so grateful he shared the video for our enjoyment. Thank you.
Diving with manta rays sounds like a dream. I should note though that I wasn't in the water with this whale at all. I was in a boat and had the gopro on a pole in the water.
The side fins on a blue whale are 12 feet long and its tail flukes are 25 feet across get your tape measure out and pull it to these lengths to truly see how massive this wonderful mammal is!!!
These are one of the most curious and friendly underwater mammals out there. Exactly why they were easily hunted during the days of Whaling. Such majestic beauties.
Blues typically tend to be much more aloof about boats/people and almost avoidant (which is what made this encounter so incredibly rare). Humpback whales are most known for their friendly behavior. c:
This was an emotional video as it built to revealing the eye of the whale, it got to me. I cannot imagine how the diver felt being so close to such a beautiful animal and looking straight into the whales eye is like looking into their soul. Andy UK
Surreal is really the best way I can describe it. There were a lot of feelings and very little thought. Really was just in the moment. It is also worth noting though that I was in a boat for this, not in the water. c: There's a video linked in the descrip that the company posted of the moment from their points of view if you wanted to see those angles too.
What beautiful animals they are. They are huge but they are gentle and away or their power. We’re lucky to share a planet with these magnificent creatures. You’re even more lucky to have that interaction with one.
My takeaway: Say you are in the deep ocean. Blue abyss all around you. Suddenly from out of nowhere, this gigantic multi-ton behemoth appears next to you. Terrifying.
@@PringleLover-1521 the biggest ever known ocean predator was the megalodon and it was only 2 thirds the length of a blue whale. They definitely would hunt blue whales today if they were still around but they werent "almost as big".
It never ceases to amaze me how such a massive, overwhelmingly powerful creature can be so quiet and peaceful. Truly a beautiful moment. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us.
How those giant beings can move that silently is just beyond me. So close to the surface, and there are no ripples, no waves, nothing until it comes up for air. It was like it was just...floating along with the current.
Anytime I see a whale in games, movies, shows, videos like this or irl...I just feel safer. Like how now I know nothing will scare me as long as it's around.
This is how all of us felt on the boat watching this guy pass all around us. c: Incredibly peaceful but simultaneously surreal experience. Lots of people see the videos from myself and others and their first thought is 'it could have flipped the boat' and sure it has the power to but not once did that ever cross any of our minds because it was such a calming thing.
I’ll never get over how amazing it is that we live in the same time and in the same space as the largest animals this planet has ever seen. This was a beautiful, almost eerie but definitely incredible video! Thank you for sharing it with the world.
What an incredible piece of music to accompany this video. Please add credits to the video description. The combination of the visuals with the music inspires an immediate brilliant calming and focusing of a busy brain. I was so moved by your video that I needed to watch it twice, to experience it a second time to notice the fine points. The second time when the music swelled as the whale’s eye came into view, I zoomed in on the eye and was blown away by the powerful feeling of sentience of this magnificent creature. The video left me touched and profoundly aware of our species accountability of being a constant multi-faceted threat to their species. Thought provoking. Well done! 👍👍
Thank you! I do have the song credit in the description currently and as for video credits, since I recorded it, the camera and editing software I used are also listed. c:
@@WMMtravels Thanks for the reply. I’m afraid I don’t see the music credits, just a link to CGI criers and the Go-Pro info. Sorry to be dense but can you clarify where it’s listed? Thanks.
@@Stormsteed 'Camera: Gopro Hero 10 (4k 120fps) Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro Song: Fields of Moab' At the bottom of the lil list bit here. c: Fields of Moab is the song. Its part of Epidemic Sound's music library.
This quite literally took my breath away. Such a precious beautiful whale. It’s so tranquil and just wow. Absolutely beautiful to watch. Bless all our precious animals on our earth. ♡︎♡︎
I have never seen a Blue Whale video close enough to get real eye contact before (and I have watched every blue whale video on RUclips). This was a first, probably ever. Well done.
Same! I'd seen photos prior and some further away but up close was a completely different experience. In the footage linked in the descrip it really puts it into perspective. The boat we were on was about 40 feet long (maybe a little less) and the whale is about twice as long as it.
I look into that creature’s eyes, and I see knowledge and emotion and intelligence and feelings. Floating and swimming beside this massive, intelligent and caring angel would be otherworldly.
Let's be honest, the music choice translates this encounter perfectly, something magical, peacefull and beautifull! Couldn't help myself and shed a tear
It is a rare one where I could have just left the natural sound haha! Usually there's a lot of talking which when the footage gets slowed down sounds terrible so I try to patch it or cover it with music. This one I think we were all too stunned to talk.
The fact that these animals remain gentle giants despite us killing them for years is a clear indication that we should be protecting them instead. They're so beautiful!
Oh haha! If it helps ease the panic at all, we were all in a boat and it was incredibly aware of its size and position in reference to us so it never did anything that made anyone worried.
I read Castle Swimmer, and the main character said he tried to go to the surface of the ocean. He couldn't know where is up, or where is down. I understand that greatness now.
What an amazing animal I’m wondering if you have the part 2 posted because I remember the whale swimming up to you I never knew a blue whale can be as curious and playful as a humpback
There's a couple parts up! c: I should hopefully be getting the full trip video together to upload soon. Yeah - we were all surprised. Most people on the boat with me work on other whale watching boats (some nearby and others up in Monterey) and no one had seen one act like that. Normally they're pretty aloof since they're hyper focused on getting food.
True! A lot of early whale/cetacean art reflects that I think - they're often portrayed more monster like and anatomically pretty off since most of their experiences seeing one likely were just seeing them breathing (so very little of the body seen) if not an occasional breach if they came across a Humpback whale
It really does! On one hand it was annoying in some shots (not this one except for one teeny part) it made parts of the whale look incredibly blown out until the gopro's auto white balance grabbed the right spot but on the other hand when it wasn't blown out it made it look stunning.
Check out the crew's perspective of this same encounter on their youtube channel!
Short: ruclips.net/user/shortsGvB78q48TCE
Longer Vid: ruclips.net/video/Heioe2YcyOo/видео.html
If you're curious which one I am on the boat, I'm the one with the maroon/red-ish shirt (that some people have called purple??) and a gopro on a black pole (its gopro's El Grande pole). You can hear me say such iconic lines as 'My whole screen is blue whale.' and 'Holy shit'.
@@africandiaspora8614 Nice job just pointing out that you have a single brain cell bud.
@@WMMtravels 🤣😂😅😅😂🤣😆😁😎
I've read that deep sea divers getting shocked because they'd turn around and out of no where there's a blue whale staring at them. They said they moved so quietly and gently its like they were made of something else. The fact that such a large animal can move with such grace is truly an amazing thing to experience.
There'd be brown water around me for sure.
@@coolhwip6638 Lol I agree with you there.
Can't blame them. The ocean's vast and the sea fauna can be enormous and beautiful and they could pop up outta nowhere
well they may be massive but in water they weigh nothing Seriously though if you go up to one with a scale it will read 0 along with there strong flippers and humans terrible vision and hearing under water its very easy for one to just come out of the blue
ehhehehehe out of the blue
They move 5 mph when feeding, but can reach up to 31 mph when around or looking for other whales. Usain Bolt can only run 27 mph.
That is so incredible to be that close to a blue whale. Normally blue whales are shy but they are curious sometimes at boats and they are considered gentle giants.
It was extremely lucky! c:
Yeah, a curious giant could weigh more than a biggest Dinosaur.
I've heard grey whales were very agressive towards humans during times the whale hunt was common and legal everywhere. In the present they are friendly and curious towards people in tourist boats.
Can it be blue whales are usually timid because they've learned (by generations) humans are dangerous? And now they're protected for quite some years: when humans' behavior has changed towards it seems likely theirs towards us will change as well.
Not really. Blue Whales aren't shy. A creature such as that can never be shy against a single diver. It views it with curiosity maybe just as we humans may view a squirrel. Against a lage ship however it is understandable that fear would take over for the whale.
It's a CGI.
Their eyes are so small compared to their body so we rarely pay attention of them but when we do…wow suddenly we realize a connection is actually happening with these beautiful animals.
You can feel the sentience from the animal. I'm so moved by this video, as well.
:-)
bro our eyes are like that two
Its real c: The company I was out with posted a couple videos of their perspectives of this same encounter. I linked the short they posted in the descrip if you wanted to see that perspective too. c:
This guy must've been so lucky to get that close to a blue whale!
I've never seen someone get that close to one before!
It was an exceptionally rare encounter! We had stopped the boat and to everyone's surprise (including people who are out on the ocean every single day) the whale came over to check us out for a very extended period of time. Definitely once in a lifetime!
The birds are talking to the light reflected on the whale only if I pause.
i just couldn't tell how close the diver was. was he arms reach away at one point near the mouth?
I have. back in 1982 I saw a whole family of blue whales. very scary but also very humbling, what a world we live in eh?
They eyes of whales and elephants are so undeniably human. Every time you look into one you can see the intelligence is there, that they’re forming an opinion on you, that they’re actively being quiet and gentle just to look at you so they don’t scare you off, just take a second to think about how much thought and motive something like that takes. They have thoughts and feelings and it’s so endearingly pure when they approach people out of curiosity and when they interact with their family. This footage is absolutely breath taking thank you for sharing.
Wonderfully put! We are very fortunate to share the planet with such awe-inspiring beings.
everyone always says "very human eyes" but have you ever considered that maybe we have the "very _whale or elephant_ eyes"?
@@tkhero7045 Good point.
I’ve always believed that animals like Blue whales are as smart as humans. I think they understand everything. I just think they collectively choose not to advance technologically, that they’re just content living how they do. Which makes me sad that humans hunted them to near extinction.
None of this is true. This is entirely you anthropomorphizing. Grow up.
This has to be the most beautiful footage of a blue whale I have ever seen, and an up close encounter, no less.
Such a massive yet gentle and curious creature, if only we could speak to them.
It's such a well done recording, I'm surprised this hasn't been shown on international news yet. Someone needs to show this to National Geographic.
I feel exactly the same. Filled with wonder while watching it.
I hate to break it to you but it is very likely it's cgi actual whales look like this ruclips.net/video/CChQ6pDUXmk/видео.html
edit i was incorrect it infact was not CGI
proof: ruclips.net/user/shortsGvB78q48TCE?feature=share
Thank you! haha Its because I haven't really done anything with it. Just posted the videos here on youtube and small clips on instagram but that's about it so I don't imagine National Geographic knows about it.
thanks!
@@WMMtravels I agree, this deserves recognition!
It’s just stunning to be able to see an animal this magnificent so close up when normally you would not even know it was underneath you in the ocean. Thank you for doing this and sharing it - will be coming back to this for sure.
Aw thank you! I'm glad you enjoy it and it is really cool to see it so close since blue whales typically aren't at all interested in boats
Wild how you can't very close to all of a blue whale at once. When the diver reached the tail then looked ahead at the rest of the whale and how far away and huge it is. Magnificent! I'm so sorry humanity has been destroying such wonders of evolution.
Just beautiful... a gentle giant... Full of curiosity but being very calm almost to stop you being frightened off by his size. Wonderful!
Yes! Lots of people have asked why I wasn't afraid that it would tip the boat or hit it but this whale seemed incredibly aware of us and how large it was. It never once even tapped the boat.
do you have a website besides RUclips? to get a hold of you?
@@WMMtravels - I think that people are starting to realize that big animals are very aware of how big they are and how they might scare smaller animals (such as humans). I bet that whale enjoyed that gentle encounter with humans. That whale could have probably done damage to the boat simply by swimming away quickly, and the whale seems fully aware of that. Also, I doubt he was in a hurry to get anywhere right then.
I've never been more moved by a video of a whale. It'e the eye. When you see its eye looking back at you it's like you can see into each other's souls, and we're having a conversation with no words. Truly amazing. Deeply moving.
I've wondered if something so huge would barely even notice if a diver is nearby, as it effortlessly moves with a singular purpose: giant schools of krill. Like an aircraft carrier, once in motion and at speed you're amazed how long it takes to stop itself. The same goes for when they both make turns. It takes tremendous energy & time.
But this video...what a wonderful, unique, and unforgettable experience it must have been to film this. Once in a lifetime! Wow!🤯 Thanks for posting!
Felt the same way… what an amazing experience seeing it. Almost other worldly.
Your words expressed exactly what I was verbalizing to myself watching the video. The moment the eye locked on brought on a real emotional response. Incredible.
Very well said. I couldn't agree more. It is the eyes. Too creatures from different worlds looking into each other's souls. Lets help preserve that on our planet so we can continue too have these awe inspiring once in a lifetime encounters.
agreed. then i am reminded that they are still hunted by ignorant devils and bombarded with dangerous sonar waves constantly
But you don't see many aircraft carriers doing barrel rolls.
This is some of the finest blue whale footage I have ever seen! Can't imagine what was going on in your minds of this giant looking right at you.
“So… opinion on shrimp?”
Imagine the thoughts of this creature. Mammals have proven to be some of the most empathetic species. I bet he's just vibing and happy that you're just vibing next to him.
Well yeah, when you’re a creature that huge you can afford to be empathetic since hardly anything can be a threat.
It would be awesome to know what it had been thinking and feeling during this entire encounter!
What a distinguished honor! To be approached by nothing less than the largest living being this Earth has _ever known!_
Something so extremely rare, even amongst the diver population!
Never forget this precious encounter. ❤️
Thank you!! It was a really cool moment - definitely felt honored.
Worth noting tho - I wasn't in the water. This big guy was seen on a whale watching trip so I was in a boat just dipping the gopro in the water. I'd definitely love to take the gopro on dives in the future eventually though.
Actually some sauropods were larger than blue whales, patagotitan and giraffatitan come to mind. Although I believe they weren’t as heavy as blue whales
None of sauropods ever reach the weight of blue whale, it is the largest animal because of its size overall.
The largest living thing in the world is actually a network of fungi but i do get what you mean
I suppose it’s up to your own definition, I don’t consider the fungi the largest organism alone because the way I see them is that each one is one little individual thing, it’s just that they all connect together, but if you see them as one thing (which they technically are) then they would be the largest.
I don’t consider the blue whale the largest because I don’t think about weight like that, weight would make it the heaviest not the largest. I believe that dinosaurs like argentinosaurus would be the largest living organism because they are one singular animal and they are the LARGEST not the heaviest.
This is like the most magical footage i've ever seen 😳
It was incredible. ; u;
Such beautiful eyes, never seen anything so gentle and friendly, absolutely wonderful!
Thank you!
That was not just one of the largest animal species alive right now, that's the largest animal species to ever be alive, period. That's amazing that you had such great footage of them!
Thank you!
That's not true. Titanosauridae have at least three types that were larger than the blue whale, top amongst them Argentiniosaurus.
Argentinosaurus
@@NathanielTavington A few sauropods were longer than the Blue Whale but none were more massive. Argetinosaurus is the largest animal to have ever walked on land, it was thought to have averaged 90 metric tons, possibly getting up to 120 tons. The Antarctic Blue Whale averages 112 metric tons and the largest ever recorded was 190 tons.
@@Fancy_Bear Most likely around 70 tonnes - sauropods were massive, but thanks to lightweight skeletons and very stretched out proportions, they still can't hold a candle to the giant mysticetes of today
I've never seen anything more beautiful. Thank you for respecting the creature's space. Absolutely magnificent video I'll save to watch over again. Peace on your travels.
Thank you!
My god this is absolutely breathtaking…being next to such a colossus in awe of its size and majesty…what a lucky diver..
It was a huge honor for sure! Tho worth noting we were in a boat (engines off for animal's safety), I don't imagine this big fella would have come so close if we hadn't been.
@@WMMtravels you were so lucky, I’d literally be terrified of something that big!! But also good idea, probably would have scared the big guy off.
Besides their astonishing enormity and hydrodynamic sleekness, another interesting characteristic of Blue Whales is the near-absence of external parasites. Most baleen whales, particularly, Humpbacks and Right Whales are often heavily infested with parasitic crustaceans commonly called "whale lice" (Family Cyamidae) which can be clearly seen even from many yards away. Sometimes these parasites lead to strandings. Occasionally the irritation becomes so intense that whales swim into coastal shallows where they attempt to remove the pests by rubbing their backs and bellies on the sandy bottom. Usually, this is harmless, but tricky tides can leave a whale grounded and helpless. Many whales are also unwilling hosts for colonies of whale barnacles, which are also crustaceans, though they filter feed on platonic organisms rather than on the skin of the whale itself. They don't appear to irritate the host, though large colonies probably make swimming more difficult due to the drag they cause.
Most Blue Whale footage I've seen shows no whale lice or barnacles. though some have "hitchhikers" clinging to the trailing edge of their pectoral fins and tail flukes. These look like a fringe of rather thick filaments like strands of rope. I don't know what these are, but they resemble parasitic copepods that infest fish and sharks. I haven't seen any on this whale, but there is something hanging on the very tip of his dorsal fin at 3:00.
Cool explanation. Good eye, too. :-)
Thank you! Really good information. Yeah this guy just had a little bit on the tip of his dorsal fin possibly. We've also seen them with remoras clinging to them (I have footage of a blue whale calf with some) but this guy was remarkably clean.
Tysm for this! I was wondering why I’ve never seen a blue whale encrusted in barnacles, relative to humpback whales and such
I think the eye is one of nature's most beautiful and thought-provoking inventions ever.
Definitely!
I feel like I'm watching an animated movie. Just buitifull. If I saw one up close like that, I think I would cry from pure excitement.
Thank you! haha that's totally fair! I think i was too stunned by what I was watching to feel much other than shock but later on I was definitely really excited about it!
Same I thought that because as the camera went under water that second it was deep enough to catch the shot of the whale coming up! A beautiful video never the less but i would question if it was real myself personally with whale encounters they are very much of a real moment encounter the videos are not this graceful you hear breathing apparatus the water isn’t as clear, but again this video is a beautiful video never the less
@@Amy-he6wf There's also no breathing apparatus sound because I wasn't in the water |D I was in a boat. I just had the gopro dipped in the water.
Don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful video.
Makes me glad to be alive.
Thanks and I'm glad!
For some reason, this makes me incredibly emotional. I'm sure it does even more so in person, but such an awe inspiring animal being so gentle and so clearly itellligent just fills me with reverance for it, such an amazing creature. It may be impossible to communicate, but clearly we both wonder about each other in the same way, just from vastly different worlds.
I honestly felt the same in the moment - just honored that it even acknowledged that we were there. Even watching the footage back now four months after this happened still brings back a lot of feelings.
What a moving experience just to watch this beautiful creature in our oceans, and in my humble opinion, I believe that this video ought to get some kind of wildlife award !!
It's just a stunning video. Thank you for sharing with RUclips channel 😀 😊
Thank you so much!
Finally a person who recently recorded a whale it's a great thing to see one I was wondering if people still record them cos it's fun to just watch them
Yep! I try to get out on the water as often as I can to see them. I'm glad people like seeing the videos!
So calm.. My mind got relaxed after watching it
I'm glad!
This is an absolutely stunningly beautiful video. I'm so envious that you got to experience this wonderful creature up close and personally! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you!
I’ve been fortunate to dive with manta rays in the Maldives. These large, beautiful creatures are so inquisitive and very gentle allowing emotional encounters so long as you show patience and refrain from trying to touch them. I’ve also snorkled with young whalesharks in Baha but neither of these memorable events come close to what that diver experienced. So envious but so grateful he shared the video for our enjoyment. Thank you.
Diving with manta rays sounds like a dream. I should note though that I wasn't in the water with this whale at all. I was in a boat and had the gopro on a pole in the water.
This is what GoPro and RUclips were made for! So beautiful! Thanks for sharing this!
Considering how intelligent whales are, I wonder what that one was thinking?
I wonder the same thing! It really feels like (in this shot in particular) that its analyzing what its seeing.
The side fins on a blue whale are 12 feet long and its tail flukes are 25 feet across get your tape measure out and pull it to these lengths to truly see how massive this wonderful mammal is!!!
That eye, it wasn't just looking back at you, it was observing, curious, studying us just as much as we were looking at it. So cool looking.
Yeah! Its cool that you can actually see it moving its eye around to look at everyone and the boat. Definitely curious about what it was seeing.
These are one of the most curious and friendly underwater mammals out there. Exactly why they were easily hunted during the days of Whaling. Such majestic beauties.
Blues typically tend to be much more aloof about boats/people and almost avoidant (which is what made this encounter so incredibly rare). Humpback whales are most known for their friendly behavior. c:
@@WMMtravels ah you're right. Thanks for the clarification.
@@Martin-117 No worries! c:
Thank you so very much for this beautiful video. We all need to try harder to save these magnificent creatures to have more moments like this.
Definitely!
This was an emotional video as it built to revealing the eye of the whale, it got to me. I cannot imagine how the diver felt being so close to such a beautiful animal and looking straight into the whales eye is like looking into their soul. Andy UK
Surreal is really the best way I can describe it. There were a lot of feelings and very little thought. Really was just in the moment. It is also worth noting though that I was in a boat for this, not in the water. c: There's a video linked in the descrip that the company posted of the moment from their points of view if you wanted to see those angles too.
What a MAGNIFICENT GIANT...!!! Eyes the size of softballs. 90+ft of beauty.
Very much so! c:
What beautiful animals they are. They are huge but they are gentle and away or their power. We’re lucky to share a planet with these magnificent creatures. You’re even more lucky to have that interaction with one.
Thank you! It was extremely special - definitely won't ever forget it.
Truly a once in a lifetime experience.
My takeaway:
Say you are in the deep ocean. Blue abyss all around you. Suddenly from out of nowhere, this gigantic multi-ton behemoth appears next to you.
Terrifying.
That would be really freaky for sure. Especially since they could essentially approach silently.
ah man honestly this reignites the joy of life for me. nature is truly inspiring glad u could experience this and capture it for all to see
Aw I'm glad! And thank you! It was a really moving encounter.
It always gets me when the pan into the water clearly shows a calm open ocean before we can see the whale.
haha yes! I almost cut that part for the upload but I think it really adds to the calmness of it all.
its hard to imagine that prehistoric animals existed that were almost as big as a blue whale, but were aggressive and predatory. Nightmare fuel
Nothing predatory has come close to the blue whale in size
@@ryanwatterson4038Although there were some prehistoric predators that were almost as big as the blue whale
@@PringleLover-1521 the biggest ever known ocean predator was the megalodon and it was only 2 thirds the length of a blue whale. They definitely would hunt blue whales today if they were still around but they werent "almost as big".
Technically the blue whale itself is a predator, since it primarily eats krill.
@@ziggytheassassin5835 2/3 is still incredibly massive
The Blue Whale is the largest living organism to ever live on Earth at any point in history.
yuppp
There are no words when you look into that eye. Beautiful work.
Thanks!
It never ceases to amaze me how such a massive, overwhelmingly powerful creature can be so quiet and peaceful. Truly a beautiful moment. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us.
Agreed! Thank you + I'm glad you enjoyed it. c:
How those giant beings can move that silently is just beyond me. So close to the surface, and there are no ripples, no waves, nothing until it comes up for air. It was like it was just...floating along with the current.
This particular whale was very minimal when it came to disturbing the surface of the water when it came up to breathe. It was pretty cool!
Anytime I see a whale in games, movies, shows, videos like this or irl...I just feel safer. Like how now I know nothing will scare me as long as it's around.
This is how all of us felt on the boat watching this guy pass all around us. c: Incredibly peaceful but simultaneously surreal experience. Lots of people see the videos from myself and others and their first thought is 'it could have flipped the boat' and sure it has the power to but not once did that ever cross any of our minds because it was such a calming thing.
I’ll never get over how amazing it is that we live in the same time and in the same space as the largest animals this planet has ever seen. This was a beautiful, almost eerie but definitely incredible video! Thank you for sharing it with the world.
Same. I'm glad I get to have encounters with this giants from time to time. Thank you!
So glad they took this video off of private! I've been trying to watch it again for a year or so!
The gentle giant, literally ❤️ I got chills looking into the eye of the whale
Incredible video and also an amazing choice for background music!
Thanks!
So beautiful, majestic and magnificent!!
What an incredible piece of music to accompany this video. Please add credits to the video description. The combination of the visuals with the music inspires an immediate brilliant calming and focusing of a busy brain. I was so moved by your video that I needed to watch it twice, to experience it a second time to notice the fine points. The second time when the music swelled as the whale’s eye came into view, I zoomed in on the eye and was blown away by the powerful feeling of sentience of this magnificent creature. The video left me touched and profoundly aware of our species accountability of being a constant multi-faceted threat to their species. Thought provoking. Well done! 👍👍
Thank you! I do have the song credit in the description currently and as for video credits, since I recorded it, the camera and editing software I used are also listed. c:
@@WMMtravels Thanks for the reply. I’m afraid I don’t see the music credits, just a link to CGI criers and the Go-Pro info. Sorry to be dense but can you clarify where it’s listed? Thanks.
@@Stormsteed 'Camera: Gopro Hero 10 (4k 120fps)
Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro
Song: Fields of Moab'
At the bottom of the lil list bit here. c: Fields of Moab is the song. Its part of Epidemic Sound's music library.
This quite literally took my breath away. Such a precious beautiful whale. It’s so tranquil and just wow. Absolutely beautiful to watch. Bless all our precious animals on our earth. ♡︎♡︎
Thank you!
I have never seen a Blue Whale video close enough to get real eye contact before (and I have watched every blue whale video on RUclips). This was a first, probably ever. Well done.
Was a first for me too, extremely cool experience
It's obvious that they're huge, but I never realized just how huge they are until I saw footage of this close to them. They are so massive.
Same! I'd seen photos prior and some further away but up close was a completely different experience. In the footage linked in the descrip it really puts it into perspective. The boat we were on was about 40 feet long (maybe a little less) and the whale is about twice as long as it.
This is the most beautiful video on the whole YT💙
Thank you! That's a huge compliment.
All 4 parts are the experience of a lifetime!
For me this is THE most beautiful video on the entire internet! 💖💖💖💖💖💖
Thank you so much!
one of the most beautiful videos I’ve ever seen
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for sharing this magical moment
I'm glad you enjoyed it! c:
I was in awe..laughed..then cried. Beautiful.
The largest animal that has EVER lived, and by some miracle they're still alive today, but we're pushing them to extinction. Wake up humanity!!!
Certainly something worth saving!
You deserve an award for this footage! We don’t actually understand how rare this is!
Thank you so much! It is incredibly rare, I'm so glad I was able to experience this and wasn't too stunned to still get parts on camera!
Exquisite. Brilliant clarity. A mesmerizing and surreal experience.
Thank you! It definitely was.
@@WMMtravels 😍🐳🐋🐬🦭
I had never seen the eyes of a blue whale on camera before
Same prior to this encounter. Though I'd never really seen a Blue whale's eyes before at all even in photos I think.
Might just be the most amazing thing I have seen on youtube
oh wow, thanks!
I look into that creature’s eyes, and I see knowledge and emotion and intelligence and feelings. Floating and swimming beside this massive, intelligent and caring angel would be otherworldly.
Beautiful film of a beautiful creature
It was so relaxing watching it I nearly nodded off. Thankyou 🐳♥️🐋✌️
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
The beauti of these creatures is unreal. I despise people who aim to hurt them
Wow, that is incredible footage!!!!
Thanks!
Beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous!!! This is phenomenal footage, I am incredibly impressed!
Thanks!
This was absolutely amazing 🥲 the music just enhanced the beauty of the video! Many thanks for this footage ☺️
No problem! Happy to be lucky enough to share such a cool encounter
Let's be honest, the music choice translates this encounter perfectly, something magical, peacefull and beautifull! Couldn't help myself and shed a tear
Thank you! I'm glad you like it haha, a couple people have expressed a dislike for the music (or for the fact that I even have music on it at all)
I wish there was a way to know what they’re thinking or communicate with them.
Same. It would be interesting to see their perceptions of the world and the other creatures that inhabit it.
Thank you so much for sharing this video… it’s so overwhelming that it brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you! I'm really glad you enjoyed it, always happy to share what I see while out on the ocean. c:
This video does have a very ASMR feel about it to! You could have zero interest in whales the ocean but it does encapsulate you x
It is a rare one where I could have just left the natural sound haha! Usually there's a lot of talking which when the footage gets slowed down sounds terrible so I try to patch it or cover it with music. This one I think we were all too stunned to talk.
The fact that these animals remain gentle giants despite us killing them for years is a clear indication that we should be protecting them instead. They're so beautiful!
Definitely worth protecting!
They're so beautiful but if I saw this suddenly under me in the ocean my thalassophobia would literally stop my heart
Oh haha! If it helps ease the panic at all, we were all in a boat and it was incredibly aware of its size and position in reference to us so it never did anything that made anyone worried.
this is really amazing with the music and my mood, thank you.
Thank you!
Beautiful.......just beautiful 😢
Beautiful. Just beautiful. Wonderfully edited, perfect music.
Thank you!
Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you!
I am your 1000th subscriber this is truly beautiful thanks for making my day
Ahh Thank you so much!! And congrats on being the 1000th!!
It’s so overwhelming beautiful.
Thank-you so very much- the magnificent creature and the very fine filming and music- a work of art all the way.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Zo geweldig, wat een ervaring met deze vriendelijke reus,prachtig
"This Land is peaceful, its inhabitants kind."
For sure! c:
Anyone else just spend minutes looking into it’s eyes?
I read Castle Swimmer, and the main character said he tried to go to the surface of the ocean. He couldn't know where is up, or where is down. I understand that greatness now.
Reality will always be more impressive than fiction
That is one of the most beautiful videos I have ever seen !
It becomes clear to me that there is only one life.
Beautifully put.
Thank you so much! I'm glad i was able to capture how magical the moment was.
Kinda like meeting an angel watching over you. ❤
Perfect comparison.
Exactly what I was thinking :>
What an amazing animal
I’m wondering if you have the part 2 posted because I remember the whale swimming up to you
I never knew a blue whale can be as curious and playful as a humpback
There's a couple parts up! c: I should hopefully be getting the full trip video together to upload soon.
Yeah - we were all surprised. Most people on the boat with me work on other whale watching boats (some nearby and others up in Monterey) and no one had seen one act like that. Normally they're pretty aloof since they're hyper focused on getting food.
@@WMMtravels I mean I get we have parts 1 3 and 4 but we are missing part two
Have you upload because I remember that whale swimming up to you
I dream of humans learning their language and communicating with them. I want to know their philosophies and the stories they tell each other.
Would be awesome to know, for sure!
I want to give it a big hug
Would be like laying flat on the ground with your arms out haha, it was so large there's no way your arms could wrap around it even a little.
@@WMMtravels hahaha heck no I can't really hug it but i must try nontheless. 😆
Seriously incredible footage and even more amazing mammal.
amazing animal, thank you for sharing! :)
Thanks! No problem c:
@@WMMtravels blue whale my favorite
Imagine the First time an Intelectual Hominid admired a Blue Whale. It must have been Beautiful yet Horrifying.
True! A lot of early whale/cetacean art reflects that I think - they're often portrayed more monster like and anatomically pretty off since most of their experiences seeing one likely were just seeing them breathing (so very little of the body seen) if not an occasional breach if they came across a Humpback whale
What is this?? I’m in complete awe….where did this footage come from?? Was this you?? 😯😍🙏🏽
This is an adult Blue Whale! c: Its my footage yeah, got it while on a whale watching trip.
The way the light reflects off the skin looks so magical. 😍
It really does! On one hand it was annoying in some shots (not this one except for one teeny part) it made parts of the whale look incredibly blown out until the gopro's auto white balance grabbed the right spot but on the other hand when it wasn't blown out it made it look stunning.
PROTECT 🐋 AT ALL COSTS!
For sure!