Amazing Close Encounters of Whales Near Boats

WHALES PUT ON SPECTACULAR SHOW BESIDE BOATS IN OCEAN CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

WITH PIX AND VID

BY SHUK YEE TSANG

A marine photographer has captured breathtaking close encounters with whales surfacing just metres from boats, from giant tail slaps to dramatic feeding displays.

Jodi Frediani, 78, a marine photographer and whale researcher from Santa Cruz, California, captured the incredible footage across Monterey Bay in California, Alaska and the Silver Bank in the Dominican Republic.

The remarkable videos show humpback whales breaching, diving, slapping their tails and swimming close to boats, while other footage captures them working together during bubble-net feeding, where groups of whales create a circle of bubbles to help gather and feed on krill.

Jodi, who has photographed whales and marine species seriously for more than 25 years, has documented a wide variety of whale behaviour, including feeding, migration and social interactions.

She said: "My father gave me my first camera when I was twelve, but I've been photographing whales and marine species seriously for over 25 years."

ENDS