Divers Capture Breathtaking Video of Mother and Calf Humpback Whales Leaping Close By
Underwater photographer Álvaro Herrero, known as “Mekan,” documented the astonishing moment a humpback whale repeatedly breached the surface right before him in French Polynesia. The stunning video is simultaneously thrilling and terrifying, particularly as one breach came alarmingly close.
The clip lasts just about a minute and provides a first-person perspective of a young humpback whale breaching the water twice before its mother suddenly appears just a few feet from the divers. She then leaps from the ocean directly towards them, narrowly avoiding collision. The footage subsequently trails the whales as they dive and elegantly glide beneath the surface in a sight that is both carefree and truly awe-inspiring. This brief view serves as a reminder of the strength and majesty of the creatures that inhabit the ocean. Although we rarely observe them unless they surface in a dramatic way, they live a full life beneath the waves.
Fortunately, there are photographers like Herrero who spotlight their magnificence. As an experienced diver and photographer, his collection is rich with stunning images of these ocean giants. French Polynesia is also the location where Herrero received the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 award for a photograph of a mother humpback and her newborn calf. Humpback whales can grow between 14-17 meters (about 45-55 feet) and weigh up to 40 tons. Herrero estimates that the adult he encountered weighed around 30 tons.
To explore more work by the underwater photographer, you can follow Álvaro Herrero on Instagram.
Underwater photographer Álvaro Herrero documented an extraordinary encounter with a humpback whale.
Álvaro Herrero: Website | Instagram
Source: Underneath a Breaching Humpback Whale
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