DIVER SHAKES HANDS WITH HUGE HUMPBACK WHALE

The diver was swimming with a friend off the coast of Hawaii when the remarkable encounter took place.  They were swimming close to a group of humpback whales and were just metres away from one - weighing almost 80,000 pounds – when it extended its giant flipper in a peaceful manner.

Photographer Masa Ushioda, from Tokyo, Japan, moved to Hona, Hawaii, and took the pictures of the underwater meeting near his new home. Mr Ushioda, 43, said: ‘This particular female humpback whale - with the white belly - was extremely friendly and very curious about us humans.
 

‘She extended her pectoral fins to us repeatedly and sought for physical contact.  Other male whales around her were dangerous as they were fighting each other to gain access to this white bellied female.’

 

The pair were 50ft underwater and Mr Ushioda said the encounter was the best experience he has had with humpback whales. 
 

The friendly whale can be seen elegantly swimming on her back as she shows off her dancing moves while gliding through the water.  Mr Ushioda added: ‘The female whale was exceptional - there are many friendly whales, but they don't often come in for physical contact - this made it extra special. 

You can tell in the photographs how friendly she is, she's just posing for me in every picture.  The female whale was showing off her spectacular ballet dancing along the way.  However, one of the whales stunned the pair when it decided to blow bubbles – and it ‘sounded like a bomb’.  It was apparently a bid to tell amorous males nearby to back off.

Mr Ushioda continued: ‘All of a sudden she broke serene silence by blowing bubbles in a forceful way - it was like the explosion of an underwater bomb.  Since the seawater is over 800 times denser than air, the impact of the sound wave was amazingly loud and alarming.’

Read more and see more pictures
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2622512/Low-five-The-moment-diver-shakes-hands-52ft-humpback-whale-size-double-decker-bus-Hawaiian-waters.html

Photo Masa Ushioda - Sea Pics - Solent - Daily Mail
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