People who swim close enough to whales, how was it?
Posted by hadtocomeagain@reddit | whales | View on Reddit | 33 comments
Legally or illegally, big or small(is that even a word here lol), tho I'm hoping someone swim next to blue whale somehow (plz don't fake the story cuz i couldn't tell and i really wanna hear about something like wink wink)
lylefk@reddit
I've spent hundreds of hours in the water with Humpbacks, legally and ethically. It's just about the most incredible and amazing experience we can have in this life, I expect. It changes you.
Vanish_7@reddit
Changes you how?
I'd love to hear more about it.
Damnitwasagoodday@reddit
In the best way possible. It’s like meeting an alien. There is an exchange of curiosity and respect that many times leads to joy. Don’t do it illegally. There are ethical companies out there that can get you in the water with Sperm Whales, Humpbacks, etc.
Whales have community, empathy and intelligence. It will make you sad when you realize that humans could have a similar existence but we have complicated the crap out of things in the last 5,000 years.
lylefk@reddit
It's hard to explain, but connecting with an animal that huge and obviously so intelligent and aware...it's a powerful experience. They SEE you. Totally different than, say, a whale shark. Lights are on but nobody is home. Those are a one way encounter, like a reef fish lol.
Happy_Opportunity_32@reddit
Meeting our way distant cousin who's killing it in a whole different environment, a damn good experience indeed😌
Id1912@reddit
This is my biggest dream in life.
I’ve been up close with them while I have been on boats, but I have never had the opportunity to ethically dive with them so I have not gotten in the water. Just being next to them and hearing their songs is the most incredible experience and and truly brings you back to what life is about.
Ilovebirdstoomuch@reddit
Could you dm me where? I love humpbacks and I would love to see them so close
hadtocomeagain@reddit (OP)
How was the sound, people say you don't hear it you feel it
lylefk@reddit
If they are singing nearby, yes you absolutely feel it. There is a deep bass note that is lost in recordings, not sure why. Maybe the lower frequencies don't travel far enough through water, or the microphones don't capture it? No idea. It can make me feel a little nauseous, but it's incredible
Thick-Cartoonist-493@reddit
The base note is lost in what recordings?
The recording that you captured yourself or the recordings of whale songs that you have listened to recorded by someone else?
Using a mic on a standard camera won't come close to capturing the sound and you would need a hydrophone (underwater mic). Even then you couldn't reproduce the experience because you need to have a specialized speaker to reproduce the sound.
Low frequencies actually travel far further because the frequencies have longer wavelengths and are less likely to get dissipated by particulates and obstacles. Humpback whale songs can travel over a thousand miles in the ocean.
The high frequencies get distorted a lot easier so it makes sense that you would notice the base tone more.
Then there is also the fact that humans aren't good at hearing under water. Our ear drums are good in air where things compress. Water doesn't compress so sound actually travels further and faster in water than in air.
At this point I'm just rambling. If you would like to know more feel free to ask and if I don't know I'll point you in the direction of the studies to read.
bodinator1@reddit
Low frequencies would travel really long distances.
Microphones have a frequency range that they can record and it drops off at the two extremes so the really low sub bass would probably need a specialist mic and also a very large speaker to reproduce it.
The human range of hearing is 20 to 20k when young but drops off as you age , so low bass is below our hearing range anyway.
hadtocomeagain@reddit (OP)
That's really nice to hear, I'm jealous
Probably won't get the chance to do so, thx ro sharing
GWS2004@reddit
For the best interest of the animals NO ONE should be doing this.
Scott_Korman@reddit
I have the same feeling but don’t know why, can you elaborate?
GWS2004@reddit
They are not here for our amusement. Our presence changes their behavior. Behavior, like feeding, that's they can't afford to have disturbed.
lylefk@reddit
For what it's worth, it usually doesn't change their behavior at all...and whale swimming (most of it) doesn't happen where the whales feed.
Scott_Korman@reddit
I agree totally
qwerty_poop@reddit
There are native families in Tonga that allow people to have these magical experiences with humpback whales but they do it with only the whales interests at heart. They only go so close and let the mother decide if she's comfortable enough to allow it. Whales are also very curious creatures, so there are many documented instances of them approaching humans who were not even aware of them or seeking contact.
GWS2004@reddit
If that's what you need to tell yourself.
hadtocomeagain@reddit (OP)
Ik I'm just asking if someone did it
MajPF@reddit
It is possible to swim close to whales in Tonga islands during the whale season. Female whales come and stay in the shallow waters for a few months to give birth and raise their calf for their first few months. I’ve been their last week and I can confirm, this is a life-changing experience. Some are playful, some are shy, some are curious, some will flee and some will approach. I’ve been lucky to do this with a local Tongan family operating for 20+ years, they value the animal’s interest above everything, at least that’s how I perceived it. When they felt like nope those whales don’t want us, we didn’t even go in the water and just went on to find others. When they felt the mama whales were ok with us hanging around, only then would we come closer and stay at a reasonable distance. Sometimes the calves would come closer, and that’s when you forget how to human, cause even the smaller babies are several tons and meters big. But we spent several hours in the water around them, sometimes following them, sometimes just watching them sleep, and it was simply beautiful and peaceful.
Ilovebirdstoomuch@reddit
Could you dm me the name of the place? that sounds absolutely amazing
qwerty_poop@reddit
This is at the top of my bucket list. I hope I can make it there soon ❤️
hadtocomeagain@reddit (OP)
Thanks for sharing that was beautiful
Scott_Korman@reddit
Never did. Not sure if I would do it. There’s something that doesn’t sit right with me about imposing my company on such a majestic being. That said , if it randomly happened I’m pretty sure that even if I know they would nit harm me I’d be terrified because maybe megalophobia.
More_Mind6869@reddit
I was called out to swim by the whales.
I paddled way out to the deep deep water. Sitting on my boogie board, nothing's happening. The Voice said, send Aloha. So I worked up a chant and sent it out.
Voice says look down. With my mask and snorkel on im looking down and see 2 huge white things ! Sharks ? No. I can barely make out the outline of a Humpback whale.
It starts slowly floating up to the surface. I'm right over its head so I back up a few feet.
He comes up and surfaces right next to me ! I'm looking him right in the eye ! My mind is blown .!!!
Hello Grandfather ! Howzit ? He looks at me and says, everything's gonna be ok.... I'm like, Good to know !
I look right and there's a pilot whale, to my left, another one.
I swam next to Humpie as he took 3 breathes and slid back into the deep with 1 pilot whale.
I'm looking at the pilot whale like what's up man ? We swam around for several minutes until he swam off.
It was mind blowing, uplifting, a huge thrill. Gave me more confidence in interspecies communication and dreaming.
damn_wonderous@reddit
I've swam pretty close to a blue whale, although ypu can't swim WITH them the same way you could with humpbacks. It was incredible to see it underwater, so close. I cried in the water🥲
hadtocomeagain@reddit (OP)
Oh wow a blue whale, that's so cool
do you have pictures if possible, how close you were 15-30 meters?
How was the feeling? Did it pay attention to you? Like a look maybe lol
damn_wonderous@reddit
I didn't take these pictures, but I got about as close as the person in the lower picture at the surface. It didn't really pay any attention to us at all – it surfaced for only a moment before diving back to the depths before surfacing at a different spot. There were a lot of smaller boats there, and I now realize that the whale might have been bothered by them. We weren't even supposed to see a blue whale, but just got extremely lucky. And it just felt surreal. I'd say it was the best day of my life so far, with no exaggeration.
hadtocomeagain@reddit (OP)
I really hope i experience this one day
Thank you so much for this
AussieFarmBoy@reddit
How close is close enough 🤔
hadtocomeagain@reddit (OP)
Let's say. Lose that when you look left or right up or down you still see them lol
RIBCAGESTEAK@reddit
Pilot whales