A swimmer had a lucky encounter with a whale when she was in the waters just off the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.
In a viral video, with more than 3.4 million views accumulated since it was posted on September 24, 19-year-old Sierra Jayde shows what she got to witness when taking a relaxing dip at Bokarina Beach.
“Growing up with a passion for the ocean, I’ve fortunately witnessed some amazing marine life like turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales,” Jayde told Newsweek.
The video shows the poster enjoying a swim in the clear waters when, in the distance, she spots a whale splashing about on the surface. The creature can be seen breaching the surface of the water a number of times, showing off its fins and even its whole body as it jumps up out of the ocean.
“I’m also a photographer, so for context, I was simply trying to create content, but I never expected to capture or experience what I did,” Jayde said.
The lucky encounter happened in late July, and Jayde described it as “unforgettable.” She said: “I first noticed a tall splash 50 to 100 metres [164 to 328 feet] away, which I dismissed as a whitecap of a wave, but the next time, a slapping sound accompanied it, and I immediately knew it was a humpback whale breaching.
“It’s common to see humpback whales off much of the East Coast of Australia during their migratory months where they travel thousands of kilometers north to mate, and then back south to Antarctica with their newly born calves. A couple of minutes later as I watched on, I was able to deduce that there was both an adult and calf!”
Jayde added: “Hearing their bodies slam against the water made me feel so small yet so connected to the wild beauty of the ocean. I’ve seen humpbacks up closer from a boat, and more commonly, see them cruising along in the water, but this moment felt more raw and emotional while they played together and showcased their power and grace, bringing tears to my eyes as I attempted to film while swimming.”
The Australian government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water says there are at least 45 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Australian waters, including 10 large whales and 20 smaller ones.
People were amazed by Jayde’s encounter, with many sharing their reactions in the comments of her video.
“I watched Wales for 20 mins once and then someone said we had to go because we had been there for two hours,” posted Andrea.
Jessica Edwards commented: “My toxic trait is that I would have instinctively started trying to get to them. Obviously that wouldn’t have ended well for me.”
“I’d be terrified,” Emily commented, while Jen Cee Smith shared: “I would cry instantly when I would see this.”
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