A tour boat in Monterey Bay, California, got quite the surprise from a very friendly sea creature. A humpback whale, 4-year-old Murph, jumped out of the ocean and waved at the whale watchers. In the photo, you can see that she is very close to the boat, practically towering over it.
Murph apparently jumped in and out of the water multiple times before she dove back in for good. From another boat near the area, Jodi Frediani, a whale photographer, captured the moment on camera.
The 74-year-old photographer has been photographing humpback whales for 18 years.
"Humpback whales don't deliberately threaten humans — they are good at navigating around stationary boats in the water," she said. "I am never afraid when I see them up close. Rather, I'm amazed and overjoyed by their power and magnificence."
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Humpbacks are often spotted in the waters of Monterey Bay between April and late December.
"Nothing makes me happier than watching and photographing lunge-feeding humpback whales," Jodi shared about the endangered species. "The magic and surprise as their massive heads suddenly rocket skyward from the deep fills me with joy every time."
