A paddle boarder who has been out on the water for over 40 years came across a humpback whale while out on the New Jersey harbor.
Brian Shea captured the footage of the majestic sea mammal on Saturday while out on the Jersey Shore at Long Branch, New Jersey.
He had seen two whales feeding less tan a mile from the beach, recently, and figured to try his luck with another sighting.
Brian Shea captured the footage of the majestic humpback whale on Saturday while out on the Jersey Shore at Long Branch, New Jersey
‘I usually bring the GoPro with me, because you never know what you’re going to come across in the ocean,’ he said to NBC New York.
While paddling out to deeper waters, the whale can be seen 20 feet away from his board.
And all of a sudden, the whale breaks the surface right next to Shea, to his amazement.
While paddling out to deeper waters, the whale can be seen 20 feet away from his board
All of a sudden, the whale breaks the surface right next to Shea, to his amazement
But there was one person who wasn’t too thrilled – Shea’s daughter who said the whale was ‘too close
But there was one person who wasn’t too thrilled – Shea’s daughter who said the whale was ‘too close.
‘Generally I’m not scared of the dolphins or whales as they’re not aggressive, but I also respect their space and appreciate that they are wild animals, so anything can happen,’ he added.
‘With regards to Saturday’s really close encounter, I was more in awe than afraid as I’ve gotten used to being so close to them and view the entire experience as something I’m so fortunate to see in nature.’
The father-of-two grew up on New Jersey’s Point Please Beach and considers the encounters to be one of his most amazing experiences in more than 40 years
The father-of-two grew up on New Jersey’s Point Please Beach and considers the encounters to be one of his most amazing experiences in more than 40 years.
‘Over the years we’ve gotten accustomed to seeing the dolphins on a nearly daily basis through the summer months,’ Shea said.
‘With that, I also appreciate that you could sit on the beach, every day for the next 20-years & never see a whale…so what we’ve been experiencing at the Jersey Shore these past few weeks is really magical.’