【Nature】 Humpback Whale caught flying

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These jaw-dropping images show the moment a humpback whale leapt majestically from the ocean, 'waving' to a tourist boat before crashing back down with an almighty splash.

The photos, taken off the coast of South Africa by marine tour guide Steven Benjamin, captured a sight rarely seen at such close proximity.

The 40 ton humpback put on an incredible aerial display, soaring through the air just yards from a boat as shocked onlookers screamed.

The spectacular display of strength and agility 'blew away' Mr Benjamin, who had never before managed to get so close to a humpback.

Mr Benjamin said: 'Huge whale breaches like this are common to see quickly from a distance, but it is exceptionally rare to have it occur close to the boat and have the camera ready. I got this shot out of sheer luck. We were focused on this whale whilst it was doing normal tail slapping and half head flops. It took a rest for 20 mins and then without notice or warning, it did a single massive breach.'

He added: 'I was stunned. I've never seen such a huge, front on and high breach like that. The whole boat erupted in screams as it landed.'

Mr Benjamin, from Cape Town, only started taking pictures of marine life six years ago.

The amateur snapper won his camera in a local photography competition, allowing him to capture bigger and better shots.

He added: 'People can't believe its a real image, everyone always looks twice and are blown away by it.'

The acrobatic animals can grow up to 50ft long, and have a reputation for throwing themselves out of the water despite weighing up to 40 tons.

Humpback whales were almost hunted to extinction during the 1960s, but a ban has allowed their global population to reach approximately 80,000.
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