Playing fetch with a beluga whale - Avoid using plastics, we need these things stay alive

[Dan]

Playing fetch with a beluga whale in its natural environment.

 

[Stigster]

That was absolutely beautiful.

I went whale watching off the coast of San Diego a few years ago. We were warned we might not actually see anything and there was a fair amount of luck involved. We came across a group of between 12 and 15 humpback whales feeding and breaching the surface. Our guide was nearly shedding tears of joy she was so happy to see so many, saying it was the most she'd ever seen together. There were also harbour porpoises in the area hurtling around at amazing speed.

One thing I learned is that whale breath absolutely stinks. When they blow air after resurfacing from a dive you don't want to be downwind as you get a warm blast of air and the stink of something like a cooked beef burger blended with rotten fish comin at you.

Pregnant women weren't allowed to join the trip because the whales have a bacteria in their lungs that don't usually do humans any harm but pregnant women need to avoid it apparently. That's Stig's Whale Fact of the Day.

The word "awesome" is much overused these days but that truly was awesome.