Sydney whale-watchers’ close encounter with breaching humpback

A group of whale-watchers off Sydney’s northern beaches have had a very close encounter with a breaching humpback.

The moment was captured in a photograph shared by Whale Watching Sydney yesterday, and taken by J P Goodridge.

The whale can be seen leaping out of the ocean, thrillingly close to the whale-watching boat.

Whale Watching Sydney made a humorous observation about the encounter on Facebook.

“… Yes, everyone on that boat is looking the wrong way, hehe,” a staff member wrote.

Whales migrate north up Australia’s east coast between April and August.