Tourists share close encounter with massive grey whale in Mexico
As a boat load of tourists watch on in awe, the towering majesty of a massive whale breaches the water’s surface.
Alex Banky was filming when the 45-tonne grey whale broke the surface of the water in Magdalena Bay, Mexico, slowly moving towards the small boat he was in.
“Oh, hello señor whale,” Banky can be heard exclaiming in surprise.
READ MORE: The most polite city in Australia has been revealed
Alex Banky was filming when the 45 tonne creature broke the surface, slowly moving towards the open boat he was in. Instagram
As the whale edges ever closer, another tourist on the boat rushes forward, leaning over the side of the boat to reach out and touch the beautiful mammal.
Sensing his eagerness to do the same, a fellow tourist offers to hold Banky's camera. The baseball-cap wearing Banky quickly steps towards the whale.
He reaches out to the whale, gently patting it as the whale moves down into the water.
Possibly fearing the whale would disappear under the surface, Banky removes his cap and plants a quick kiss on the majestic beast.
The whale rises sternly out of the water, bumping heavily against the boat. The impact causes many of the tourists to recoil backwards.
As animal moves further down the side of the boat, Banky quickly returns to his camera, allowing his fellow tourist time with the whale.
The whale hung around long enough for tourists to have close encounters. Instagram
“I’ll take it back, you get in now,” Banky can be heard saying.
After a few more tourists make human contact with the beast, it further breaches before spraying water into the boat.
"I was vibrating, after the several close encounters we experienced. It was a magical, humbling, one-of-a-kind experience," Banky told the MailOnline.
"I've seen whales before, but from a distance. I've had some closer calls with breaching humpbacks off the coast of India, but nothing like this".
