Ireland

Watch: Teenager Tomás has encounter of a lifetime with humpback whale

A Co Kerry teen has a close encounter with a humpback whale
A Co Kerry teen has a close encounter with a humpback whale A Co Kerry teen has a close encounter with a humpback whale

A FATHER and son from Co Kerry who had an unforgettable encounter with a pod of whales managed to capture the awe-inspiring experience on video.

Terry Deane and 14-year-old Tomás had gone out on their rib boat hoping for a glimpse of the huge mammals, but were unprepared for just how close they would get.

The pair, who hail from the village of Camp on the Dingle peninsula, were about 15 miles north west of Brandon when they came face to face with the humpbacks.

Mr Deane told RTÉ News: "We had gone out on the longest day of the year with the intention of finding whales.

"We were observing three animals feeding for about an hour, but then they came over to the boat to check us out."

Suddenly, one of the whales 'spyhopped' out of the water, towering above the teenager as his dad captured the moment on a mobile phone.

Spyhopping is a term used to describe behaviour by aquatic animals, in particular orca and humpback whales, when they raise themselves out of the water so they can survey their surroundings, almost like a person treading water.

Mr Deane: said "Tomás was at the end of the rib filming underwater footage with a GoPro camera. But suddenly one of the humpbacks spyhopped out of the water.

"There he was just towering over him. It was unreal. We were shaking, not with fear, but in awe."

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group described last month's footage as "amazing".

The group said it has deployed an acoustic device in the area, following further sightings of humpback whales off the Kerry coast.

It also confirmed that one of the whales spotted by the Deanes had previously been recorded in Irish waters.