Massive humpback whale bull sings as he greets delighted swimmers

Humpback whales are one of the most majestic and fascinating creatures on the planet. They possess an intelligence and level of understanding that is not far behind that of humans. In fact, as recently as 100,000 years ago, whales and dolphins were the most intelligent creatures alive, even surpassing our own ancestors. The humpbacks' communication is so sophisticated that we cannot decipher it ourselves. However, we do recognize that their extremely complex songs are loops of repeating sounds that may last as long as 20 minutes and can echo through the water for hundreds of miles. Scientists have included recordings of their songs on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft that are currently traveling through space beyond our own solar system. The humpback whales are a mix of beauty and mystery like no other creatures.
Whales are the biggest animals to inhabit our planet, ever. Even the long extinct dinosaurs were not as large as our whales. Their evolution into the most massive creatures to ever live defies much of what we know about science and bio mechanics. The more we learn about them, the more we realize how much we do not yet understand. And of all the whales, the humpbacks are the ones that we recognize most readily and the ones we identify with the most. Their wonderful, leaping breaches are a true spectacle, and their haunting and endearing songs captivate us completely. To have the privilege of swimming beside one and looking it in the eye is unforgettable.
This humpback whale has ascended from the ocean floor to breath and to greet a bunch of thrilled swimmers. It looks them curiously in the eyes as it rolls invites them to play. This group of whale enthusiasts has slipped into the water to observe the whale from a respectful distance but the curious animal decided to come closer for a good look at them. The great beast sang to them with his powerful voice. To their extreme delight, he came within arm's length and stared straight at them with a lingering look as he slowly rolled on his side for a leisurely pass. The result was what seemed to be a request for a belly rub, much as you would expect from a large dog.
As tempting as it might be to touch this whale, watchful guides are always present in the water to remind people that there are rules that must be respected. We are guests in their domain and physical contact must be avoided.
For those who met this playful and curious whale, it was a moment that they will remember forever.