Surfer. Brad Whittaker / Universal Features / mediadrumworld.com

By Mark McConville

 

A GROUP of surfers were overshadowed on the waves after some Humpback whales decided to join them.

Surfers with whale in the background.
Brad Whittaker / Universal Features / mediadrumworld.com

 

Incredible images show the surfers and whales sharing the water as the whales breach the surface and slap their tails on it.

Humpback whale.
Brad Whittaker / Universal Features / mediadrumworld.com

 

Other stunning shots show the whales in the background as people surf out on the water and catch a huge wave.

 

The beautiful encounter was captured by sports photographer and surfer Brad Whittaker at a reef break in Cornulla, Sydney, Australia.

Humpback whale tail.
Brad Whittaker / Universal Features / mediadrumworld.com

 

Brad was in a Seadoo watercraft when the whales started to approach the surfers and swam up to them very close.

 

“It is not uncommon to see a variety of marine life in this area and especially whales at this time of year, however, they don’t always come this close to surf zone,” said Brad.

Humpback whale.
Brad Whittaker / Universal Features / mediadrumworld.com

 

“They were very calm, this is part of their annual migration and they were in no distress at all; just cruising up the coast.”

Wave.
Brad Whittaker / Universal Features / mediadrumworld.com

Though some of the surfers were a little shocked at first, they were also very excited by the close encounter. One surfer even slid off his board and swam underwater in an attempt to watch the whales swim past.

Surfers and whales.
Brad Whittaker / Universal Features / mediadrumworld.com

 

One of the surfers amongst the crowd, Harry Engle, said: “You don’t realise how big they really are until you are up close to them. It was quite distracting as we were out there trying to catch waves but watching the whales swim past was far more interesting.”