Paddleboarder's Close Encounter With Whale

The video captures an unexpected meeting between a paddleboarder and a whale, with the whale unexpectedly surfacing under the unsuspecting paddler. It's an uplifting scene of nature's power and unpredictability.

Paddleboarding — In Search of Serenity

Paddleboarding, particularly on open waters, often seeks the peace on the ocean. Boarders glide on the water's surface, propelling themselves with a single long paddle. Unlike surfing, paddleboarding doesn't rely on waves or wind. And unlike kayaking, it provides a vantage point that keeps paddlers closer to the water's surface. As more people discover the sport, many are drawn to its calming aspects, using it as a form of meditation and exercise. The paddleboard itself is a floatation device that can be used in calm waters or rough seas. Ranging from 10 feet to 14 feet in length and from 25 inches to 33 inches wide, the boards come in different shapes and designs. There are all-around boards - versatile and stable, excellent for beginners. Touring boards - long and narrow that can traverse long distances. Racing boards designed for speed. Inflatable boards - less expensive, but more transportable, and lightweight.

The ocean plays her part, too

Paddleboarding has increasingly become a cultural mainstay in coastal communities, drawing crowds with its graceful elegance and serenity. Ships are easy to spot from an elevated standpoint, which is ideal for a calm boarder. Boat captains and boaters learn to see the paddleboarders who float — some are playful, some are competitive, but many are calm soul-searchers, often barefoot on inflatable boards as they glide out along the shoreline. The paddleboarders' social media feeds and videos share their introspective, ocean-driven experience. The ocean is ever-changing, creating new topography and conditions that can deliver unique challenges and rewards.

On board with the whale

The paddleboarder's perspective

A paddleboarder typically feels a sense of self-reliance at sea, with freedom from the constraints of land. The ocean around them sets the pace of their journey and their inner state, regardless of what those on land know. The board offers full-body exercise, a tranquil connection to nature and a sense of personal achievement. When a boarder is alone with the waves, the ocean is a metaphor for life.

The whale’s perspective

The paddleboarder’s zodiac is the whale’s home. Whales, often perceived as gentle giants, are subject to the rhythms of deep waters and their own instincts. A whale envisions space for itself a bit wider than a human may notice - even when it sees other less-attentive, unknowing humans in the water. But even the human-on-water paddleboarder, 'off the radar' and at a great height, remains visible to the attentive whale.

A personal answer, with a splash

Paddleboarding is an event to observe, and perhaps try to surf the water, though it is a personal moment of peace. It is not necessarily a performance. In it, the ocean only really swells in the water. Penguins have to dive from the board occasionally, though, to assert their dominance. Any human might be upstaged by a whale surfacing unexpectedly under them - making it difficult to convey their dominance on the board. And after the whale surfaces under the paddleboarder, the boarder will likely be rattled.

The unexpected dive

The very thing paddleboarders are drawn to – nature’s serenity – can sometimes flip the script in unexpected ways. The sea gives no warning, and the whale, perhaps protesting, or reaching for food, or the underwater surface, surfaces at an angle. Any paddleboarder, even a highly experienced one, would have difficulty retaining their calm, poised demeanor. The unexpected suddenness would leave anyone shaken, or even wondering if they wanted to continue.

Are paddleboarding and whale encounters connected?

Paddleboarders know that whale encounters are possible, even common, if they paddle very close to the two miles limit of the ocean. No matter where they are, many are aware that if they paddle close enough to where the whales swim, they will encounter them in ways they never imagined. Sometimes it feels like an oncoming natural wonder. Whales don’t seem to mind the humans, but they certainly know they are there. The ocean is a very big place, though, so whales will surface any old way under the water.

In the water with a whale

There's no sense in treating day-to-day paddleboarders as if they are in a zoo. They are trained to be prepared for the unexpected. Whales will surface, and when they do, so does the chance of a run-in with a paddleboarder. The chances of a splash conjured by the whale’s sudden emergence, or a dramatic encounter involving both the unexpected arrival of a whale and the surprise of the paddleboarder, is guaranteed. Guided paddleboard tours, on the other hand, are another way to experience the ocean and its denizens. These tours are structured, with guidance from certified instructors, are lead up to four miles out to sea, making them generally more expensive, but also safer. They are not supposed to be fun as much as they’re supposed to be safe. With careful planning, paddleboarders can ensure that these experiences are as safe as possible, and the chance of any unexpected encounters are avoided. Paddleboarders should be well-versed in the water, knowing the guidelines, and preparing for an encounter. They should also maintain situational awareness, monitoring the water around them. If paddleboarders know they are approaching a marine mammal’s habitat, it helps them prepare for an encounter, and stay calm when unexpected encounters occur.

The pole-dancing of the sea

Rare experiences of nature and the ocean, rare encounters, and rare encounters with whales are only the beginning of paddleboarding.