Friendly Humpback Whale Mugs Boat Off Dana Point, California

A curious humpback whale surprised guests on a boat ride off the coast of Dana Point, California, on February 23, by swimming around and under the vessel.

Aerial footage shared by the whale watchers at DanaWharf.com shows the ocean animal’s friendly mugging behavior.

“Later, still less than 2.5 miles from the Dana Point Harbor, he was feeding with common dolphin, sea lions, and birds,” they wrote in a YouTube caption. “This whale was lunge feeding and rolling as it passed through the bait.”

“The water was so clear we could see the thousands of fish in massive bait balls,” they continued.

Although different species of whale are seen in Dana Point throughout the year, humpbacks are usually spotted during the summer months, according to the city. Credit: DanaWharf.com via Storyful