Sea creatures put on ‘quite a show’ off California coast. See ‘gentle giants’
.jpg "Massive sea creatures were spotted off California coast, onlookers said.")
Massive sea creatures were spotted off the coast of California, and bystanders are calling the sight “amazing.”
On May 2, humpback whales sprung into “action” by breaching and exhibiting feeding behaviors, according to a Facebook post by Monterey Bay Whale Watch.
The whales spotted, ranging from smaller calves to big adults, put on “quite a show,” the group said.
The “gentle giants” were spotted pec-slapping, which is when a whale will lay on its side and raise its pectoral fin into the sky before slamming it into the water, according to the group.
“Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 10 years,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Calves stay near their mom for up to a year before weaning, with the mother being “protective” and “swimming closely and often touching them with their flippers,” according to NOAA.
Along with the 41 humpbacks, bystanders throughout the day also got the chance to see 20 Risso’s dolphins, the group said.
Monterey is about a 120-mile drive south from San Francisco.
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Sea creatures put on ‘quite a show’ off California coast. See ‘gentle giants’."