A group of whale watchers were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime performance when humpacks appeared to dance for them off the California coast.
The two whales approached a vessel from Dana Wharf Whale Watching, which is based out of Orange County, on Thursday, seemingly curious about the boat, KTLA reported
They “mugged” the boat — meaning they showed a keen interest in it — for more than 30 minutes, swimming around the boat and popping their heads out of the water, known as “spy hopping.”
A third whale swam nearby at a distance.
“Watching them glide through the glassy water seeming to look at us as we watched them was magical,” a spokesperson for Dana Point Whale Watching said.
The company posted drone footage of the whales online, showing the pair of marine mammals bobbing up and down while floating upright and spinning around in what looks like a choreographed dance.
The whales were also seen diving just below the boat and flapping their flippers out of the water, video shows.
The performance was part of a day full of interactions with marine life.
Dana Point said on the same day they spotted a pod of 200 bottlenose dolphins, a minke whale, sea lions and hundreds of sea birds just seven miles from shore.