In an extraordinary ocean encounter that has left marine scientists green with envy, Robert Addie, a New Hampshire resident, managed to film a rare spectacle: three humpback whales executing a simultaneous breach on his birthday.

Addie, a former commercial fisherman who spent numerous years in Massachusetts and Alaska, and now works as a home remodeler in Portsmouth, expressed his amazement.

“I’ve literally seen thousands of whales,” he shared with CBS Boston. “I haven’t yet run into anyone that’s seen a triple synchronized breach.”

This unique occurrence happened during a tuna fishing trip off Cape Cod, an event designed not just to mark Addie’s 59th birthday but also to celebrate his safe homecoming following a perilous humanitarian aid journey to Ukraine where he encountered heavy artillery fire.

He spent most of the fishing expedition trying to film the humpback whales, approximately 300 yards from their boat, without success. However, his patience paid off when he was finally able to record what he termed a “whale ballet.”

“A triple breach is unheard of and a synchronized triple breach is even rarer,” he acknowledged. “It’s once in a lifetime. Just very fortunate. I feel God shined down on me to allow me to capture that.”

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His good fortune continued as they later saw a juvenile whale jump into the air, further adding to the spectacle. “We were all gobsmacked,” he admitted to CBS Boston.

“You can tell the story and nobody’s really going to believe you, but catching it on video. . . oh my,” he continued.

Marine biologists who analyzed the video later suggested to Addie that the whales’ extraordinary aerial acrobatics might have been an effort to dislodge parasites or aid digestion. Addie himself hypothesized, “I have a feeling that maybe they were teaching or training” the younger whale.

Their awe for the sighting matched his own, with Addie noting, “Even some of the whale experts that have reached out to me, they’re all jealous because they’ve never seen it.”

The occurrence is a rarity but it has happened before. This triple breach was caught on camera off of Nova Scotia, Canada in 2018.

They are magnificent creatures. These experiences serve as a reminder of nature’s grandeur and our privileged role as witnesses to these marvels, so long as we remain respectful observers.