A snorkeller was filmed being tossed in the air by a humpback whale in waters off the Gold Coast.

Max Persyn and Jacqueline Payne, who are Queensland-based YouTubers, were on a swim with the mammals near the town of Southport when they captured the moment one of their tour guides shot out of the water on a humpback’s tail before plunging back in.

“All of a sudden someone was in the air on top of a freaking whale,” Ms Payne said moments after the encounter, adding it was “the most insane thing I’ve ever experienced in my life”.

The moment lasted barely a second but the size of the whale’s huge tail is clearly visible. The animals can grow up to 60 feet and are known to approach boats and humans out of curiosity.

The man escaped unharmed and was seen smiling and high-fiving the other snorkellers afterwards.

“This was the first time this had happened to him but he was very ecstatic about it,” Mr Persyn said.