Crazy footage of a man paddleboarding next to a blue whale. Blue whales can grow up to 98 feet in length with a maximum recorded weight of 380,000 pounds. This is one animal you definitely do not want to mess around with. According to Wikipedia, it is the largest animal known to have existed.
These whales were heavily effected by whaling until they were protected in 1966. In a study done by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008, they estimated the population of blue whales to be somewhere between 10,000 and 25,000 worldwide.
As a paddleboarder it is important to respect your distance when paddling near these animals. This is not only for your safety but also out of respect for these animals.
Many of the photos taken of paddler with marine life have been with a telephoto lens and cropped. Please note, whale watching regulations require boaters/kayakers to keep 200 meters away from killer whales and 100 meters away from all other whales. Responsible paddlers endeavour to maintain this at all times, and rare exceptional encounters do not represent a typical paddling experience.—Paddling Magazine
Wild … I get a little uncomfortable when I spot a Muskie on Waneta Lake (western New York).