49 Bold & Beautiful swimmers can die happy now after the most amazing wildlife experience EVER !!! 🙂
Swimming for over an hour with this magnificent Southern Right Whale !! WOW WOW WOW !!!
Emily Washbrook kindly shared these absolutely superb photos with us that she took from her balcony
What an experience of a life time !!!
It just kept on swimming with us, closer and closer.
At one point early on, I was trying to move out of it’s way and dropped my camera – devastated is an understatement !!!
But… after about half an hour of the whale continuing to herd us it led Stephen straight to my camera and Scott the hero dived down to the depths to retrieve it – thank you, thank you, thank you !!! xxx
Did I mention this whale was beautiful ! It was the size of a double decker bus, magnificent, majestic, awesome and simply the best experience EVER – WOW WOW WOW !!!
Jane swam over from Shelly and was privileged to find herself swimming over the top of a baby Southern Right Whale, which didn’t appear again, so I just wonder if the mother whale was herding us so the baby could swim… ??
Who knows, but it was certainly inquisitive and insistent on swimming with us, but oh so gentle. At one point it kept backing up until someone gave in and stroked its tail, then it seemed content.
It even got vocal at one point, making a beautiful gentle roaring noise as it blew.
It was truly a remarkable experience, we are oh so lucky !!!
There are also a couple of video clips for you to enjoy too:
One taken from land, courtesy of Emily, which you can view here
Another taken from land, courtesy of Simon Rosewell, which you can view here
Another taken (by me) from in the water with with whale, which you can view here
Eventually we were so cold we had to say cheerio to this beautiful social whale, until tomorrow that is… 😉
So the motto of the story is NEVER MISS A SWIM !!! 😉
Some more photos for you, kindly taken by Kathryn Shearsby as she was running past.
Enjoy your day. Somehow I don’t think it’s going to get any better than this !
WOW WOW WOW 🙂
Thank you whale that was the best !
Don’t forget, please come down 10 minutes early tomorrow morning as we have the camera man from SMH coming to photograph us 🙂
Water Temperature 18.4
Air Temperature 10.0
Sunrise 6.53am
Sunset 5.10pm
High Tide: 11.53am
Low Tide: 5.49pm
To read Michael’s tips on how to stay safe in the surf please click here
Some more photos just in, courtesy of Simon Rosewell
Thank you everyone for sharing this wonderful experience and all this superb footage.
More awesome photos below, kindly shared by Adel from Olitas photos.
66 comments
lesley
24/07/2012 at 11:16 am
Aaaarrrgghhhghgg soooooo goooood! Omg!! Me and whaley nearly head butted… It was so big… so glad you got yr camera back Jules! what a morning! Clare jumping in too with just her undies on 😀
GB
24/07/2012 at 11:18 am
I WILL NEVER MISS A SWIM AGAIN. GUTTED GUTTED GUTTED.
Michael [EX CI]
24/07/2012 at 11:21 am
I’m gobsmacked. Can’t think of anything to add except WOW!! And that’s been said before.
brad edwards
24/07/2012 at 11:32 am
Noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! Lucy and I swim almost every Tuesday, cant believe we did not today !!!! What an amazing experience and just reward for the hardcore swimmers who ventured out in the cold and rainy weather this morning !
Little Sarah
24/07/2012 at 11:40 am
Extraordinary experience – scary at times to find the whale right under one or so close one could touch her, but she was so gentle and really didn’t seem to want us to leave, circling round, weaving around us in a very delicate way, almost like a ballet dancer. A greyhound bus sized ballet-dancer, that is! Then communicating playfully….
Michael was grieving at breakfast about all the poor swimmers who had missed out. Not!
libby.gilkes@retailoasis.com
24/07/2012 at 11:43 am
OMG! How absolutely WONDERFUL!!!!! you lucky things – will have to re-live it, yet again, vicariously.
(Hmm…. maybe photoshop myself in, then watch video in the bath with earphones playing whale sounds…)
DANG! Memo to self – Swim with B & B everyday!!!!
But sooo glad you guys ahd such a wonderful morning to remember.
XXX LIBBY
fifi
24/07/2012 at 11:43 am
I feel as though i have been touched by a greater force. Being face to face (literally 30cm) with such a colossal wild animal and feel its breath, to place your hand on its fluke and feel its strength…that was the most awesome experience ever. I feel so blessed.
Just wish i had taken my camera, great work with the photos, Jules.
When I woke in the rainy dark this morning I thought I would dedicate my swim to my dear Dad,
and that is the message the universe sent me. How lucky am I?
Lucy
24/07/2012 at 11:44 am
The absolute worse case of Swimmer’s Regret!! People walking past my desk are wondering why I am crying…
What an AMAZING experience for the dedicated swimmers!!
xx
Michael E
24/07/2012 at 11:55 am
WHY did he have to come the only day of the week that I can’t swim??!! So devastated D: Hopefully we’re as lucky again tomorrow…
Stephen
24/07/2012 at 12:08 pm
Amazing swim, incredibly playful and friendly whales – they kept engaging with us – incredible!
Nick tb
24/07/2012 at 12:10 pm
Ive never been knocked off my board any gentler. What a beautiful animal..
Tania Bsh
24/07/2012 at 12:11 pm
that was just a stupendously magnificent experience!! i just don’t know enough adjectives to express just how awesome today’s swim was…..
Thank U Jules for having created B&B in the first place, and giving us the chance to experience these magical moments at our doorstep 🙂
fifi
24/07/2012 at 12:18 pm
I’m with Tania, thank you SO much Jules for creating this fabulous group, and giving us the opportunity to experience such wonders. I just love it.
Nicolee
24/07/2012 at 1:29 pm
Fantastic, just wish I could have been there, thanks to all that took pics and video footage. Maybe she ate all the jimbles! here`s hopeing 🙂
Julia
24/07/2012 at 1:38 pm
I have never felt so jealous in all my life! That would be the highlight of someones entire life!
jenny
24/07/2012 at 1:48 pm
and where was I this morning….playing golf in the rain! I hope we see some of this experience on the TV tonight! What a fabulous blog today! Next time I just have to be there! Just imagine if Julie had taken a day off today….
anitakeellan
24/07/2012 at 1:50 pm
I am jealous What a lifetime experience Manly is the best place in the world
Thank you for the posts and photos they are amazing.
Just makes you smile looking at them, we are lucky to be part of the B&B
Michelle
24/07/2012 at 1:52 pm
so thrilled for all who enjoyed this EPIC event. beyond devastated to have missed this swim when i so rarely miss a morning …hoping and praying for a return performance …yeah WOW WOW WOW…
Inez
24/07/2012 at 2:22 pm
It’s seven hours later and I’m still grinning like an idiot. Thanks Jules and thanks to the Maker of all things great and small for this wonderful encounter.
Michael [EX CI]
24/07/2012 at 2:36 pm
What a WONDERFUL experience today. What a pity only about 50 of us were there!!! I believe the word is “Schadenfreude.”
Gaetan
24/07/2012 at 2:58 pm
Sacrebleu c’est Magnifique!!!! 🙂
Natalie Cope
24/07/2012 at 3:00 pm
So the motto of the story is NEVER MISS A SWIM !!! .. i surfed the point instead of donning the pink caps this morning, my my i won’t be doing that again!! – what an amazing amazing experience! hopefully the little (big) friend will be back tomorrow.
ScottyM
24/07/2012 at 3:02 pm
SO amazing. The whale really put on a show for us.
I have not stopped thinking about it all day.
I forgot to tick my name off too!
Miles
24/07/2012 at 3:17 pm
James, Cae and I did our usual swim to Queenscliff so we rather missed the carnival. But on the bright side, we did see a jimble with its tentacles all tangled up. Not quite the majestic cetacean you all swam with, but cute. And pink.
John S
24/07/2012 at 3:32 pm
Fifi,
Thats a pretty awesome, special message from your dad and the universe.
How lucky are we all to have swum today! I was almost not getting out of bed and thought I should go to work instead but begrudgingly got up!
And Jules and Michael, a very special thank you.
heidi
24/07/2012 at 4:10 pm
Please please tell me that was Lesley going nuts in photoshop?????????????!
heidi
24/07/2012 at 4:12 pm
Oh and were there any first timers out there?
Pacific Jules
24/07/2012 at 4:25 pm
Dolphins in the bay now too. What a day !!! 🙂
Jalna
24/07/2012 at 4:30 pm
I’m smiling and I wasn’t even there!!
Jules, MRS Whales icon is missIng from the attendance photos.
Pacific Jules
24/07/2012 at 4:44 pm
She is up there now Jalna 🙂 Added you too Scotty.
Liz
24/07/2012 at 4:46 pm
Me too! I wish I could tell the world about the amazing, priceless experience I had today. Am so pleased that I didn’t listen to that little voice in my head that tried to get me to stay in bed this morning.
Elaine de Jager
24/07/2012 at 4:49 pm
Fantastic day. Thanks to Jules and everyone who work behind the scenes to make this experience so exciting and vailable to all. You particularly deserved this today Fiona after the loss of your Dad plus you have been a ‘Jimble Catcher’ in the last few weeks!
Scott, you won’t be forgotten if you retrieved Jules’s camera.
I feel so grateful to have met all you guys and to have the opportunity to experience magic like today! Go B&B!!
Lesley
24/07/2012 at 4:52 pm
Hee hee 😀
Lesley
24/07/2012 at 4:55 pm
Heehee sorry nope ….but I’m glad it was not on my blog day….that’s the one time I wished I had a wetsuit on! So I could have stayed in longer!
Alyson
24/07/2012 at 4:57 pm
Feel so incredibly lucky to have shared this experience with you all. How amazing. Pleased you found your camera Jules, although this is something I will never forget! Thank you for starting bold and beautiful and giving us all the chance to experience nature in its most glorious forms! I love that two women stripped to their bra and undies to join in a swim of a lifetime too 😉
Joan Isbill
24/07/2012 at 5:42 pm
Great photos. What a wonderful experience for you all. Keep the whales there until the end of August please!!!
Little Sarah Abbott
24/07/2012 at 5:58 pm
We forgot to mention that the whale followed us round for breakfast too. Just spoke to a surfer who followed it round from the point to in front of Bluewater, so sure it/they were the same…..
Nadine
24/07/2012 at 5:59 pm
What a swim – with whales !!! Great.
ian
24/07/2012 at 6:05 pm
seeing stuff like this makes me miss home 🙂
awesome experience for everyone there
Leisa barry
24/07/2012 at 6:48 pm
OH my God !!! U are all soooo lucky I never get to a Tuesday swim , Time I gave up work!
How wonderful for you all I bet there will be 100’s of us there tomorrow morning.
Thanks for sharing all the amazing photos so at least the rest of us can enjoy albeit vicariously
Lindsay
24/07/2012 at 7:27 pm
If we all close our eyes tonight and wish really, really hard, there might be another one tomorrow…
I can’t make a Tuesday morning swim for work reasons, but I loved reading the blog and looking at all the pictures. Thanks all for sharing your thoughts and allowing us non-swimmers to enjoy the show somewhat vicariously!
Sandy Mc
24/07/2012 at 7:41 pm
You lucky Whale Whisperers…I’m so sorry to have missed the experience but am really loving reading the blog. Getting tingles sharing all your emotions. I can’t swim tomorrow but by hell or high water i’ll be there for an early look!!
Rainer
24/07/2012 at 8:05 pm
Can’t believe I missed this!!!
Little Sarah Abbott
24/07/2012 at 8:13 pm
Rainer, I mentioned your name at b’fast amongst several others that I was really sorry you’d missed out this time…..also young Jack and so many regulars…. there will be other opportunities, for sure.
Talking of a “whale of a day”, this is also the day I’ve qualified for my winter badge AND very temporarily joined the very elite 1st column on the Pacific Challenge…… will soon drop down when we go away, but I can always say I had the experience:-)
Pacific Jules
24/07/2012 at 9:03 pm
Channel 10 have said they may mention our wonderful experience on their breakfast news or their 5pm news tomorrow 🙂
Little Tiger
24/07/2012 at 9:34 pm
James Valentine from ABC 702 radio was talking about “awesome events’ today. One of our swimmers rang up to tell about our whale encounter.
Great article in tomorrows Manly Daily.
Alice
24/07/2012 at 9:35 pm
Awesome. I will try not to miss that…missing the real thing has been a blow-but hearing about the experience is amazing. loved the video footage. great photos and incredible that you got your camera back Jules!
Wendy
24/07/2012 at 10:09 pm
You must have caught the mother whale in an extraordinarily good mood – she could have killed, or at least, injured you. A WILD mother with a baby & you didn’t move away. By law you should have been at least 30 metres away. Don’t try to repeat the experience as Parks & Wildlife staff will no doubt be watching & waiting to issue penalties (which can include gaol time.) You can get a very good LEGAL view of something this size without swimming on top of it. A surfer on the Central Coast a couple of years ago was attacked by the mother whale – he’s lucky to be alive. Give these creatures the space & RESPECT they deserve.
Rainer
25/07/2012 at 4:22 am
At least I was following events from far away Thailand. Would have been even more gutted had I been home in Manly and decided not to go down for a swim in the morning!!
Congrats to winter badge! Still quite a few swims away from getting mine.. Will try and catch up with you while you’re in HK. Have a safe trip and see you in October!
I don't wana go to jail :-(
25/07/2012 at 7:10 am
Thanks Wendy for the warning. If you could also get you friends from P&W to catch & issue penalties to poachers who took all the big blue gropers a few weeks ago, people who caught & killed a few of our dusky whalers, this would be very much appreciated!
page 14 has the guidelines for swimmers when in the vicinity of whales/dolphins, good to know:
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/publications/pubs/whale-watching-guidelines-2005.pdf
Robert
25/07/2012 at 9:27 am
Wendy – here’s what the legal guidelines say:
“Sometimes whales or dolphins will approach or pass close to swimmers or divers. In this situation you are not in contravention of the guidelines. If approached by a whale or dolphin move slowly to avoid startling the animal and do not attempt to touch it or swim toward it.”
The whale appears to have chosen to approach and stay with the swimmers and doesn’t seem distressed. I think gaol time is unlikely in this case.
Nevertheless, it’s good to hear your views. In these lawless times it’s comforting to know people like you are out there.
Pacific Jules
25/07/2012 at 10:34 am
Links to today’s fabulous articles and photos in two newspapers today:
Daily Telegraph, page 3
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/whale-play-on-a-miserable-manly-day/story-e6freuy9-1226434224728
Plus the Manly Daily
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/bold-swimmers-having-a-whale-of-a-time/
Pacific Jules
25/07/2012 at 10:37 am
Both myself and Elaine de Jager were interviewed by Linda Mottram on radio 702 at 9.55am this morning !! 🙂 The producer will put a copy of it online shortly so you can listen to it if you wish.
Also watch channel 10 news at 5pm tonight, we should be on there !!! 🙂
Pacific Jules
25/07/2012 at 11:26 am
And there’s more…
We made it to the UK Telegraph Newspaper too !!!
Rob Scott is another B&B swimmer who managed to capture some magnificent shots from his balcony too:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/9422892/Pictures-of-the-day-24-July-2012.html?frame=2285928
Also some more photos added above to the blog post from Adel.
Still on such a high 🙂
I don't wanna go to jail either.
25/07/2012 at 11:31 am
I don’t remember saying I didn’t move away. The whale actually followed me. Maybe Parks and wildlife needs to explain the rules to the whale!!
However point taken Wendy. I appreciate it is a wild animal with young, I think actually all of us do so. However the whale yesterday was definitely as interested in us as we in it.
And what an experience for those of us there. Unrepeatable, and a celebration of the existence and recovery of these magnificent animals.
Wendy
25/07/2012 at 12:34 pm
I don’t like to rain on anyone’s parade but neither do I want to see someone injured or punished as a result of what must have been an amazing experience. As for the fish poachers – if it was within my powers to deal with them believe me I would. Preferably with something ballistic. Enjoy your swims.
Kerrie Stevens
25/07/2012 at 4:40 pm
The pics are awe inspiring….it clearly was the most marvellous experience for all of you
Shane O'Brien
25/07/2012 at 7:07 pm
Heh up there,
I am really enjoying your blog. I am so envious of your group, B and B and beautiful Manly Beach. I am an open water swimmer here in Melbourne and this time of year it’s a cold cold experience. I swam yesterday at Williamstown, on my own and the water temp is approx 11dC.
Loved the whale day !!!
Can I swim with you guys if I come to Sydney?
Shane
Pacific Jules
25/07/2012 at 8:27 pm
Absolutely Shane, you would be most welcome ! We swim at 7am every single day of the year, so come on up, we look forward to meeting and having a swim with you 🙂
Pacific Jules
25/07/2012 at 8:40 pm
Here’s the link to the following morning’s radio interview with Linda Mottram on abc radio 702:
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/07/25/3553290.htm?site=sydney&program=702_mornings
Wendy
25/07/2012 at 10:46 pm
I don’t like to rain on anyone’s parade but neither do I want to see anyone injured or punished after what must have been an amazing experience. As for the fish poachers – if it was within my power to do something about them believe me I would. Preferably with something of a ballistic nature.
Enjoy your swims.
Wendy
25/07/2012 at 10:51 pm
Apologies for the repeat. Initially the blog was somehow truncated on my computer & didn’t appear in its entirety.
I’m not really so much of a nag that I have to say everything twice.
Nick tb
26/07/2012 at 9:54 am
There is always one Wendy, Seems your it..
That Whale enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed it .. Nuff said ..
ScottyM
26/07/2012 at 2:08 pm
thanks Jules 🙂
Exhibit Consultant
15/10/2012 at 7:44 pm
I think this is something very adventurous and thrilling experience one can have.
Maryann Walsh
25/07/2020 at 8:35 am
Unbelievable!!! So wish I was there though I would have totally freaked out!