WATCH: ‘Spectacular’ Footage of a Minke Whale Breaching

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Guests with Gone Whale Watching San Diego got a special treat earlier this week when they saw a minke whale breach clean out of the water off the shore of San Diego, California. The company says this isn’t a common sight on their tours.

Minke whales are baleen whales that can grow to 35 feet long and weigh up to about 20,000 pounds.” Though they’re on the smaller side as far as baleen whales go (by contrast, blue whales can grow up be up to 110 feet long and weigh up to 330,000 pounds), when these animals leap into the air, it’s definitely something to see.

“SPECTACULAR sighting of a breaching Minke Whale,” wrote the company on its Instagram post sharing the incredible footage. “Captain Dom has been whale watching daily out of San Diego since 2018, and he can count on his fingers the number of times he’s seen a Minke Whale take for the skies! These normally elusive whales have been known to break the mold from their shy reputation on occasion, but to see an acrobatic display like the one was saw today is truly special! This whale breached at least 8 times in a row right next to the Hana Hou!”

Watch a minke whale breaching in spectacular fashion here: