Jean-Francois writes...

I have been lucky to paddle alongside 5 whales between the Heads early one morning when there was barely anyone on the water. it was a perfect morning, almost no swell and I was paddling from south to north Head when sudden I head this deep, vibrant, hollow breathing (I'm tempted to say "down my neck"). I looked up and 25m away was a pod of 4 adult humpbacks and a calf! it was interesting to observe how they hover around the calf at all times as if to cushion it against predators : there was always 4 whales around the baby ALL the time. They knew I was there and I felt blessed to share this moment with them.

They let me paddle even closer... for 15 mins until we reached north Head, then they veered towards the ocean and left me. I was following them for a while, then serenely, happy, I turned around, as if after a gourmet meal... ready for a nap. if you ask me to describe the experience, here are the words I'd use : majestic gracefulness balet with the sea playing a tune and the rinsing sun putting on a light show, no special effect but let me tell you the effect that it's had on me. one moment, i have not finished describing these wonderful and wonderous creatures. they travel at 10km per hr so a ski is perfect as that's cruising speed for me (Fenn Mako6).

The tail goes up vertically and glides down with out a ripple and leaves a circle of flat water about 3-4m wide. I have since found out from commercial whale watches that there is whale fat coming out of their blowhole, this goes over the body and spreads over their tail and the chemical reaction in the water makes the water flat irrespective of conditions. that's flying under the radar... apart from the breathing noise as they come up, you cannot detect them unless visually... isnt' that amazing.

Also, the route going to Antartica is 15 miles offshore and that's where the Big predators are... so the young families travel along the coast, use the stronger  currents, backwash from the coastline to get there whilst letting baby rest inside bays when they find one.

 Intelligent I'd say.