Amazing pictures of 50-tonne whale under tourist boat in Argentina
AOL Travel
Updated
The amazing moment a giant whale swam underneath a tourist vessel in the Peninsula Valdes, Argentina was captured on camera.
A group of whale watchers were stunned as the 50-tonne southern right whale and its calves swam close to their boat.
Wildlife photographer Justin Hofman, who took these pictures of the huge sea creatures, said: "Being in the water with a whale is the most humbling experience I've ever had underwater.
"Not only are these animals massive, but they are long-lived, intelligent, cultural beings."
He added: "It actually became quite funny because we would be totally enthralled by the animal, taking pictures of the head and eye as they were swimming by - but then the instant we got past the pectoral flippers it became a mad scramble to swim away from the whale to avoid their tail.
"At one point, one of the calves was rolling around on top of its mother, upside down, and its tail was raised out of the water."
According to the Daily Mail, southern right whales are easy targets for hunters because of their thick blubber making them float to the surface after they are killed.