Wildlife cameraman captures rare humpback whale off Welsh coast

Wildlife cinematographer and shark guide Dan Abbot experienced a rare surprise when he spotted a humpback whale in the Celtic Deep just off the Pembrokeshire coast. Abbot runs blue shark snorkelling trips off Pembrokeshire and was on a scheduled trip in the Celtic Sea on 25 September when the sighting occurred.

Sighting

The boat was 25 to 30 miles offshore after leaving a snorkelling site where they had seen multiple sharks. Abbot noticed plenty of feeding activity from bluefin tuna, dolphins and gannets, which is common in those waters at this time of year. A guest on board spotted a whale blow in the distance, and Abbot initially suspected it was a minke or fin whale because those are the most common whales in Welsh waters. As the boat moved closer, Abbot noticed the whale had white pectoral fin and barnacles around the front of its head, and it lifted its tail out of the water, confirming it was a humpback.

Reactions

Abbot said that even though he has seen large marine mammals on planned trips before, this unexpected encounter left him quiet and caught him off guard. Lloyd Nelmes from Sea Trust described the sighting as unusual for someone who works in the field every day, adding that it is insanely rare for a normal person. Nelmes noted that humpback sightings happen in Welsh waters once every two or three years, though they seem to be becoming more common due to abundant food.

Context

Marine experts often look at local food supplies and prey availability to explain why large sea mammals travel to unexpected coastal areas. Humpback whales are known to feed on schooling fish and krill, and busy feeding zones that attract tuna and dolphins can also draw in larger visitors. This particular sighting highlights how rich marine life can still yield surprises even for seasoned professionals who spend their working days on the water.