Divers almost swallowed by whales

[AfterDark]

I agree- whales are pretty smart. I would think they purposefully avoid other mammals because their digestion can't handle them. I think it would wreck a lot of havoc on a humpback whale to swallow a human, or a sea lion (who often hang out around humpback whales when feeding), or what not.

Still extremely scary, but I think it was unlikely the people were in danger of being eaten. (I'd worry more about a whale jumping and breaching on me if I was that close!)

The researchers said their echo location system is so sensitive and accurate they "see" the smallest of objects and multiple objects at the same time, as well as the distance and the speed of the objects movement in relation to their own. Amazing creatures.

 

[chrpai]

Holy...... wow


breath

wow


breath more.

I'm tearing up and watching that all I can think of Finding Nemo and the krill screaming "run away run away".

 

[Skittl1321]

Since they are not wearing tanks technically they are snorkelers are they not?

Skin diver? Free diver? Just not a scuba diver.

 

[Kieran Byrne]

What do you think would happen if the divers were swallowed by accident. Would they be able to escape, would the whale spit them out etc?

 

[AfterDark]

Since they are not wearing tanks technically they are snorkelers are they not?

They were the generic "divers" the beholder can determine what type of diver they are; the title is Divers.... not Scuba divers.......

 

[Skittl1321]

What do you think would happen if the divers were swallowed by accident. Would they be able to escape, would the whale spit them out etc?

Things I've read say that a humpback whale's throat is grapefruit to soccer ball sized. So they couldn't be swallowed all the way, but I suppose it is possible they could be lodged in the throat. In which case, I suppose the whale would choke to death. I think most mammals have a coughing response to choking, so I guess the person has a chance of being spit out.

I think it is likely a snorkeler might drown in the time being spit out takes, though... or due to the trauma of the force of being dislodged and forced out of a whale's mouth would need some serious rescuing help...totally just my imagination here, but that can't possibly be pleasant.

I don't know how likely it is a person could climb out of a whale's mouth if the whale doesn't spit you out on their own. I also don't know if the whale's mouth stays filled with water once it is underwater or if it keeps its mouth dry like humans do. IIRC, humpback whales swallow the water along with their prey, they don't filter feed like some baleen whales do (might be totally wrong on that account).

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My guess is that the whales can sense when something big is above them, and swerve out of the way ... otherwise they'd at some point be likely to come up underneath a boat or something. My guess is that coming up close to these guys, but not actually from underneath them, wasn't a coincidence. The whales likely knew exactly where they were ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

---------- Post added July 23rd, 2013 at 01:58 PM ----------

Belly of a whale: Diver nearly 'krilled' off California coast | The Latest | 89.3 KPCC

A NOAA marine mammal biologist told Grind TV/Yahoo Sports that it was unclear from the video if divers were in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) — a law that protects all marine mammals from harassment and other dangers

Stupid comment ... in what way are the divers harassing the whales? It looks to me like it's the marine mammals that are harassing the humans ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[DandyDon]

I also don't know if the whale's mouth stays filled with water once it is underwater or if it keeps its mouth dry like humans do. IIRC, humpback whales swallow the water along with their prey, they don't filter feed like some baleen whales do (might be totally wrong on that account).

Dry? I think I usually keep mine closed without air. I'm confident that whales don't carry an air pocket in theirs. I think you are right that a too large animal/person would be spit out, but in poor condition from the experience. "Plated grooves in the whale's mouth allow the creature to easily drain all the water initially taken in." Humpback whale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The humpback has the most diverse feeding repertoire of all baleen whales. Its most inventive technique is known as bubble net feeding; a group of whales swims in a shrinking circle blowing bubbles below a school of prey. The shrinking ring of bubbles encircles the school and confines it in an ever-smaller cylinder. This ring can begin at up to 30 metres (98 ft) in diameter and involve the cooperation of a dozen animals. Using a crittercam attached to a whale's back, some whales were found to blow the bubbles, some dive deeper to drive fish toward the surface, and others herd prey into the net by vocalizing. The whales then suddenly swim upward through the "net", mouths agape, swallowing thousands of fish in one gulp. Plated grooves in the whale's mouth allow the creature to easily drain all the water initially taken in.

As good as they may well be at sensing lines, etc in the water, they can become entangled. SitNews: Humpback whale fully entangled in gillnet fishing gear released by fisherman

 

[scallop]

Holy Crap! No really that is what my wetsuit would be full of! Awesome video and a once in a lifetime experience.

 

[AfterDark]

Dry? I think I usually keep mine closed without air. I'm confident that whales don't carry an air pocket in theirs. I think you are right that a too large animal/person would be spit out, but in poor condition from the experience. "Plated grooves in the whale's mouth allow the creature to easily drain all the water initially taken in." Humpback whale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


As good as they may well be at sensing lines, etc in the water, they can become entangled. SitNews: Humpback whale fully entangled in gillnet fishing gear released by fisherman

Gill nets and rope / line are very different. There may not be enough substance to monofilament line for the whales to detect or they have no frame of reference to interpret the return signal and what it means.