Massive baby sea creature and mom put on show off CA coast. See ‘rare occurrence’

A massive sea creature was spotted off the coast of California with her baby in a moment deemed a “thrill” for boaters.

The boaters got the chance on July 14 to witness a show – a baby humpback whale and her mama breaching, according to a Facebook post by Monterey Bay Whale Watch.

The “double breach” is a “rare occurrence” that made for a memorable moment, boaters said.

Humpbacks usually display this behavior as a means of communicating with other whales as the sound of them slapping their bodies against the water can be “heard for miles” underwater, according to The Marine Mammal Center.

“Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 10 years,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Calves stay close to their mom for up to a year before weaning, with the mother being “protective” and “swimming closely and often touching them with their flippers,” according to the NOAA.

Boaters also witnessed some “fun behaviors” from another calf, even getting the chance to spot some “tail lobbing,” the group said.

Throughout the day groups got to see 112 humpback whales, 20 Risso’s dolphins and two harbor porpoises, the group said.

Facebook users rushed to the comments to share their thoughts on the pictures, with one person saying, “Spectacular!!!!”

“FANTASTIC PHOTOS!!,” another wrote.

Monterey is about a 120-mile drive south from San Francisco.

This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM with the headline "Massive baby sea creature and mom put on show off CA coast. See ‘rare occurrence’."