BAKERSFIELD - A YouTube video of divers off the Central Coast nearly getting swallowed by humpback whales last weekend, is getting national attention. A local fisherman was there and witnessed the whole thing and had a close encounter of the deep sea kind of his own.
Warren Peterson, his wife, and a friend were on the water Saturday when he said they all likely had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Fishing off Avila Beach, the group thought they were whale watching from a far, when they realized the whales were right underneath them.
"Yeah, I mean my knees were knocking," said Peterson.
Peterson was the captain of his 20 foot fishing boat, coming in from a day of fishing. That's when he realized they weren't the only ones looking for dinner.
"When we noticed the boat, the dive boat, with the divers on it, there were whales around them. I bet there were a minimum of fifty whales in that pod and all of a sudden they were all around us," said Peterson.
Peterson says the divers he was watching from a distance are the same ones in a YouTube video now getting national attention. The divers nearly caught up in the krill, becoming a snack for the hungry humpbacks.
"The other guys said they've never seen me swim that fast before and I can see why now that I've watched the video," said diver Shawn Stamback.
"You know, having three whales come at you like that, it's like three nuclear submarines, you know, on attack mode," laughed Peterson. "I guess you could say it was like being on an African safari and seeing an elephant."
Peterson says after the initial shock, they just drifted, engine cut, and watched the feeding frenzy. The whales never whaled on their boat, rather diving down below, following the bait ball.
"It was a unique experience of a lifetime. We probably won't be able to duplicate it," said Peterson.
Peterson says even though his knees were knocking, he'll likely be out there again next weekend fishing. According to Fish and Wildlife officials, humpback whales can be seen throughout the area in the next two months.