Underwater photography is not for the faint of heart. Luckily, folks like Jono Allen have the skills and bravery needed to venture deep into the ocean, capturing sights we’d never see otherwise. If you check out his social media pages, you’ll discover tons of breathtaking footage. Still, despite all the times Jono has explored the ocean, he’s never encountered a white whale before. At least that was the case until recently.
Videos by InspireMore
But that changed during a recent visit to an island group in Tonga called Vava’u. Jono and others were exploring off the coast when a massive whale caught their attention. Unlike most whales, this one was shockingly pale. As if that wasn’t amazing enough, the creature got surprisingly close to the group. Check out some footage in the video below!
“It is believed only 1 in 40,000 humpback whales are born pure white like this,” Jono shares on social media, “a moment in time I’ll never forget.”
Fittingly, this female calf has been named Mãhina. It means “moon” in Tonganese. She was first spotted in this area around August and is believed to be the very first white humpback whale to have been born in Tongan water, making this footage all the more special.
Breathtaking Footage Shows the Beauty of a Rare White Humpback Whale
Matt Porteous, fellow photographer and co-chief executive of conservation charity Ocean Culture Life, was also there to witness this moment with Jono. Needless to say, it’s one that they will never forget.
“Mãhina and her mother have been on the move around Tonga since August and knowing their whereabouts has been almost impossible,” a spokesperson for Ocean Culture Life shares. “This chance encounter turned what was already an amazing week swimming with humpback whales to something beyond words.”
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!
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