Kevin Williams, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, had an awe-inspiring and heart-pounding encounter while paddleboarding in the waters of Prince William Sound. The adventurous paddleboarding enthusiast came face-to-face with a colossal humpback whale, an experience he describes as a “once-in-a-lifetime” event.
As Williams and his friends ventured out on their paddleboards, a massive humpback whale emerged right in front of him, its immense size contrasting sharply with the paddler’s comparatively tiny board. The humpback, identified as a female, was estimated to weigh around 70,000 pounds and measure approximately 49 feet in length. The breathtaking sighting occurred in the expansive Prince William Sound, an area known for its rich marine life.
Recalling the moment, Williams expressed the overwhelming nature of the encounter, saying, “It’s just so massive – you’re puny against this whale.” The close proximity of the whale added an element of danger to the experience, as the humpback surfaced directly in front of Williams, approaching him with a combination of curiosity and grace.
Despite the thrilling nature of the encounter, Williams acknowledged the potential risks involved in such a close encounter with a creature of this size. He highlighted the fact that any sudden movement or action by the whale could have posed a serious threat to his safety. Williams noted, “If you have a whale that doesn’t know you were there and is that close, that’s not a good situation, and it surfaced right in front of me, coming towards me.”
Williams, accompanied by his son Brian and a couple of friends, had previously spotted the whale from a distance in the expansive sound. As they continued their paddleboarding excursion, Williams found himself trailing behind his faster friends, with the whale’s movements gradually shifting its trajectory toward them. Williams believed that the shoreline would eventually divert the whale’s path away from them.
Observing the whale’s behavior, Williams noted that it submerged underwater for a notably extended period of around 45 seconds—a duration longer than he had previously witnessed. As the whale resurfaced, it glided serenely beneath the water’s surface, its massive form adorned with the white hues of its belly. The experience of witnessing such a majestic creature up close left Williams in awe.
Despite the potential risks and the awe-inspiring nature of the encounter, Williams remains undeterred. He expressed his determination to continue his paddleboarding adventures, emphasizing that this remarkable encounter was indeed a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience—one that reaffirms his passion for exploring the waters and encountering the wonders of the natural world.
