The once in a lifetime encounter happened as the pair casually bobbed in the water at Souza Rock, two miles from Morro Bay in California.
Suddenly a ball of fish surrounded Shawn Stamback and Francis Antigua and began leaping out the water as the hungry predators swam towards them looking for dinner.
Horrifying: This is the incredible moment a pair of divers were almost gobbled up by two humpback whales. The once in a lifetime encounter happened as the pair casually bobbed in the water at Souza Rock, two miles from Morro Bay in California
The 40 ton beasts exploded out of the water just inches from Mr Antigua and as they splashed back below the surface the divers quickly darted back to the safety of their boat.
Mr Stamback said: ‘We could see the whales feeding about a quarter of a mile away when we got into the water to pass time in between dives.
‘As we were floating around in the water hoping to get some shots of the whales in the distance all of a sudden the sardines started going crazy.
‘They weigh up to 40 tons and feed on schooling baitfish like these sardines.
Unaware: Shawn Stamback said: ‘We could see the whales feeding about a quarter of a mile away when we got into the water to pass time in between dives’
The 40 ton beasts exploded out of the water just inches from Mr Antigua and as they splashed back below the surface the divers quickly darted back to the safety of their boat.
Mr Stamback said: ‘We could see the whales feeding about a quarter of a mile away when we got into the water to pass time in between dives.
‘As we were floating around in the water hoping to get some shots of the whales in the distance all of a sudden the sardines started going crazy.
‘They weigh up to 40 tons and feed on schooling baitfish like these sardines.
Unaware: Shawn Stamback said: ‘We could see the whales feeding about a quarter of a mile away when we got into the water to pass time in between dives’
Fear: ‘As we were floating around in the water hoping to get some shots of the whales in the distance all of a sudden the sardines started going crazy,’ said Mr Stamback
Trepidation: The sardines began to rush through the water as the whales approached where the two men were diving
They take in vast amounts of fish and sea water as they launch forwards.
‘I had a feeling the whales knew where we were in the water so missed us intentionally – which is pretty lucky as I was right in the middle of the meatball.’
Friends Jay Hebrard and Jeremy Bonnett captured the heart-in-mouth moment on video from the safety of the boat which Shawn and Francis quickly swan back to as they captured their breath.
Mr Stamback added: ‘It was a good moment to have the camera out – they captured the whales in full gulp-mode.’
Horrifying: The whales emerge from the water as they chase the sardines. They take in vast amounts of fish and sea water as they launch forwards
Escape: The two men make a bid to get back to the boat safely as quickly as they can while a friend on the boat watches
Caught on camera: Friends Jay Hebrard and Jeremy Bonnett captured the heart-in-mouth moment on video from the safety of the boat which Shawn and Francis quickly swan back to as they captured their breath
‘I had a feeling the whales knew where we were in the water so missed us intentionally – which is pretty lucky as I was right in the middle of the meatball,’ said Mr Stamback
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