“Incredible moment” humpback whale spotted by cameraman off Welsh coast – “There have been only a couple of sightings” in the last few years, he says

An exceptional encounter unfolded off the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales, as a professional diver and underwater filmmaker captured a rarely seen humpback whale swimming by his boat. Dan Abbott, an ocean educator, was diving near the Celtic Deep, a 100-meter depression on the West Wales seafloor, when the majestic creature appeared. The cameraman, excitedly shouting "There it is, a humpback!" as the whale passed, was joined by others aboard the vessel, all in awe of the moment.

Humpback whales, the sixth-largest species in the world, can reach lengths of 48 to 62.5 feet (14.5 to 19 meters) and weigh up to 40 tons. Their dark bodies contrast with their white undersides, a small hooked dorsal fin and distinctive hump, and tubercles on their heads. Although Abbott noted that humpback sightings are uncommon in Welsh waters, he emphasized that such occurrences are becoming more frequent.

In an Instagram post, he shared that only a few sightings had been recorded in the past five to six years, expressing his surprise at the encounter.

The Marine Conservation Society has observed a rise in humpback sightings across the UK, though the exact reasons remain unclear. However, they speculate that the increase could be attributed to the growing whale populations since the 1986 Moratorium on whaling, as well as warming oceans due to climate change prompting the migratory species to alter their routes.

A humpback whale was previously observed off the coast of Pembrokeshire in 2024, although it was smaller than usual and exhibited signs of previous illnesses and infections.