I'm a wildlife cameraman but 'special' rare sightings can still take me by surprise

Dan Abbot, a wildlife cinematographer and shark guide, shared an unexpected surprise during a scheduled snorkelling trip off the Pembrokeshire coast. While guiding blue shark snorkelling trips, he encountered a humpback whale in the Celtic Deep just off the Welsh coast. This rare sighting, which could be considered "insanely rare" for someone working in the field, was a complete surprise to Abbot.

Upon initial observation, Abbot thought the whale might be a minke or fin whale due to its size, but the distinctive white pectoral fin and lack of tail breaching confirmed it was a humpback whale. Despite being usually quiet on the boat, Abbot was visibly excited upon realizing the rare sighting. Lloyd Nelmes, from Sea Trust, also experienced a humpback whale sighting in Pembrokeshire in 2024, describing it as an incredible moment in his life.