Borderline Breach
Whale biologist Hal Whitehead defines a breach as when more than 40% of the animal is above water, whereas a lunge is when less than 40% appears. I remember that this adult Humpback Whale dropped back into the water straight after this shot, and I'd guess about 40% is on show, so this is a borderline breach. You can see water pouring out of its mouth (especially on the far side) and cascading down its back. I think the top of its pectoral fin is just visible if you zoom in, though it looks oddly absent. That misty area just left of its mouth is actually its breath as it quickly dissipates in the next pictures in the sequence. This was taken at Gorda Banks off the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.
Borderline Breach
Whale biologist Hal Whitehead defines a breach as when more than 40% of the animal is above water, whereas a lunge is when less than 40% appears. I remember that this adult Humpback Whale dropped back into the water straight after this shot, and I'd guess about 40% is on show, so this is a borderline breach. You can see water pouring out of its mouth (especially on the far side) and cascading down its back. I think the top of its pectoral fin is just visible if you zoom in, though it looks oddly absent. That misty area just left of its mouth is actually its breath as it quickly dissipates in the next pictures in the sequence. This was taken at Gorda Banks off the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.