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WATCH ABOVE: Close encounter with a humpback whale – Courtesy of Doug and Deb Emery

VANCOUVER – Doug Emery said a recent encounter with a very friendly humpback whale just blew him away.

Emery, who runs Thunder 1 Adventures with his wife Deb, had taken a group of fishermen for a tour off the coast of Prince Rupert when they spotted a huge humpback whale sleeping on the surface.

Doug cut the engine and as they floated towards the creature, he figured it would wake up and swim away.

“But he was on the people watching tour and we were on the whale watching tour,” Emery told Global News.

He said the whale stayed around their boat for an hour, swimming from side to side, and looking at the group. The whale never touched the boat, but they could have touched him, although they didn’t.

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“I thought ‘let’s not spoil the moment’,” said Emery.

When the whale had had enough, Emery said he turned away from them, lifted his tail and swam away.

“It’s amazing how graceful those big animals are,” said Emery.

“It was a unique experience for us but we haven’t had one take a shine to us like that.”