California swimmers completely clueless to whale swimming beside them

Getting the opportunity to swim with a whale would make any beach trip unforgettable. But you have to actually notice the 30 ton mammal paddling next to you first.

A lost gray whale ended up in the shallows of Laguna Beach this past Tuesday. Drone footage of the scene shows crystal-clear water, allowing for unhindered viewing of the marine mammal as it made its way around the Montage resort beach, apparently unbeknownst to the people close by.

A fin whale, among others, was spotted on a whale-watching excursion off the Gaspe Peninsula. A fin whale, among others, was spotted on a whale-watching excursion off the Gaspe Peninsula. Photo: Alan Solomon, TNS Photo: Alan Solomon, TNS Image 1 of / 47 Caption Close California swimmers completely clueless to whale swimming beside them 1 / 47 Back to Gallery

As the whale circled inside the bay for several minutes, both those wading into the water along the shore and those taking a swim further off the coastline don't appear to take notice of the giant creature.

While this unusual video was captured in Southern California, the Bay Area has been no stranger to whale sightings this past summer. Apart from whales frequently spotted from the Safety of the Golden Gate Bridge, several close encounters have been documented, including collisions with boats and a kiteboarder.

In a previous interview with SFGate, Golden Gate Cetacean Research marine biologist Bill Keener warned against getting too close to whales attempting to feed or breach in the Bay: "My advice is if you see whales concentrated in an area, give them a wide berth. If they're feeding and they come up from the depths to lunge up, you don't know where they're going to come back up."

If you find yourself a bit too up-close-and-personal with a whale, it's not just your safety you have to worry about. For a complete list of regulations regarding impacting marine mammals, check out this link.