What a way to ring in the new year.

A pair of humpback whales got up-close and personal with a group of fishermen near Nanaimo, B.C. on Friday, swimming breathtakingly close to their boat.

Kyle Noble said he and his buddies were catching prawns for bait in preparation for a fishing trip when they saw the mammals coming their way.

One swam right underneath the boat before popping up to say hello. The whale gets so close, you can see barnacles growing on its head. (Watch above at the 0:53 mark.)