A large sardine supper: Giant whale caught on camera swallowing a whole shoal of fish




A whale prepares to clamp its jaws around a shoal of sardines in this remarkable underwater image.

Underwater photographer Doug Perrine travelled to Mexico's Baja Peninsula to photograph the magnificent 50-foot-long Bryde's whale.

Scientists know so little about them that the numbers, range in the world's oceans and whether this species of whale is in danger of being wiped out are not understood.

Feeding time: No escape for dozens of sardines as they are swallowed up by a Bryde whale off Baja, California

Bryde's whales a re a type of baleen whale that feed on small fish and krill.

Surrounded by hungry marlins and sea lions, Doug and his fellow diver, Brandon Cole, found themselves in the middle of a feeding frenzy, which allowed them to witness, and get extraordinarily close to, this act of nature.

'The whales would just appear out of nowhere and blindsided us,' said Doug.

'They came in so fast that they seemed to just appear out of nowhere right next to us - it was very unnerving.'

A whale of a time: The Bryde's whale tracks down sardines for supper off the coast of Caba San Lucas, Mexicom

Seafood meal: The whale clamps its jaws round some fish in this dramatic image caught by brave underwater photographer Doug Perrine

'The marlin were a little scary too - they would use their bills to try to whack the sardines that would hide behind our necks, under our arms, and between our legs.

'When the whale hit my rubber fins, I just tumbled down its side. 'It sped past with its throat pleats expanding to take in a swimming pool sized gulp of sardines and sea water.'

'As the whale pushed the water out of its mouth the air was forced out with the water. This produced jets of white bubbles that make the whales look like fire-breathing dragons.'

Caught on camera: The photographer looks up at the Bryde's whale as he gets up close and personal with this magnificent animal

Scientists have been left scratching their heads because of uncertainty over exactly what classifies a whale as a Bryde's whale.

They are related to the humpback whale and blue whale, and Bryde's whales are often mistaken for other types of whale. They live in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Mealy good: Bryde's whale expels air and water from mouth through baleen plates after swallowing the sardines

Predator: The Bryde's whale can grow up to 50ft long and is seen here off the coast of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico

Up close: A Bryde's whale narrowly misses photographer Brandon Cole after making a sudden turn to avoid hitting a marlin feeding on a bait ball of sardines off the coast of Caba San Lucas in Mexico