The most excited passenger during an all-day whale-watching trip Monday in California’s Monterey Bay was none other than … the dog.
The accompanying footage, captured by Evan Brodsky of Monterey Bay Whale Watch, shows an Australian shepherd observing a humpback whale face to face.
It was one of two whales that lingered near the idling boat, the Point Sur Clipper, for nearly two hours.
At times the “friendly” whales would spyhop, or hoist their heads above water to gaze at the folks on the boat.
Skipper, who just turned 1, could hardly contain himself. He cocked his head this way and that as if to ponder what he was looking at and whether the giant creatures might be friendly.
ALSO: World’s largest falcon photobombs Arctic live-feed cam
Said Brodsky: “He comes whale watching all the time, but he usually hangs out in the pilot house, so this was definitely his first close encounter.”
Skipper was so entranced that he refrained from barking. “Over the whole two hours he was mostly silent just trying to figure out what was going on,” Brodsky said.
Skipper is owned by Nancy Black, who also owns Monterey Bay Whale Watch. The company is unique, in part, because of its dog-friendly policy.
“Well-behaved dogs are welcome on our trips,” the company boasts on its website.
Brodsky said that Skipper was equally enthusiastic, and curious, when a large pod of dolphins swam alongside the vessel on Monday.