Solo Paddler Surrounded by Whales in Tense Atlantic Encounter

Adventurer Paddles Across Atlantic, Surrounded by Whales in Thrilling Encounter

Tom Waddington, adventuring solo across the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to England, experienced an unexpected and exhilarating moment when a massive pod of pilot whales surrounded his boat. The encounter, which occurred after a morning drizzle on July 7, left Waddington feeling both thrilled and apprehensive for his safety.

In an Instagram post, Waddington shared the awe-inspiring scene of long-finned pilot whales encircling his boat. “This is so cool,” Waddington exclaimed in the video. “A pod of whales are just coming around the boat, playing around the boat. I love it but I’m scared they’re gonna hit my rudder. They’re so close, see? I can hear them, they’re blowing bubbles.”

The mood quickly shifted when one of the whales collided with his boat, causing Waddington to stop filming momentarily out of concern. When he resumed recording, his voice was filled with worry. “I’m two hours in now to roaming with these thousands of whales,” he said. “One dinged the boat earlier but I don’t know what to do. I’m scared they’re gonna hit the boat. I can’t believe it. It’s an amazing sight but also so scary.”