That right there is BEAUTIFUL! Either a Blue or Fin. What a rush that had to be.
My pop was always nervous about whales everytime we crossed over to Cat on the sailboat. I told him, "Dude - they know you're there LONG before you see them" and sure enough, one would bust surface just to either side, just off the bow or just off the stern with plenty of room to spare. Always a thrill, too!
In a yak, it would be exhilarating to be that close. But, then, I'm a whale freak...yet smart enough to not get in the middle of a big ring of bubbles - a sure fire sign that Humpies are gonna be surfacing for chow!
Ang