Diving or swimming with whales is like a silent conversation. The dialogue opens when I begin my approach, barely kicking my fins as I drift closer to the pod. The whales, in turn, acknowledge my presence with curious glances. If any of the animals give even the slightest sign of discomfort, I pause and assess. Sometimes, however, I meet an animal who goes off-script. Along the rocky coasts of Baja, Mexico, @PaulNicklen and I met a gray whale calf who happily barreled straight through our respectful boundaries for a bit of playtime. All I could do was laugh as the little youngster did everything in its power to get our attention, vying for tummy rubs while we tried in vain to get a few decent photos. His mother, surprisingly enough, was not only comfortable with our presence but seemed to encourage her baby to interact with us. Read the full story in Paul’s bulletin through the link in my Bio. #graywhale #wildlifephotography #conservationphotography #savethewhales