The is the moment a curious minke whale came up close to a Scottish skipper's boat in a "very special encounter" he captured while out on the water.
Shane Wasik, who is the owner and guide at wildlife tour business Basking Shark Scotland, captured the incredible footage last week during on a day trip from Oban to the Isle of Mull and the Isle of Coll.
While on the water, the "amazing" and "very curious" animal approached the boat and allowed the crew to get close-up footage of it. In a video shared to Twitter, the whale can be seen just beneath the surface of the water before swimming underneath the boat.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Shane commented: "Headed out offshore around Coll and the small Isles searching for wildlife, it was an amazing day on the water with super pods of hundreds of common dolphins and numerous minkes.
"We stopped to observe one and it turned out to be very curious circling the boat for 10mi. Even getting so close to take a look at us.
"A very special encounter and our passengers were blow away. A perfect day on the water."
Before long, many Twitter users had left comments beneath the video sharing their thoughts on the encounter.
One wrote: "Oh my god, what a beautiful sight. I'd have squealed like a kid with Santa."
"What a beautiful creature," said a second, while a third simply commented: "Oh wow."
Minke whales are the smallest and most common type of baleen whale found in Scottish waters. They measure between seven and 10 metres when fully grown, and are known for their distinctive bright white band on each flipper.
According to Basking Shark Scotland, the company's main focus is "seasonally run, high-quality wildlife tours, to encounter iconic species with our dedicated staff qualified in marine science and professional diving".
More information can be found Basking Shark Scotland website.
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