Photographer captures a monster emerging from the sea surface?

Mexico, July 4, 2012
________________________________________________________

Seeing this picture, many will wonder what strange creature is emerging from the depths of the sea. Some suggested that it was a huge eel or a sort of monster of Loch Ness. But actually it is a rare shot of a Bryde’s whale.

The author of this puzzling but fascinating image is the photographer Andy Murch, who was in a boat on the Cortez Sea at the coast of La Paz, Mexico.

The Canadian photographer, 45, said he felt very fortunate to get this picture and really enjoys photographing whales.

Bryde’s whales feed on plankton, crustaceans and schools of fish, which swallow with their huge mouths, as Murch succeeded in registering.

The Sea of Cortez is very popular among those who expect to obtain direct contact with these animals.

Often the whales reach the water surface at irregular intervals and change direction suddenly, for unknown reasons.