A Whale Tail Comes Full Circle

A Whale Tail Comes Full Circle By Guide Jim Nahmens
The sounds of whale breaths surrounded us, deep exhalations echoing off the thick forest behind them. Our kayak paddles cut the calm, sunlit waters of Frederick Sound. We paused to take it all in. All around us, a dozen or so humpback whales were feeding. A whale surfaced, sending a misty plume into the air, then turned in our direction. I told Jodi, “Let’s stay here and enjoy this.” Every time it surfaced, it got closer. I was sure it would dive deep soon, but it kept coming. I wasn’t concerned, but I was paying attention.
From our point of view, this whale seemed curious about our presence and intent on checking us out. And it did check us out. It kept moving closer and closer with each breath, finally diving only a few feet from our tiny kayak. Wow, that was a very close encounter.
V Chop & Guide Jim Nahmens 2002
As it dove, I noticed the tip of its 15-foot fluke was missing, and there was a V-shaped slice missing from the trailing edge, likely due to a run-in with a boat propeller. We nicknamed this whale V Chop, a simple way to remember a name from the unusual shape of the fluke. That was in 2002. V Chop was seen frequently in the following years, and it was easy to identify her with that unique fluke. Every time, I thought about the beautiful day in the kayak and the thrilling encounter.
While guiding guests in 2021 on the M/V Northern Song’s skiff in the same area, I had the ultimate whale déjà vu. We spotted three humpbacks about 200 yards away, but they seemed intent on keeping the distance between us. We sat quietly and observed the whales. Then they turned in our direction. As the whales moved closer and closer, anticipation mounted, and the option of moving the skiff was, well, no longer an option.
One whale dove just 20 yards in front of us, another even closer to our right, and the last just a few feet from the skiff on the left. In a split-second reveal, I recognized the previous fluke as that of my old friend, V Chop, whom I hadn’t seen in many years. The encounters were phenomenal mirrors of each other. It’s remarkable that the same whale did the same thing in the same area nearly 20 years apart. Another thrilling run-in with V Chop.
I saw V Chop again this year just a few weeks ago, but there was no close call this time. Nevertheless, V Chop had a surprise. This year she was with a calf!
Seeing calves these days is crucial. The marine heatwave that started in 2013 and ended in 2016 caused significant disruption to the food available for humpbacks with disastrous results. We lost about 20% of the North Pacific population, and roughly 7,000 whales disappeared in the following years. For several years, only a few calves were seen in Southeast Alaska; since then, calf production has been very uneven. So, seeing many calves on my trip this year made us very happy. And it’s always great to run into old friends like V Chop.
Highlights of Focus on Whales Cruise with Guide Jim Nahmens 2024
Jim Nahmens has guided our Focus on Whales Cruises since 2001 and has a 32-year legacy of sharing his knowledge and experience with guests. Jim is President of the Board of the Alaska Whale Foundation, giving back to an organization that conducts humpback whale research in the same region as our Southeast Alaska expeditions through the Inside Passage.
Focus on the Whales Cruises happen every July with Alaska Sea Adventures. These cruises have a heavy focus on whales, but also include glaciers, bears, hot springs, wildlife, and amazing cuisine!