Rare footage has emerged of the extraordinary moment a baby humpback whale sneaked away from its sleeping mum to cuddle up to a stunned diver.
The incredible drone footage shows the two divers keeping a safe distance while the baby happily plays and splashes around and mum enjoys a quiet snooze.
Soon the curious youngster leaves its mum’s side and approaches one of the women – flipping onto its back as it does so.
It swims underneath the snorkeler and then amazingly – using its pectoral fin – scoops her onto its belly before the pair come to rest, motionless, and stomach to stomach for a few precious seconds.
