Scuba diver Craig Capeheart captured an extraordinary and magical moment off the southeastern coast of South Africa when he witnessed a massive 40-ton humpback whale leaping completely out of the water. Despite its enormous size, the whale appeared surprisingly agile and energetic as it soared through the air, leaving passengers on the boat awestruck and shouting with excitement as the giant creature splashed back into the ocean below.

This breathtaking display is known as breaching—a behavior in which whales propel themselves partially or fully out of the water. Scientists believe breaching serves as a form of communication between groups of whales that are far apart, differing from the more common tail and fin slapping used for signaling nearby companions. The loud splash created by breaching may carry across long distances underwater, allowing whales to send messages or establish presence.

While any breach is defined by the whale’s body rising at least 40% above sea level, witnessing a whale launch its entire body clear out of the water is exceptionally rare. This makes Capeheart’s close-up footage an extraordinary and valuable record of marine life behavior. “It seems that never before has a recording been made of an adult humpback whale leaping entirely out of the water! This is a very rare event, indeed,” Capeheart comments. “Dolphins and even Great White Sharks have been seen flying out of the water, but this is the very first time an adult humpback whale has been caught on film performing such an incredible feat!”

This majestic humpback whale’s full leap out of the ocean is a rare sight that was beautifully captured on camera by a scuba diver in South Africa. Moments like these not only highlight the incredible power and grace of marine mammals but also remind us of the importance of protecting these magnificent creatures and their ocean habitats.