A Great Day For A Dive

Nan Hauser is no stranger to the sea. The marine biologist is an accomplished diver and ocean expert. Therefore, when she decided to go diving on a beautiful day, she was ready for anything. Soon after she was below the waves, a humpback whale became her unexpected companion, which wasn’t exactly something of the ordinary; until the creature began to behave in an unusual manner around the lady.

Instead of going on its way after swimming with Nan for a brief bit, the whale decided to stick by the biologist’s side. Soon the giant mammal started moving pretty oddly, too; Before Nan knew what was going on, the whale became frantic, and nothing could’ve prepared her for its reason.

Professional Enthusiast

For Nan Hauser, her job as a marine biologist was the ultimate calling. The lady spent most of her time trying to understand marine life, specifically whales and dolphins. Fortunately, her work has not been in vain, though, since Nan even gained recognition from ‘National Geographic’ and the ‘Discovery channel.’

Nan worked hard to set up a whale sanctuary on Rarotonga, an island that doubles as her home. It was a good call considering the island is home to over 600 species of fish, dolphins, sharks, and whales. Everything was looking good, and Hauser felt convinced she’d seen all there is to the sea creatures, but she couldn’t have been more wrong.

Hobby And A Job

Hauser spent most of her time in the water. Her job as a marine biologist doubled as her passion, and she always ensured to make the most of her time enjoying and exploring the water. That’s how our good lady found herself in the depths of the ocean in early 2020.

Hauser was enjoying a snorkeling session when she discovered a massive figure slowly drawing closer to her. Luckily it was not the Lochness monster but instead a humpback whale. For context, these creatures are some of the largest marine creatures as an adult can reach up to 60 feet in length and weigh a whopping 105 tons.

A Lucky Find

For Hauser, this was a big moment as it was the first time she was getting to see such a creature up close. So far, the lady had only seen the whales from afar while on a boat. Luckily, our marine biologist was a trained professional, and she knew how to navigate her current situation.

Hauser remained calm and composed, and she didn’t view the creature as a threat. On the other hand, she didn’t have any ill will towards the animal either, nor did she want to interact with it. Yet as Hauser watched fascinated from afar while the whale swam up for a breath and dove back, her mood was about to change.

Out Of Character

Typically, humpback whales tend to shy away from humans, but this one was moving towards Hauser. Moreover, its movement wasn’t out of random curiosity as it seemed to proceed with a sense of urgency and desperation. Hauser told NPR that the whale was swimming right at, her which had her quite shaken.

Despite being a professional, Hauser was ill-equipped to deal with the situation. Remember, the lady had only gone for a snorkeling session, thus putting her at a disadvantage if the animal was aggressive. To make matters worse, some people were at the boat above, but they were oblivious to what was happening below them.

The Beginning Of The End

Hauser knew she had to think fast because a 40-ton whale swimming towards you is not a good thing. So many people have lost their lives this way, and Hauser was not ready to become another name on that list. Also, from a professional standpoint, the marine biologist was at a disadvantage considering she only had a snorkel and an underwater camera.

Before she could make her plan, Hauser was already on top of the whale’s head. Everything was happening so fast, but so far, luck was on her side. Surprisingly, the whale wasn’t done with the lady as this was just the beginning of a long day.

Look At Me

As soon as the whale was nearby, its behavior became even more strange as it started nudging Hauser. The lady was lost for words and options as she had no idea what was happening. In all her career, Nan had never had to deal with such a situation.

The whale’s behavior was so strange that it was throwing Hauser off. For one, the animal didn’t seem hostile, but it wanted the biologist’s attention. Hauser was worried that she might be in danger, but things were turning out to be quite complicated. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but see the irony of it all too.

Breaking The Code

Over the years, Hauser had always treated the aquatic life around her with dignity and professionalism. Most of the time, she did her best not to disturb their habitat or disrupt their activities. She had always been an advocate for treating the creatures well, which is one reason Nan never touched them.

Now here was Hauser, with a full-grown whale touching her. The marine biologist found it ironic because she had drafted some rules and regulations regarding whale harassment, and here was the creature turning the tables by harassing her. Nevertheless, Hauser couldn’t help but feel some level of dread as the beast didn’t stop its actions.

A Turn Of Events

The humpback kept on nudging Hauser, and before long, it started rolling around in the water. Before Hauser could fathom what was happening, the creature had pinned her under its fin. Stuck there, it lifted her out of the water and then dove back in. Hauser felt forced to hold on for dear life as there was nothing else she could do.

The lady was always sure that whales don’t hold any ill will towards humans and are the safest animals to hang around. All of Hauser’s beliefs were getting tested in this frantic moment while she was holding on for dear life; the whale continued toying with her.

 

Nonstop Action

Hauser had to find the will to survive ten minutes of constant tossing, and before long, she came to an astonishing conclusion. There was a high chance this situation might turn grim sooner than later. All it took was one miscalculation by the animal, and that would be the end of her.

Although the lady tried her best to get away from the whale, it had proved to be an impossible task. If the creature held the woman in her pectoral fin, Hauser would surely drown. On the other hand, if it slammed her too hard, Hauser’s organs might get ruptured, or her bones would break, leading to disaster.

 

Taking Stock

Just when Hauser was about to lose all hope, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Her aquatic training and skills came in handy because they allowed her to remain calm and chart a plan of action. Nan now remembered that these creatures tend to smell fear, and if she showed any signs of emotional distress, things would quickly go awry.

As she did her best to maintain a calm demeanor, the marine biologist tried to prepare for the worst possible outcome. To make matters worse, even though she was not alone, her team on the surface had no way of coming through to assist her.

 

A Tense Moment

Hauser’s team was stuck on the boat with their hands tied. At first, they were happy to get amazing footage of the whale, but once Hauser got entangled in its mess, they were all tensed, hoping the animal would eventually leave their colleague alone.

Most of them were willing to risk it all and try to help Hauser by jumping in and swimming towards the creature, but they knew the odds were against them. There was a high chance the whale might get more aggressive and attack them as well, leading to a more complicated mess. Conversely, the boat had to maintain its distance lest its movement caused problems for Hauser down below.

 

Springing To Action

Immediately, the crew was aware of the danger their colleague was in; they diverted all their efforts towards rescuing her. The videographers and drone operators stopped filming and started changing into dive gear. Their goal was to pull Hauser out of the water immediately after the whale left, plus they didn’t want to capture the loss of their friend on the camera if in case it came to that.

It was a rough situation, and everyone had their fingers crossed, hoping for the best. As for Hauser, she hadn’t given up. The determined lady applied every single trick and tip she knew to help her survive the situation.

 

Slipping Away

As time went on, Hauser remained surprisingly calm. She tried as hard as she possibly could to manage her emotions as the whale continued tossing her about. Nan even did her best trying to maintain eye contact with the animal, hoping it would calm it down, but it was barely working.

By now, all hope of escape was slowly dwindling as the whale started moving further and farther from the boat. The situation was getting worse, and slowly, Hauser began to feel like things would not work out. She was holding on, but the situation demanded something else. Unsurprisingly, amidst all the turmoil, the struggling marine biologist failed to notice yet another massive creature also lurking close by.

 

Spiraling

As if every whale in the region had a bone to pick with Hauser, another mammoth creature made its way to them, and it started slapping its tail on the ocean’s surface. Usually, a whale would do this once or twice after breaching, but this one didn’t stop. Instead, it kept slapping the water repeatedly, sending shockwaves of water towards Nan.

The hapless marine biologist felt caught between a rock and a hard place and she was resigned to her fate at this point. It was at that very moment when another shadow started making its way to the surface. A horrified Hauser thought there was another whale on its way.

 

Not What She Thought

Whales usually migrate through the Pacific twice a year, so Hauser felt convinced that she had found herself among a family of whales. Going by their behavior, the marine biologist wrongly deduced that the creatures were probably attempting to defend their territory and protect their young.

Suddenly, Hauser felt one powerful nudge, and she could finally map out the whole scenario. In a brief moment of clarity, she quickly assessed her environment and noticed something was amiss. There was another large figure making its way towards them, and at first, the lady thought it was a whale only to discover it was an ocean swimmer’s worst fear instead.

 

Dreadful Realization

Hauser recounted looking at the figure coming towards them, having first quickly assumed it was another whale. Yet within seconds, she realized how wrong she was because she was staring at one of the ocean’s most feared residents. A tiger shark was making its way towards them, and Hauser’s mind immediately went numb with sheer shock.

Nan felt stunned by the latest development, but she barely had time to register it before fear started setting in. This was so mainly because it was now too late for her to escape. The whales had already pinned her between themselves, while the shark was barely yards away.

 

Human Vs. Predator

Great whites might be the more well-known big dogs of the ocean, but tiger sharks are no slouches either. These marine hunters rank second when it comes to recorded human bites, and they can grow up to an incredible length of 25 feet. Moreover, their serrated teeth make things even more difficult for those they bite.

Bethany Hamilton is one of the most famous victims of a tiger shark’s attack after losing an arm while surfing. On the flip side, these shark’s bites are rarely known to be fatal, so there was a silver lining to Hauser’s situation. All said and done, it was definitely better to be safe than sorry, but Nan had precious few options.

 

What Next

Time was running out, and the whales were no longer a concern for Hauser. She had to find a way out of this situation as the approaching tiger shark was aiming straight for her. If she wanted to survive this, Hauser had to come up with a solution fast.

After assessing all her options, Hauser only had one choice, she had to swim for her life. The lady hoped that her fins would help her outrun the sleek hunter, and she’d make it to her boat in time. Nan quickly took a deep breath and used the whales as a shield as she tried making her way to her friends.

 

Whatever It Takes

The desperate and exhausted marine biologist mustered every bit of strength she had left and made a swim for it. Surprisingly, Nan managed to reach the boat in time, and her crew quickly dragged her inside the vessel. Despite her quick reprieve, the lady didn’t waste any time informing her team about what was lurking in the waters below them.

Once her mission was over, a thoroughly battered Nan collapsed from exhaustion, totally relieved that her plan had succeeded. At this point, the breathless woman started putting two and two together, and it slowly dawned on her why the whale had come to her acting oddly in the first place.

 

Saviour From The Deep

Later on, Nan decided to review the footage that she had taken during her ordeal. Watching it playback, as soon as the whale began its antics, Hauser figured out what had happened – It turns out the humpback had been trying to save the swimmer’s life all along!

Although Hauser wasn’t sure of the shark’s intentions as they can be erratic at times, she got thoroughly convinced the giant sea mammals had been trying to save her life. Of course, her friends and crew would not believe her sentiments, and if they ever did, it would take a lot of convincing. Unbeknownst to Hauser, though, this video was about to change her life.

 

It’s Over

Hauser lay on the boat deck, taking in deep breaths. There was a myriad of emotions running through her head after such a traumatic experience. She was grateful to the whale for saving her life, but the fear and dread gnawing at her couldn’t be ignored.

Her deductions about whales had been proven correct, and Hauser felt her career choice was also now vindicated. The crew turned on the motor to begin their journey back to land, and Nan couldn’t help but notice the hero whale breaching the ocean surface once more, pointing in her direction. It was as if the majestic animal was saying goodbye and checking on the marine biologist in its own way.

 

Doubting Thomas

Almost immediately, the video went public, and Hauser shared her story though many people found it too good to be true. After all, the truth is often stranger than fiction, and it’s hard for people to believe a humpback would willingly save a human from a tiger shark.

Hauser had no problem with the skeptics since being a scientist herself, that’s how she approached most claims. In fact, she candidly even claimed that had she been the one hearing the story, she’d probably not believe it either. Nevertheless, Nan was determined to figure out what went down by researching human and whale interaction. She was in for some shocking revelations.

 

In Black & White

Apparently, Hauser found a published scientific paper about whales protecting and defending other species written by Robert Pitman, a decorated marine biologist. This paper cemented Hauser’s belief that the whales had saved her and the video footage was enough evidence to prove it all.

In fact, the footage is considered the first video evidence of a whale defending a human, and Hauser looks at it as a historical moment. This event has pushed the devoted marine biologist to investigate human-whale interaction further. Aside from Hauser, several other people also believe the whales protected the lady, albeit from a more spiritual perspective.

 

Tables Turn

Hauser’s situation might sound epic and wild, but she wouldn’t recommend anyone to try recreating it. She believes that there’s still a lot more research to be done, and there are safer ways to investigate it all. It’s a logical standpoint if you ask us, and we are glad the lady is keen on finding out more.

As for Hauser, the entire event has not stopped her from enjoying her work and delving even deeper. She even finds some humor and irony in the whole situation as she cheekily pointed out how the whales finally ended up protecting her after she had been protecting them for 28 years.

 

Going Viral

Hauser decided to go online and share her experience. Sooner than anyone could expect, her story went viral as people got taken in by the idea that whales could be kind and intelligent creatures. On the other hand, as educational as the story was, it also had a cheerful ending after a rollercoaster ride.

Hauser decided to write a book detailing her career and the dreaded encounter. During interviews, she has often alluded to even trying to develop a relationship with the animal that saved her. Her story has become so big that Hollywood executives quickly came knocking, wanting to share the marine biologist’s adventures with worldwide audiences.

 

On-Air

Hauser’s tale has gotten her to several podiums to talk about it globally. At one point, the marine biologist even made an appearance on the ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show.’ It was a big moment for Nan as she got invited personally by the host herself.

While on the show, Hauser maintained her stance on whales, further stating that the humpbacks can defend other species at the cost of their own life when need be. Moreover, she believes that whales are more intelligent than they let on, and it’s about time we give them credit and stop overlooking their worth and contribution to the seven seas.

 

Smart Cookies

Most scientists are yet to comprehend what happened to Hauser that day entirely. The behavior of those whales is entirely new territory, and some experts theorize that whales see humans as young tiny whales, and maybe that’s why they try to protect them from danger. On the other hand, another camp believes that Hauser was just a curious object to the whales, and they were examining her.

Whatever the case, Hauser will never forget what happened to her that day. Her encounter with the whale and the tiger shark was a life-changing experience that can make anyone think twice about diving into the water willy nilly.

 

Sea Treasures

Aside from aggressive tiger sharks and protective humpback whales, the ocean has other exciting finds that might interest you too. For several millennia, people have been searching for the lost city of Atlantis, and it is not hard to see why. The concept of an entire lost underwater civilization is more than enough to get anyone’s attention.

Atlantis might still be out of our reach for now, but the kingdom of Urartu is as close as we can get to realizing this myth. For the longest time, historians considered this kingdom a tale until some divers recently made an exciting discovery.

 

Beneath The Lake

Lake Van in Turkey is a tourist hotspot, and it’s not hard to see why. The sandy beaches and clear blue waters are more than enough to make anyone book a vacation date ASAP. A fascinating feature about this lake is that it has no outlet, and it just happens to be one of the deepest of its kind.

Beneath the blue waters sits an incredible city that has long gotten called a myth by many historians. Surprisingly, had it not been for an odd church located on a cliff overlooking the lake, there’s a high chance the city of Urartu would still be a complete myth.