Couple posing for photos on whale watching cruise miss the incredible moment a humpback surfaces and WAVES at them

  • Declan and Mandy O'Donoghue from Dublin, Ireland were on whale watching cruise in Australia
  • But as they posed for a photo with the sea in background, humpback springs its huge fin out of water 
  • Company who run the tours say experiences like this are why they continue to offer service to tourists 

By John Hutchinson for MailOnline

Published: 12:04 EST, 10 November 2015 | Updated: 03:16 EST, 11 November 2015

This is the moment a couple on holiday were photobombed in spectacular fashion by a waving whale. 

The holiday snaps from Australia were made all the better thanks to a humpback whale waving its massive fin in the background.

However, the smiling couple missed the moment themselves as they have their back to the magnificent sea dweller.  

Declan and Mandy O'Donoghue from Dublin, Ireland stand for a photo on the boat - unaware of the welcome visitor in the background

Declan and Mandy O'Donoghue from Dublin, Ireland stand for a photo on the boat - unaware of the welcome visitor in the background

Thankfully, the photographer who captured the moment was just in the nick of time before the whale sank back below the surface

Thankfully, the photographer who captured the moment was just in the nick of time before the whale sank back below the surface

But the couple turn round just too late to catch the whale's happy mood after it waved it's giant fin at them

But the couple turn round just too late to catch the whale's happy mood after it waved it's giant fin at them

The massive maritime mammal was more than happy to say 'whale hello there' while Declan and Mandy O'Donoghue posed for a picture on a boat tour. 

As the pair, from Dublin, wait for the shot to be taken, the huge humpback stretches out a pectoral fin and starts slapping it around in the background.

The incredible photobomb was captured by Peter Lynch on one of his Blue Dolphin Tours around Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia, last month.

He said: 'It's really special to see something like this in person - even more so when it's a mother and her calf right beside her.

'It's extremely rare for it to happen this close to the vessel.

The company who run the whale tours says it is for moments like this that tourists continue to come back

The company who run the whale tours says it is for moments like this that tourists continue to come back

The incredible photobomb was captured by Peter Lynch on one of his Blue Dolphin Tours around Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia

The incredible photobomb was captured by Peter Lynch on one of his Blue Dolphin Tours around Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia

'This is why we run the tours, allowing guests such a close encounter.

'We always hope they make a connection with the whales which will affect their choices regarding the environment and conservation.'

Peter and his wife Jodie have been running their tours since 1997, but have been working with dolphins and whales since 1983.

The massive maritime mammal was more than happy to say 'whale hello there' while Declan and Mandy O'Donoghue posed for a picture

The massive maritime mammal was more than happy to say 'whale hello there' while Declan and Mandy O'Donoghue posed for a picture

 

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