Snorkeling Session

Nan Hauser happens to be an expert marine biologist and diver. Therefore, when she decided to go snorkeling one fine day, the lady was pretty confident it would just be another uneventful day under the waves. Unfortunately, this was far from what she experienced as a whale ended up joining her on her dive.

It was not uncommon to bump into whales in the ocean, but this was not a norm as the creature didn't leave the lady alone. Instead, the towering marine mammal started acting weird and frantic as time went by. Nan couldn't explain why this happened, but when she figured it out, she was stupefied.

A Calling

Nan's choice to become a marine biologist was a pretty easy one for her considering she had always been interested in marine life. Her hard work has borne a lot of fruit since nature channels like the 'National Geographic,' and the 'Discovery Channel' have often highlighted her efforts on TV.

To ensure she had enough time and resources for her work, nan set up a whale sanctuary on Rarotonga, where she also lived. The island was a perfect choice considering it was home to over six hundred species of marine life ranging from fish to dolphins, sharks, and of course, whales.

 

Water-Body

Nan loved her job so much she spent most of her time in the water taking notes and documenting one form of marine life from the other. She had been diving beneath the ocean's surface for so many years; therefore, Nan felt convinced she had seen it all - That was until the events that took place in 2020.

Hauser was in the midst of a snorkeling session when she noticed something was moving towards her in the water. Luckily, it was just a harmless humpback whale. Still, despite their gentle nature, these sea elephants are massive and an adult can reach up to 60 feet long and weigh 105 tons.

 

First Time

Nan was having the time of her life since this was the first time she was getting to see a whale up close. Usually, the lady only caught glimpses of the creatures from afar while on a boat. It was a big moment, but Nan maintained her composure and used her skills as a marine biologist to capture some data.

Despite the whale's calm demeanor, it was still a wild animal and any hints of aggression might have turned the beautiful moment ugly. That's why Hauser was careful not to startle the creature or give it a reason to think she had any ill intentions towards it. Little did she know, trouble was headed her way anyway.

 

Odd Times

Nan maintained her distance as the whale dove in and out of the water majestically. It was a rare occasion for the lady since whales are shy creatures and tend to stay far away from humans. Yet, oddly, Nan couldn't help but notice that the animal was swimming towards her quickly.

This was totally out of character, and the marine biologist felt a hint of fear running through her. The lady was not equipped well enough to handle an aggressive sea creature. On the other hand, the people on the boat were too far away to notice what was happening to the lady and take action.

 

Think Fast

Hauser had to compose herself pretty fast because she knew time was not on her side. Moreover, a 40-ton sea creature barreling towards you doesn't always end well; many divers have lost their lives after the unsuspecting creatures rammed into them.

Before she could make heads or tails of what to do next, Hauser found herself atop the whale's head. Hauser knew she was at a disadvantage considering she only had a camera and snorkeling gear, but Nan had to make use of whatever tools she had at her disposal. Luckily, the whale hadn't done anything aggressive yet, so luck was on the marine biologist's side.

 

Upping the Ante

Just when she thought things were getting better, the whale started nudging Hauser, throwing her off her game. The lady had no idea how to react in such a situation because sea creatures rarely initiate contact. This was all new to Hauser, who had never experienced such a thing in her career.

Surprisingly, the whale seemed less hostile than anything the lady had ever encountered, which didn't make sense at all. So why was it nudging Hauser then? Nevertheless, the lady knew she had to get out of there fast before things took a dark turn. Despite it all, Hauser couldn't help but see the irony of her situation.

 

Do Unto Sea Creatures

In her career, Hauser had always championed fair and decent treatment of aquatic life. She lived by the code, too, considering how she handled herself around marine life. The lady tried her best not to invade or disturb their habitat. Nan also had one cardinal rule: she didn't touch the sea animals.

Despite her efforts and desires all these years, a whale was nudging the lady. To make matters funnier, Nan had drafted some stipulations and guidelines regarding whale etiquette, but here was a creature flaunting every one of them. Nan's smile didn't last long, though, as the creator became more and more aggressive.

 

Rolling In The Deep

The nudging went on for a bit before the animal upped the ante and started rolling in the water. Unfortunately, Hauser couldn’t escape in time, and she soon found herself trapped under the creature's fin. Nan had to hold on for dear life as the animal started lifting her in and out of the water repeatedly.

The marine biologist was more confused than a rat in a boxing arena as the whale's actions were far from what she knew. So far, the lad had believed that whales harbored no ill-intent towards man, but here was one doing something else.

 

Survival for the Fittest

After ten minutes of ill-treatment, Hauser knew something was wrong, and her chances of escape were growing slimmer by the minute. It was only a matter of time before she became a hashtag, and she had to work fast to free herself from the misbehaving sea creature.

The lady had a lot on her plate as she had to figure out a way to survive while making sure the whale didn't hold her in its pectoral fin. If that happened, it would be game over, and her story would be trending online. On the other hand, she had to get away before the whale miscalculated and slammed her too hard.

 

Worst Case

If the whale slammed her too hard in the water, Hauser's bones would be broken, and her internal organs would rupture, leading to her untimely passing. Luckily, her years of experience in the sea allowed her to navigate the situation excellently, and she was soon looking at an escape route.

So far, her training had helped her maintain a calm demeanor which probably saved her life. Had the lady lost her composure and exhibited any signs of stress, there's a high chance the whale might have misinterpreted her intentions and become violent. Once that happened, her team would have to watch helplessly as the animal made quick work of Nan.

 

Bad Bad Not Good

Hauser's team was on the boat, and they were incapable of offering any form of assistance. So instead, they helplessly watched as the drama unfolded before their eyes with bated breath. What had started as a fun moment taking close-up shots of whales was turning out into a nightmare.

It's not that they didn't want to help; in fact, most of them were ready to jump in and save their boss, but that was easier said than done. Furthermore, since they had no idea why the whale was acting odd, there was a chance their presence in the water might have made the situation even worse.

Helping Hand

Despite their defensive approach, the team was on their toes, ready to spring into action. The videographer and drone operators had stopped filming just in case things went south. They had even started changing into diving gear to pull Nan out of the water as soon as possible.

While her team was waiting for the right moment, Nan was still playing chess with the creature, looking for an opening to escape. She tried out every trick in the book to help her get free, but nothing was working. It was almost as if this wasn't the whale's first rodeo.

Emotional Balance

Despite having the odds stacked against her, Hauser didn't lose her composure. The whale continued tossing her, but the lady didn't lose focus, and she tried her best to remain calm and scan for a way out. Nan even went as far as maintaining eye contact with the animal to calm it down to no avail.

As time went on, the whale began moving farther and farther away from the boat, making Nan's hope start to fade away. The marine biologist started feeling the sense of dread grow within her because it was getting harder for her team to get to her. Unfortunately, in her fear, the lady overlooked the danger lurking nearby.

The More The Merrier

Just when things couldn't get any worse, they did. Hauser noticed another whale had made its way to them from the corner of her eye, and it began slapping its tail against the water. Instead of the usual two or three taps after breaching, this whale did it repeatedly.

This situation made things more complicated for Nan as she dealt with shockwaves of pain running through her body with every slap. Before she could adjust to the situation, Hauser's problems increased as a shadowy figure started making its way towards the trio. The whales had come home to roost.

Mistaken Identity

Due to whales’ specific migration pattern in the Pacific, Hauser was convinced she had made her way into a school of whales, and she was paying for invading their territory. Unfortunately, Nan wrongly deduced that there must have been young ones around, and that's why the whales were so aggressive.

As the situation got more intense, Hauser felt an incredible nudge that threw her a few inches above the water. From that angle, she was able to piece out what was going on. There was a figure making its way towards them that seemed like a whale, but upon closer inspection, Nan knew she was in trouble.

Bad to Worse

The figure was far from a whale, and Nan soon realized she was staring at one of the ocean's worst creatures. This was a tiger shark, and it was making its way directly to them. Unfortunately, Nan's situation was no longer as simple as she thought.

The marine biologist was pinned between two whales while the shark was making its way towards them. How was she going to escape this situation? Nan was in a rock and a hard place, and she knew she needed a miracle or a foolproof plan to save her from this moment. Whatever the case, time was of the essence.

 

Hierarchy

Great whites are usually celebrated as the most violent sea creatures, but their cousins, the tiger sharks, are not too far behind. This second batch of sharks is quite extensive and can reach up to 25 feet in length, and they have serrated teeth with mighty bites.

Bethany Hamilton is a famous victim of the tiger sharks who lost her arm to one of these creatures while surfing. Despite the scary synopsis, shark bites are rarely fatal, so the lady had a slim chance of survival. Even so, who wants to be bitten by a shark?

 

Switching Gears

Nan's focus turned from the whales to the shark as it was the more significant threat. The lady mapped out the terrain quickly because she had to find the perfect escape route sooner than later. Any slight delay and things would be bad for her.

After considering every single factor, Nan realized her only option was to swim for it. She had her fins on, so there was a possibility if she pushed herself, she might outswim the creature. So with fingers crossed and a determined mindset, the lady took a deep breath and used the whales as her shield before taking off.

 

No Time To Waste

It took every bit of strength for Hauser to make it to the boat in time, and her crew wasted no time dragging her inside the boat. As soon as she caught her breath, the lady informed her team of the presence of the shark right below them.

With that, Nan collapsed from exhaustion and relief. Her plan had worked, and she was alive to tell the tale. Nevertheless, something was gnawing at her, and she quickly realized what the whales had been up to the whole time. Their erratic behavior finally made sense, and Nan couldn't believe what had just happened.

 

Misunderstood

Nan reviewed the footage of her ordeal, and she came to an exciting conclusion. Immediately the whale began its antics; it was plain to see why it had done so. The creature was determined to save Nan's life.

As for the shark, Nan had no idea why it was there. So far, it hadn't made any effort to attack the lady, so, as far as she knew, the animal was just enjoying the show below the whales. Her friends and crewmates didn't believe her, and Nan knew she'd need solid proof. As for the video, that was the beginning of a new chapter for the marine biologist.

 

All’s Well

As Hauser lay breathless on the boat, she couldn't help but feel a sense of vindication and relief. Her deductions about the whales had been correct so far, and their actions that day had proven her theory.

The lady was convinced she had taken the right path in life as the ordeal was enough to strengthen her resolve. As the crew made its way back to land, Hauser noticed the friendly whale had made a breach one last time as if to tell her goodbye. The whale was pointing in the marine biologist's direction, so there was no other reason for this.

 

Stranger Things

When Nan's video went public, a lot of people were quick to call it fake.  It was too good to be true because animals rarely act to save people, but stranger things have happened in her defense.

The lady was not taken aback or shaken by the criticisms and naysayers. She was a scientist first, and she understood that any sensible person would take a calculated approach to the subject. If she was in their shoes, the lady was sure she'd be one of the doubters, too, and that's how and why she began researching whale and human interaction.

 

Proof

In her research, Nan found some interesting information that she hadn't come across before. For example,s a published scientific paper documented whales protecting and defending other species written by Robert Pitman_ a decorated marine biologist. The information was in line with Hauser's assumptions, and the video was more than enough proof.

Inadvertently, the video is considered the first documented case of a whale rescuing a human being. It is a historical moment in the scientific world, and it has pushed our favorite biologists to study this phenomenon even more. Aside from Hauser, there's also a team of individuals who believe her story but from a spiritual standpoint.

 

Tit for Tat

Despite the incredible experience Hauser had, she wouldn't recommend anyone to go diving with whales. She believes that there's more research needed to understand what happened that day, and we can't contradict her words. That's why Nan is dedicated to finding out more.

On the other hand, the lady hasn't stopped going for dives and enjoying her job. To Hauser, the whole story is behind her, but it's pretty ironic and funny that after 28 years of protecting whales, they'd be the ones to save her. It was such a full-circle moment that it's hard to ignore the irony of it all.

 

Sharing The News

When Hauser shared her experience online, it quickly gained traction, and many news outlets picked up the story. So many people felt enticed by the idea that such majestic sea creatures are also intelligent and kind. This was a breath of fresh air for many people, especially after many sad stories of sharks and the mistreatment of marine life.

To capitalize on her experience, Nan wrote a book detailing her sea adventures and career. Soon enough, the lady even hinted at trying to form a bond with the creature that saved her life. At this point, Hollywood executives decided to come knocking in excitement to see what they could do.

 

Marine Celebrity

Before long, Nan found herself called to several global forums to talk about her experience and findings. She even made an appearance at the famous Ellen DeGeneres Show. This was a big moment for the lady since the host had personally requested for her.

On the daytime talk show, Nan was still adamant that the whales had saved her life and that there was much more to these creatures than we know. In some cases, the animals even save other creatures while putting their own lives in the line of fire. The marine biologist is convinced whales have a lot more intelligence than we think, and it's high time we changed our mindset about them.

 

Uncharted Waters

Hauser's story is a cause for debate within the scientific community, and it's not hard to see why. The whales acted out of character, but there are other reasons why this might have happened. Maybe they were protecting their territory as Hauser thought initially, or their young ones were in the area.

Another camp believes that there's a chance the whales saw Hauser as a curious object in the water, and they wanted to examine her. Others think it was a case of mistaken identity, and the whales saw Hauser as one of their calves. Nevertheless, Hauser still feels convinced that the whales were there to save her that day.

 

Sea City

The ocean's marine life isn't the only exciting thing there. Some people believe there's a lost city of people residing underwater or at least a city that sank underwater. That would be none other than the lost city of Atlantis, which has already graced our screens in one fictional form or another.

For eons, people have tried to locate this sunken civilization, and no one has ever come close. Luckily, there's another underwater city that recently came to light. This was none other than the kingdom of Urartu, which most people believed to be a myth until its recent discovery in the most unexpected places.

 

Lake Depths

You might not have heard of Lake Van in Turkey, but now you might have a reason to go there. The sandy beaches and clear blue water are enough to put even your favorite beaches to shame. If you don't like salty water, this might be the best experience for you.

This lake happens to be the deepest lake without a water outlet, but that's not its most significant feature. There's an incredible city that got discovered within its clear blue waters thanks to an odd church located on a cliff overlooking the waterbody. These are remains of the mythical city of Urartu, which is now very much proven to be authentic.