Professional photographer Colin Baker captured incredible footage of a young whale’s underwater acrobatics while snorkeling near Lady Elliot Island, Queensland, on July 16.

Baker was exploring the island’s reef in the search for turtles and manta ray to photograph when he heard “whale song” in the distance.

Baker found the whale and its calf and spent an hour with them gaining their trust. The young whale twisted and pirouetted as it rose to the surface to breath before returning to its mother in deeper water. The calf’s fins passed inches away from Baker’s camera during the amazing encounter.

Baker often films sea life but told Storyful this event was very special “it’s an interaction I’ve never seen before and even the staff on Lady Elliot were buzzing.” Credit: Colin Baker via Storyful