Video shows breathtaking humpback whale encounter off B.C. coast [Video]

When a group of B.C. filmmakers set out on a small fishing boat near Powell River last week, they hoped to capture some video for a documentary on humpback whales. 

What happened next blew their minds.

“Staring into the eye of a humpback whale is an experience like no other,” said filmmaker Jonah Lee-McNamee, who was among six people on the expedition.

Lee-McNamee said the group spotted two whales in the distance, and killed the boat’s motor in an attempt to keep their distance – but the humpbacks apparently had other plans.

“We didn’t get close to the whales, the whales got that close to us. They chose to approach us out of their own curiosity,” said Lee-McNamee.

He recounted looking down and seeing one whale swimming directly under the boat.

“I’m freaking out,” he recalled. “If these whales wanted to, they could have just flipped us over easily – they’re massive creatures,”

But Lee-McNamee said …