Up close and personal: A lucky snorkeller takes whale-watching to a new level by nudging heads. The amazing photo was taken of Dominica in the Caribbean

Swimming with giants: The whales, attracted to the area because of the unique feeding opportunity, put on a breathtaking show when they are in a playful mood

The amazing pictures were taken off the coast of Dominica in the Caribbean.

Of course, you can’t make a 60ft animal do anything against its will, so it’s up to the whales to decide if they are in the mood to play. But, when they are feeling sociable, the results lead to amazing pictures like these.

Dominica has become known as the whale-watching capital of the Caribbean. Sperm whales can be seen year-round and – because the ocean floors drops to thousands of feet deep just off the coast – the whales are within easy reach of humans.

Size comparison: Despite the clear height and weight advantage, these gentle giants of the see seem to be happy with the social interaction

Whale of a time: The snapping snorkeller keeps his distance from the giant whale to capture more intimate shots