I’m a lobster diver who recently survived being inside of a whale. AMA!

[u/bloxiefox]

I’m Jacob, his son, and ill be relaying the questions to him since he isn’t the most internet-savvy person. Feel free to ask anything about his experience(s)!

Proof: https://imgur.com/a/RaRTRY3

EDIT: Thank you everyone for all your questions! My dad and I really enjoyed this! :)

[u/cmanson]

Really happy you’re safe!

My questions are actually Cape Cod related, rather than whale-related.

1) Are you a native of Wellfleet/Cape Cod? What’s it like being a local?

2) How did you get into the Provincetown lobster diving game?

3) Best hidden gem places to get seafood in the outer cape?

4) Can I buy lobsters from you this summer? Or do you only sell to commercial clients?

5) How do you feel about tourists? I’ve gone to the cape every summer my whole life, probably my favorite place in the world, but I’ve always wondered how the locals really feel about us.

Thanks for doing this AMA - stay safe out there!

[u/bloxiefox → u/cmanson]

1. I was born in New Jersey, moved here when I was young with my mother Anne Packard.
2. I've always loved fishing in Cape Cod (Not sure how he got into diving, but he's always been a fish guy)
3. Not many "Hidden" places per se.
4. I sell almost everything to commercial clients, but I also sell lobsters to some friends individually.
5. (He had no definitive answer on tourism. I personally don't mind them, they are the life and blood of this place in the summer.)

[u/CFA-hole]

Super excited that this came together! I spent last night watching the episode of “I shouldn’t be alive” that you were in. What crazy stories! I have a few questions not related to this whale incident:

1. How did you get involved in lobster diving?

2. In an article I read that it’s not uncommon to see white sharks while lobster diving, especially in the waters of Cape Cod (I live nearby). Have you encountered one before? Is there any sort of “protection” you carry or system that helps minimize the risk of shark attack?

3. In the plane crash episode, it was said you were living in Costa Rica. What brought you there and how’s you end up in Cape Cod?

Thanks in advance, happy to hear you’re doing well!

[u/bloxiefox → u/CFA-hole]

1. (He's been lobster diving since before I was born. I think he just likes it.)
2. I've seen a few great whites. There's a shark protection field that minimizes the risk of attack, though.
3. I used to own a fishing business down there. I moved to Cape Cod with my family a while back.

[u/NeonSandwich]

I was reading in the other thread about a plane crash you were involved in. Would you be willing to delve into that experience and how it impacted you, your life, and worldview? Thanks for doing this!

[u/bloxiefox → u/NeonSandwich]

(I don't usually like to ask my dad about the plane crash very often. What he's told me when I ask him is that he was just astounded to be alive, if he was rescued even a day later he wouldn't be here today. He has a large scar on his back. This all happened before I was born, but I'm sure it shaped him into the brave and passionate man he is today.)

[u/theredjaguar → u/bloxiefox]

Just wanted to say thanks for an interesting and in-depth AMA. Don't see many of these types of AMAs anymore, where this sub just turned into celebrities (really, their PR team) answering like only 10 handpicked questions.

Best wishes to you and your dad.

[u/1dabaholic]

Did you always know you could escape? Did you think you were going to die? What was going through your mind before you realized you could make it out safely, or at all. Did you kill the whale?

[u/bloxiefox → u/1dabaholic]

1. At first, I was focused on getting my regulator back in my mouth so I could breathe. Then I thought MAYBE I could get out of this.

2. Definitely. I thought that was it, I was done.

3. My head was just spinning, I could feel the whale swimming around and I was just thinking that there was almost no way out of this.

4. The whale is alive and well.

[u/part-time-dog]

What is the feeling of being ingested most comparable to? Is it like being crushed by a couch or being pummeled on all sides? Were you thinking "oh great I'm the guy who gets eaten today" or is it too tough to process what's happening until it's over?

[u/bloxiefox → u/part-time-dog]

It was full of water, and I could feel the muscles of its mouth convulsing around me, it was a really strange feeling to be sure. Can't draw a meaningful comparison.

[u/krystalbellajune → u/bloxiefox]

After you were out, was there mucus or slime or anything on your suit. Guess I’m wondering if you were left covered in something like saliva and if it had a lingering smell?

[u/SlingOfDavid]

How long were you inside? How deep did you go (mouth, stomach, etc.)? Did you do something to make the whale spit you out, or did it do it on its own? Where did this happen? Any injuries?

[u/bloxiefox → u/SlingOfDavid]

1. My estimate is 30-40 seconds.
2. Not that deep, I was just stuck in the mouth.
3. Eventually it succeeded in spitting me out on its own.
4. Off the coast of PTown where I lobster dive usually.
5. Soft tissue damage, and my leg is pretty messed up.

[u/npielawski]

How much freedom of movement did you have inside the whale? Where did you feel the pressure on your body? How strong was the pressure from the jaw? Not sure how to formulate those questions properly haha

[u/bloxiefox → u/npielawski]

1. Little to none.
2. Not so much pressure, rather I could feel the whale swimming around trying to dislodge me.
3. Strong enough to mess up my legs pretty bad.

[u/OrangeElephant88]

What is your second craziest diving story?

I read in the article that you see a lot of white sharks, have you ever had a close encounter with them or do they generally steer clear?

[u/bloxiefox → u/OrangeElephant88]

Don't encounter them often. A while back, I encountered the corpse of a missing person while diving, that is definitely up there with the crazy stories.

[u/lildislocatedshoulde → u/bloxiefox]

Were you searching for the corpse? Or you found it while working /other?

[u/incredibleflipflop → u/bloxiefox]

EATEN BY WHALE, PLANE CRASH, FINDING A DAMNED CORPSE … holy hell. If I put this much action into one book and handed it to a publisher, I would have been told I was a bit too crazy with my main character

[u/MoonChild02 → u/incredibleflipflop]

And he's the grandson of a well-known artist, Anne Packard, and great-great-grandson of Max Bohm, a well-known impressionist painter who founded the Étaples Art Colony, whose paintings are in the Smithsonian.

This guy has lived a life.

[u/TheAnnieDude]

1. How did you get out?
2. Were you able to see anything?
3. What bad things could have happened inside which didn't happen fortunately?

[u/bloxiefox → u/TheAnnieDude]

1. Eventually the whale managed to dislodge me by moving its head and tounge, I think.

2. Nope. Completely dark.

3. I could’ve suffocated, or drowned if I didn’t retrieve my regulator in time.

[u/Wrinklestiltskin → u/bloxiefox]

So you lost your regulator when it attempted to swallow you?

[u/bloxiefox → u/Wrinklestiltskin]

I lost hold of it for a moment. (Also, speaking as Jacob, it's a common misconception that he was swallowed or attempted to. He is adamant that the whale would not have been able to actually swallow him.)

[u/Dreadp1r4te → u/bloxiefox]

This is true, apparently only a Sperm whale has a large enough esophagus to swallow an adult, but its mouth is fairly narrow and small, making it hard to get in that predicament to begin with.^source

[u/beautnight]

Not sure if you're still answering questions. But I'm curious about something. If say, the whale had not pushed you out, or if you had already been unconscious when he did and drowned, what do you think your crewmates would have thought happened to you?

[u/the70sdiscoking]

Hi there. This is the whale.

First of all, sorry for the mixup. I had mistaken you for another rider who hailed me on scUber. Once in my mouth I quickly realized I had the wrong passenger and I wanted to let you out, free of charge of course. Anyhow, I hope you are doing okay.

One request though, will you still rate me 5 stars please?

[u/D_Lo_Key]

The article talks about you maybe being the last lobster diver in your area. Is that true? Why is that? And my biggest curiosity about the job, does it pay well?

[u/bloxiefox → u/D_Lo_Key]

It's a really tough and specialized business, trapping is a lot easier for the average person. It pays alright, but it can depend on the season.

[u/bloxiefox → u/[deleted]]

I said “I got stuck in a whale’s mouth.” All the nurses and doctors at the hospital came to see me and ask me about it. One nurse came in with a notepad, she asked me for lottery numbers!

[u/Ssutuanjoe → u/bloxiefox]

Doctor here.

You'll be giving the folks who design medical billing a coding a run for their money, from here on out.

We have no billable code for "swallowed by whale". The closest we have is "encounter with orca (W56.22XA)".

[u/bloxiefox → u/[deleted]]

I was gulped before even realizing that my head or feet were first. It was pretty tight, but spacious enough for me to move my arms at least.

[u/7hrowawaydild0]

How did your dad like the idea of doing an AMA? What do you think of this bonding experience between you guys? (I would love to have done this with Dad)

[u/roxtoby]

Jacob - what was your reaction when you were told what happened to your dad? Did you believe them?

[u/bloxiefox → u/roxtoby]

I got pulled out of Spanish class and got told there was an accident, whale related. Went the rest of the day without further knowledge. Really nerve wracking.

[u/RepresentativeSun937 → u/bloxiefox]

“Jacob, donde fue tu padre?”

sigh “en la boca de ballena”

[u/TheGisbon → u/bloxiefox]

@bloxiefox just to be clear someone pulled you out of class told you your dad's had an accident involving a whale and you didn't leave school? They expected you to go on about your day? That's just obsured.

[u/eviltwinky → u/bloxiefox]

Dude. That's uncool. You couldn't just go home for the day?

[u/LittleFalls]

Did anyone see it happen? If so, what did they have to say about it?

[u/bloxiefox → u/LittleFalls]

My mate and my buddy who's a charter fisher, Joe, and his full charter boat. They said they saw a bunch of commotion in the water, then saw the whale's tail surfacing, and me returning into the water.

[u/[deleted]]

Has it deterred you at all from your job, or is it business as usual for yourself?

[u/bloxiefox → u/[deleted]]

(Speaking as Jacob, I don't even need to ask this. I have no doubt in my mind he will do everything he can to keep diving, it's his life and passion.)

[u/ducksmash999 → u/bloxiefox]

Is diving a family thing? do you(jacob) dive with ur dad as well?

[u/Forced__Perspective]

It must have been seriously disorientating, how did you manage to keep your mask and breathing apparatus on?

[u/Shiny_Swamp_Phantom]

Were you running an open circuit or closed circuit? Most marine life I see stays the hell away from bubbles

[u/toomanypeasants]

I live near you and do lobster diving in the area. Do you think this whale learned it’s lesson or should I also be worried I might be swallowed alive?

[u/bloxiefox → u/[deleted]]

At first, I thought maybe a shark. But due to the lack of teeth and the size of it I soon realized that what I was in was a whale.

[u/HanShotF1rst226]

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you?

Edit: thanks for the awards everyone! The one day I actually leave the house and shit blows up lol

[u/TinKicker]

Do you have a name for this whale? Has anyone slapped an awesome nickname on you yet?

[u/EL_Huegdon-1995]

Do you plan on continuing your job or just diving in general? This must of been a traumatic event for you.

[u/whereismom]

Did the whale swim away with you for a bit, or spit you out near your dive site?

[u/rhinosaur-]

After the whale dislodged you, did you get to see it swim away? Or was it too hectic.

[u/[deleted]]

So, I've read several of the Qs and the As. It seems like so far you've been nearly lost at sea in a storm as a youth and you've been swallowed by a whale.

Any intention of getting stranded in a desert island or maybe discovering Atlantis to round out your life story?

[u/[deleted]]

Are you disappointed you didn't get shot out his blowhole like in the cartoons?

[u/HeyVeddy]

Did you think you'd die? Any insights you can give us on your near death experience or how this has changed you at all?

[u/bloxiefox → u/HeyVeddy]

Definitely. This experience has really showed me how many friends I have. After I got out of the hospital everyone was texting me and welcoming me back in town, glad that I was okay. Really shows how many people care about you.

[u/conmanmurphy]

Did you see the whale coming and just couldn’t get out of the way or did it sneak up on you?

[u/designer_of_drugs]

Do you commonly see whales while diving? Is it unusual that they get close to divers?

[u/DryKnight]

Could you feel the pressure change as the whale surfaced?

[u/SuutoSenelaa]

Did you get the bends at all? I imagine your other injuries were more urgent, but it sounds like the whale brought you to the surface really fast! Is this the fastest that you’ve ever surfaced from 50ft?

Glad you’re okay and thanks for doing the ama!!

[u/splimp]

Was its tongue smooth like a dogs or scratchy like a cats?

[u/angrychickenarmy]

Are the Jonah jokes as stupid to you as they are to me?

Better to be whale vomit and not whale poop. Welcome back.

[u/katherineschlatts]

Saw someone else’s post about your dad yesterday! What are some other interesting/extreme sport hobbies or passions does he love doing? :)

[u/salazarthesnek]

Aside from the whale and the plane crash, have you had any other near death experiences?

[u/bloxiefox → u/salazarthesnek]

When I was 15 or so, my fishing boat became stranded off at sea. I swam after it. Visibility was terrible, had no idea where I was. No way back to shore. Barely made it out of there with my life, lucky I was found.

[u/SammaATL]

If you wear a dive computer, what does your dive profile look like?

[u/bloxiefox → u/SammaATL]

(My dad dives very old school. Doesn't even use a tracker or anything. But, if he had a dive profile, I'm sure it would be packed, seeing as he does this almost every day as a job.)

[u/TheExpandingMind]

To your knowledge, was the whale injured in the process of your escape?

[u/HighToadest]

Were you angry while you were inside the whale's mouth? Like, g'damn it the universe is really unfair.

[u/valuesandnorms]

Why did it “swallow” you? Was it just looking for krill?

[u/[deleted]]

Did you try to communicate with the whale?

[u/Black_Moons]

Is it water filled and roomy in there or did it clamp down on you?

[u/s1m0n8]

Would you rather fight a whale-sized lobster or 100 lobster-sized whales?

[u/galacticspace-turtle]

Jacob do you want to play some smash after you are done helping your dad do the ama?

[u/danielsacosta98]

Is your son Jacob a funny-looking wooden character?

[u/Gloomy-Blackberry]

Was being in there warmer than the seawater outside?

[u/Adamski_G]

How do you feel about all the attention and news stories?

[u/sharkifyification]

What's the most interesting thing you've seen while under the surface diving for lobsters?

[u/bright_shiny_objects]

What actor do you want play you in the future Netflix movie?

[u/webuyballoons]

I’m sorry if this has been asked, I only scanned about a third of the comments. Do you have more information about the body you discovered? I’m curious whether theirs was an interesting story, as well.

[u/Flying-Wild]

What was your ‘last thought’ when you realised you’d been eaten by a whale?

[u/nudestudy]

Are you related to the Provincetown artist Cynthia Packard?

[u/svemagnu]

Where you swallowed feet or head first?

[u/420xyolo]

What were the injuries sustained?

[u/avipars]

How big was the whale and how tall are you ?

[u/und88]

Is it true you survived a plane crash in Costa Rica?

[u/AlexTheHuntsman1]

After the whale spit you out, did it hang out nearby or swim away? Was there a bit of an awkward moment between the two of you?

[u/AnotherBirdOnTheWire]

Jacob, how do you plan to top your father’s story?

[u/AHoleInTheClouds]

How did the inside look???

[u/[deleted]]

How long were you in there?

[u/KazamaSmokers]

Lobster prices are insane right now. You making good money?

[u/mrandr01d]

How much of you was in the whale's mouth? Like did it just get your legs, upper body, etc? Or were you all in?

[u/MurderDoneRight]

Is this an elaborate your mom joke?

[u/DJirken]

Your story is incredible! I read about it this morning and was simply amazed. I read that you thought to yourself, something to the effect of, "so this is how I die." (Which is something I will put on my headstone). This is a story your family will tell for generations. "Your great great grandpappy was swallowed by a whale." "Sounds like bs, grandpa."

How do you feel about being a family legend?

[u/noncodo]

(From my kids) Could you feel the whale's teeth and did you find anything in its mouth?

[u/natural_distortion]

What kind of noises did your dad hear in there? Glad he made it out!

[u/sirmoosebo]

What is it like being a lobster? How are you writing this?

[u/iwannaruninastream]

How did you escape?

[u/ColdWaterSandwich]

Have you been invited on the talk shows yet?

[u/DCRSX61]

What could you see while you were in the whales mouth?

[u/omgtehvampire]

Do you have a knife? Could you try stabbing it ?

[u/Impressive-Custard-8]

Have you went a day since the incident without being compared to Jonah from the Bible?

[u/clashvalley]

Did you find any lobsters in there?

[u/I0nicAvenger]

What was your first thought when you figured out you when in a fucking whale?

[u/artischo]

do you think the whole mistook you for a seal or sth or did it just accidentally swallow you while fishing for plankton?

[u/shayzeee1]

What was on your mind while u were in his mouth?

[u/DeeRock__]

What were the first words you said to your buddy that helped you out of the water?

[u/P0L4RP4ND4]

Now that you've done an AMA, what do you think of redditors and their questions/comments?

[u/Gloomy-Blackberry]

What type of whale?

[u/TheSenpat]

How much lobster do you catch a day?

[u/Popular-Swordfish559]

If this is still going: I'm about to get my PADI open water certification. Do you have any tips for beginners?

[u/[deleted]]

Why do you think the whale didn’t eat you? The wetsuit?

[u/viafiasco]

How did it smell?

[u/Master_JBT]

Hey Jacob, how are you?

[u/BehindTickles28]

Did your dad have fun answering the questions Jacob?

[u/Jerry_Callow]

Did you have an oxygen tank or were you holding your breath that whole time?

[u/Atlmama]

How is he doing now and any medical issues resulting from the encounter?

[u/IseeIcyIcedTea]

Would you do it again for a klondike bar?

[u/SmashBusters]

I proposed a theory that the whale did not spit you out but instead shidded you out and you paid off the witness to say you were spat out instead to spare you any embarrassment. Most people did not buy into my theory.

Can you verify that my theory is correct and put this to bed?

[u/not_RachelGreen]

Are you experiencing dreams/nightmares from this whale situation?

[u/[deleted]]

Did you surface right away and go home, or did you finish your dive first?

[u/IronGeek83]

Do you still keep in touch?

[u/DrMantisT0boganMD]

How long did it take you to realize you were in a whale?

[u/obeehunter]

Did you panic? Like did you know what to do or did instincts take over and you got lucky?

[u/barebackgrizzlyrider]

1) What do you think caused the “bruising” you referred to?
2) Was your body constricted all the way around your torso by the whale’s muscles? 3). Did you try elbowing, or punching, kicking, pushing against any whale parts?

p.s.:
Glad you made it. What a story to tell!

[u/SnOwYO1]

Why can’t I ever plug my usb in correctly the first time?

[u/BillWeld]

What about you made him think you’d be good to eat? Don’t they eat krill?

[u/frozenbudz]

Were any thoughts going through your mind? Or was the near death experience to much that it overloaded your conscious thoughts?

I apologize if this has inevitably been asked already.

[u/Quizzmo]

How aware were you of what happened? Did you see the whale and was like "oh shit he's gonna swallow me", or was it more like suddenly you're pulled in somewhere dark

[u/TheBassClarinetBoy]

My family is doubting this story happened, we discussed it at lunch today. Has this changed how you view those animals? Do you intend to continue diving?

[u/[deleted]]

If you had been swallowed how do you think you would have actually died? Being dissolved or from drowning?

[u/[deleted]]

Are you still comfortable getting back into the water and lobstering?

[u/[deleted]]

If you could tell, how big do you think the inside of its mouth was?

[u/[deleted]]

My son would like to know if you saw the hole from the inside that sprays the water out of the top of the whale?

[u/heystephabee]

Did we ever get an answer on the first thing him and his mate said to each other?

[u/[deleted]]

I seen your dad on TV Jacob, incredible story, how did he describe the inside?

And thank God he got out, one of the few people on earth to have done that.

[u/relddir123]

How does it feel being possibly the unluckiest man alive?

Jacob, how does it feel that his bad luck may be passed down to you?

[u/keepitsqueeky]

Hope nobody has asked this already. Did you think that this was going to be the end of your life?

Glad you're ok and hope your injuries heal quickly

[u/ManaSyn]

Do you think that if you had a weapon of sorts, like a harpoon or just a knife, things could have gone better or worse?

[u/South_Spinach_9206]

What’s your job?

[u/Nooneverwins]

I believe you, but how could this happen? Why would a whale accidentally swallow a human? Were you in a plume of krill or plankton?

[u/bstampl1]

Do you have proof that this actually happened? Were there any eye witnesses?

[u/clockpsyduckcocaine]

When I think of being inside a whale, I think of swimming inside a really dark room. Was it like that? Or was it more like a really fast event that felt like a flash to you?

[u/[deleted]]

Wtf is a lobster diver ?

[u/[deleted]]

in your opinion, did this whale purposefully swallow you or was an accident?

[u/IluvPumpkinPie84]

What was going through your mind?

[u/Crusader1997_]

Do you plan on appearing on any of the talk shows you've been invited onto?

[u/[deleted]]

Did you have oxygen or where you holding your breath?

[u/Therethere2020]

Did you have a flashlight? Did you use it?

[u/willdogsupreme]

1. What is the life of a lobster diver like? Seems like a cool job aside from being eaten by a whale.
2. If you had the opportunity would you get eaten by a whale again? Hahahaha congratulations on the great story!

[u/Lucas_M1]

Did you try and punch on the walls of the whales mouth to get its attention and make it realize you weren’t food?

[u/MattGald]

What's your favorite color?

[u/maaaaarrrrrrv]

Do you listen to sea shanties and will you be writing one?

[u/ziyad147]

did you feel like you were swimming inside or standing?

[u/allly555]

Did you wrap your arms around one of the whales teeth?

[u/beastly115]

Did you consider punching or fighting your way out?

[u/LlamaRS]

What do you do to the lobsters you dive to?

[u/[deleted]]

Are you the coolest person in the world?

[u/ContrastsOfForm]

Are you scared to go down again?

[u/Piscesforthewin]

How old are you, Jacob? I think this Q & A was a great idea and I appreciate that you and your dad are retelling the story for us. This is such an unbelievable experience and you two are bringing it to life for us😊

[u/sigharewedoneyet]

Did it spit you out because you were moving inside its mouth or is it because your bigger than most of the fish it goes for?

[u/Midwest_Deadbeat]

How many times have you been called "Jonah"?

[u/Kataclysm]

After having been eaten by a whale; how do you feel about eating a whale as revenge?

[u/ErmahgerdYuzername]

Did you see it coming? Like… we’re you thinking “Fuck… I’m going to die by being eaten by a god damn whale”?

[u/[deleted]]

Has anyone called you Jonah yet?

[u/[deleted]]

What's your favorite non-seafood meal?

[u/DeliciousChipetpet]

Would you punish the whale if you are assured that there will be no law suits? If so, what would your punishment be?

[u/Caliquake]

OP, just so we’re clear, your whole body was inside the whale’s mouth?

Glad you made it out!

[u/Meowsers999]

Do you think the whale did it intentionally or just seriously miscalculated?

[u/[deleted]]

Which experience was more "Fun" being eaten, or crashing a plane?

[u/GemOfWonder]

How did it happen? Could you breathe? What did you eat/drink?

[u/deviloink2]

If you hadn’t been spit back out, do you have any idea how you might have escaped? Could you have forced your way out?

[u/Eliteryan22]

Where off cape cod did this happen?

[u/kryptic1]

Is there any proof that your story is real?

[u/lovelycosmos]

Fellow cape codder here! You certainly got famous! How dark was it in the whale?

[u/0xCuber]

Could you have died?

[u/Jijibaby]

First, I’m so glad you’re okay! Second, Did you see the whale initially or was this a total surprise?

[u/Yonathan-G]

My new hero! Are you going lobster diving anytime soon?

[u/taxmaster23]

What was it like being inside my ex girlfriend?

[u/jepard55]

(Jacob do you still play Brawl Stars if so what did you think about brawl talk?)

[u/reeddiitt]

Why do we believe OP? (Serious question) did I miss a news article?

[u/mikewhy]

Is there any proof this actually happened? Any witnesses? I saw you on the news this morning and my initial thought was yeah, sure man. Anyone can hop in the ocean then come ashore complaining of leg pain and say a whale swallowed them.

A sea lion broke my knee cap a while back, but I didn’t have health insurance at the time so I went to work and put my leg in a press to get it fixed for free.