Stunning photo shows diver's close encounter with 100-foot blue whale

An underwater photographer who got up close and personal with a massive blue whale says the experience left him feeling awestruck — and incredibly small.

Tanakit Suwanyangyaun, a 37-year-old photographer and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, was exploring the warm waters off the coast of Sri Lanka when he and a fellow diver came across the 100-foot mammal.

Suwanyangyaun, who hails from Thailand, enlisted the help of his diving partner to capture a photo showcasing the truly enormous size of the blue whale, the largest animal ever known to have lived on Earth — and the result was jaw-dropping.

Photo: Tanakit Suwanyangyaun

"It looked like a submarine," the photographer told the Daily Mail. "Every whale we saw was massive, but this one was up to 100 feet long. It made me realize how tiny I am in this world."