Whale watchers off the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, nearly missed the moment of a lifetime when a sneaky whale popped up right beside their boat—as they looked the wrong way. Photos taken from another boat caught the embarrassing episode on camera. The group were pictured waiting patiently with their cameras poised, and very nearly missed the spectacular sight because they were all facing the wrong way, while the whale had surfaced less than a foot from their boat. Luckily, the sightseers turned around just in time to spot the colossal marine mammal before she disappeared back into the ocean. The funny scene was captured by photographer Eric J. Smith during a trip to San Ignacio Lagoon. “She slowly and silently stuck her head high above the water to look around,” the 49-year-old from Los Angeles said. “I was in another panga a few dozen feet away and caught the …