Sperm Whales are one of the largest animals in the world, larger than a 747 aircraft! We went on a whale watching trip in Kaikura that not only allowed us a glimpse at these elusive creatures, but also provided fabulous views of the snow peaked mountains, rollicking dolphins, and albatross birds. Only the male sperm whale makes it as far south as New Zealand as the water is too cold for the female whales and their young. The sperm whale spends most of its time underwater, so we were lucky to catch a glimpse of them as they reoxygenated on the surface. Once a sperm whale dives, it will stay underwater for 30-45 minutes. The longest recorded sperm whale dive was over 2 hours long. Can you imagine holding your breath for 2 hours?
What an incredible shot! How did it feel to be so close to such an immense creature? I hope all was good with the boat trip. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
ReplyDeleteGeorgiann S.