Sperm Whale (Pottwal) is diving under the whale watch vessel

This happened on August 17th 2010 off Lajes on Pico/Azores. I went out with Aqua Acores and a curious female sperm whale first watched at the people on the boats and than she came closer, turned a little on her side to be able to watch up and carefully swam directly under our little boat. She came up just beside me on the other side of the vessel. Later she came again and I took an underwatermovie too. This was an incredible exciting moment. I feel honored to be chosen by the whale.
NEW Video including slides UNDER WATER: http://youtu.be/I_FyPYLCl_c

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• sperm whale
• Pottwal
• whale watch
• Pico
• Azoren
• Azores
• Acores
• whale
• Doris Thomas

[SIFAKA17]

I swam with spermwhales and , believe me it's a great exprerience but my favourite are bootlenoses and humpbackwhales with who, I often qwim and try to understand them; connexion...

[AutorinDorisThomas]

@SIFAKA17

You are obviously in a lucky situation to have these chances. I envy you.

Snorkeling with sperm whale at the Azores is only alowed with special permissions for professionals I think. Only swimming with dolphins is allowed. I only had the chance to took some video and underwater pics while holding my hands from the boat into the water. Really not the same as stay in the water. I love the humpbacks too and even had the chance to meet my "adopted" humpback SEAL off Massachusetts.

[AutorinDorisThomas]

...I continue....and this whale did the same as the sperm whale on the video...isn't that crazy?

[SIFAKA17]

Spermwhale can kill you in less than a second, why they don't and why hummens still kill them !!!like the other cetaceans...

[AutorinDorisThomas]

@SIFAKA17

You are right. This is a miracle. The Azorean people did hunt the sperm whales till 1987 so many of those mammals still might remember what humans did to them...and however....they are calm and very curious and and careful when a boat is close. You see her moving so slowly and drag down her tail just before touching the boat. Amazing. We should be so happy and thankful that they do not hate us. Maybe they feel the different feelings. How knows?

[DeathtoRaiden1]

LOL at the guy arguing over the radio. Way to ruin the moment.

[AutorinDorisThomas]

@DeathtoRaiden1

lol - but isn't it funny how excited the look-out-man in his little house at the coast is while watching with the binocuar? I sense this like human reaction, nice.His excitement shows me how special this situation was. So I am not angry about him. I always have to smile.

[millicentkitten]

wonderful - am just in the process of uploading a video (close encounter with a curious sperm whale) of a similar experience off Lajes do Pico in June 2000 - our whale was smaller but her behaviour very similar - I wonder if it is the same curious whale all grown up?!

[SIFAKA17]

Yes it's crazy, that they want still to connect with us....I'm lucky, I know....

[AutorinDorisThomas]

@4redrocker

You are so lucky to have the chance to go to Lajes often. I envy you. I hope to go there next year again. I had very special two weeks on Pico because of an invitation of FUTURISMO including 13 WW tours (with Aqua Acores too). Moments I will never forget and moments that will certainly help me to write good and expressive books about whales in the future too.