Photographer Captures Incredibly Rare Sight Of Sperm Whales Sleeping
Do sperm whales sleep? It’s not a question that gets asked frequently, but when it does, none is the wiser to answer it. That’s until now, of course, because now we have photo proof of just how these ocean giants nap.
Pro underwater photographer Franco Banfi was the one who snapped the extremely rare photo while following a pack of sperm whales in the Caribbean Sea, near Dominica Island.
They suddenly stopped moving and went into a synchronized vertical rest. A behavior that was first documented only back in 2008, when a team of biologists from the UK and Japan drifted into a group of completely still sperm whales. After further studies, they found that this collective nap occurs for approximately 7 percent of the whale’s life, in short intervals of just 6-24 minutes.
Scroll below to see the surreal image among other amazing photos Franco captured while swimming with diver Sabrina Belloni among these humongous animals.
More info: Franco Banfi | Instagram (h/t: demilked)
Photographer Franco Banfi snapped an extremely rare photo of sperm whales sleeping
A behavior that was first documented only back in 2008
When a group of scientists drifted into a pack of completely still sperm whales
After further studies, they found that this collective nap occurs for approximately 7 percent of the whale’s life…
In short intervals of just 6 to 24 minutes
Diver Sabrina Belloni posed next to these majestic creatures
Capturing the immense scale and unique beauty of these underwater giants
Here are some more facts:
592Kviews
Share on FacebookWow. How amazing. I would love love love the opportunity to meet a whale on a dive. They are kind and intelligent and often like to interact with divers. They are mysterious and beautiful.
It's crazy that something that big only needs 20 minutes of sleep!
Lol I can already see the clickbait articles: "Scientists thought they were dead, but THEN..." or "Massive amounts of pollution found floating in the Caribbean sea, you'll NEVER BELIEVE what happens next..."
Fascinating... always wondered, never knew until now. I now wonder how they keep from sinking or rising while asleep... how they keep their blowholes closed to avoid breathing in water... how they maintain a vertical orientation, and why some up and some down? And.... what do they dream?????
If you like that - you will LOVE this! Woah! Whale meets stunned humans – 600m below sea level: http://www.ecohustler.co.uk/2015/04/16/woah-whale-meets-stunned-humans-600m-below-sea-level/
I've been swimming with whale shark at Philippines years back. It's a very best experience in my life. Nothing to be afraid. This one alot bigger. Would like to swim with them someday.
They're so beautiful and majestic... We're lucky to be able to witness this.
Oh my - how wonderful an experience - thank you for sharing so very much - to be amongst the most gentle and yet (almost lets not forget the blue whale) the most gentle and intelligent sharers of our planet and be in their quiet zone - I am both a touch jealous but so happy for you that you shared that experience and have that with you forever. That is like the mega of bucket lists! Thank you so much for those gorgeous pictures.
Gentle? Ask a giant squid about that, or octopus, fish, shrimp, crab etc. Gotta do a whole lot of killing to get that big when there's no tofu around.
Load More Replies...My dream is to see these animals in reality. .. they are amazing. ...and those sounds they make just bring you to some different world. .. theres smth about them and dolphins. ..undoubtedly
What a spiritual and humbling experience to share such a peaceful moment with these elusive creatures
Please help stop seismic testing so whales, other cetaceans and other ocean critters can get the rest they need! Not to mention, not lose their ears to the impact of the sound.
Please stop making things dark for everyone else. Nobody comes on bored panda to see your b******t.
Load More Replies...Wow. How amazing. I would love love love the opportunity to meet a whale on a dive. They are kind and intelligent and often like to interact with divers. They are mysterious and beautiful.
It's crazy that something that big only needs 20 minutes of sleep!
Lol I can already see the clickbait articles: "Scientists thought they were dead, but THEN..." or "Massive amounts of pollution found floating in the Caribbean sea, you'll NEVER BELIEVE what happens next..."
Fascinating... always wondered, never knew until now. I now wonder how they keep from sinking or rising while asleep... how they keep their blowholes closed to avoid breathing in water... how they maintain a vertical orientation, and why some up and some down? And.... what do they dream?????
If you like that - you will LOVE this! Woah! Whale meets stunned humans – 600m below sea level: http://www.ecohustler.co.uk/2015/04/16/woah-whale-meets-stunned-humans-600m-below-sea-level/
I've been swimming with whale shark at Philippines years back. It's a very best experience in my life. Nothing to be afraid. This one alot bigger. Would like to swim with them someday.
They're so beautiful and majestic... We're lucky to be able to witness this.
Oh my - how wonderful an experience - thank you for sharing so very much - to be amongst the most gentle and yet (almost lets not forget the blue whale) the most gentle and intelligent sharers of our planet and be in their quiet zone - I am both a touch jealous but so happy for you that you shared that experience and have that with you forever. That is like the mega of bucket lists! Thank you so much for those gorgeous pictures.
Gentle? Ask a giant squid about that, or octopus, fish, shrimp, crab etc. Gotta do a whole lot of killing to get that big when there's no tofu around.
Load More Replies...My dream is to see these animals in reality. .. they are amazing. ...and those sounds they make just bring you to some different world. .. theres smth about them and dolphins. ..undoubtedly
What a spiritual and humbling experience to share such a peaceful moment with these elusive creatures
Please help stop seismic testing so whales, other cetaceans and other ocean critters can get the rest they need! Not to mention, not lose their ears to the impact of the sound.
Please stop making things dark for everyone else. Nobody comes on bored panda to see your b******t.
Load More Replies...
547
51