News

Have you ever done that trick with your dog where you spin around and the pooch mimics you on its hind-quarters. Now imagine doing the same thing with a 60-ton sperm whale.

After years of bringing underwater photographers face to face with the ocean’s largest predator, “whale whisperer” Andrew Armour has learned to have the sperm whales mimic his actions. Spinning in the water in front of the sperm whale, it takes only a few seconds before the massive cetacean does the exact same.

“The performance of spinning and getting them to do likewise is simply from my idea that they should also be enjoying the interaction, and that is what makes what I do so successful,” explained Armour.

Underwater photographer Scott Belt captured the interaction, one he describes as “unbelievable.” If you’re hungry for more sperm whale imagery, we’ve got you covered with a behind the scenes look at the viral whale “poopnado” and Amanda Cotton’s experience photographing the behemoths with the Sony RX100 III in Fantasea housing.