Some whale watching experiences are full of excitement, particularly when these massive marine mammals breach and slap the water with their fins.
But the quieter moments are no less thrilling – as researchers found out during an expedition to Dominica in 2022 when they came across a family of sperm whales taking a nap.
“These whales spend approximately 7 percent of their day sleeping vertically near the surface in short 10–15-minute periods,” says Kat Millage, a marine scientist at National Geographic Pristine Seas.
Nat Geo Pristine Seas shared the magical footage of the huge whales slumbering while upright, like towering underwater trees, on Instagram.