One of the things I’ve noticed over the past couple of days is that sperm whales pass gas quite often…at least the ones here do.

Perhaps I’m reading too much into this scene, but it seems that even among whales, when you fart…you’re expected to maintain a polite distance from the group.

Etiquette is etiquette after all.

Note: Photo taken under permit.

Among the whales we encountered yesterday was a group of four young males. This is the first time I’ve seen a group of young males like this hanging out together. Male sperm whales leave their family groups and live a mostly solitary life when they grow up.

Note: Photo taken under permit.

I seem to have really good luck with sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus).

At various times, I’ve found myself in the mouth of a sperm whale, photographing a sperm whale with a large chunk of giant squid in its mouth…and today, swimming for most of the day with groups of very friendly sperm whales.

It’s been a really long day, and I don’t have it in me to write much more, but as the saying goes…a picture is worth a thousand words:

Note: Photo taken under permit.