Quite possibly the world’s most recognizable sleepers, sperm whales are known not for prolonged periods of sleep, but for the way in which they rest. These animals assume a vertical position near the surface for just ten to fifteen minutes at a time, despite embarking on dives thousands of feet deep that can last up to two hours. They rest for only about seven percent of the day, making them one of the least sleep-dependent animals on the planet.

Encounters with these whales aren’t guaranteed, and factoring in the brevity of these rest periods means that getting to observe this behavior is extremely unlikely. I knew this going into my trip, yet I still maintained a fair bit of optimism. With almost any species, you wouldn't typically hope to see them asleep. With sperm whales, however, it's the holy grail.

On my first day, I had already been treated to a large group of whales socializing at the surface. After time spent splashing and rubbing their massive heads together in a chaotic whale pile, the animals began to slow down. The energy in the water completely shifted. I watched as a few of the whales dove down before slowly rising back toward the surface. Some distance below, they stopped their ascent and floated in place. 

When a moment arrives that you aren’t expecting, you’re overcome by a weird mix of adrenaline, stress, and excitement. It’s hardly a combination conducive to effective freediving, especially on your first day doing underwater photography. 

Previously, the action had unfolded around me, but now all the work was left to be done—diving down for a better angle, repositioning to adjust for the direction of the light, and trying to capture each of the massive subjects in frame in this eerie but incredible formation. Breathing becomes an inconvenience, as every trip to the surface to fill your lungs is time spent away from this spectacle.

For what seemed like an extended moment, time froze. Only the bubbles released from their blowholes provided movement in an otherwise static scene. Sleeping giants—completely still—but alive. And as quickly as they paused to rest, they awoke from their slumber and disappeared back into the deep.