Beneath the ocean’s surface, something significant sits within these iconic foreheads. It’s a brain larger than any other in the animal kingdom. 

At 20 pounds, a sperm whale brain weighs around five to six times more than that of a human. While it is said that sheer mass does not fully correlate with intelligence, large brains have persisted through mammalian evolution, providing some support for the notion that size 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 matter to an extent.  

But what does having such a large brain really mean? 

Historical studies suggest that sperm whales could learn about whaling techniques to better avoid hunters and might have disseminated those observations to other whales across the region. This ultimately led to a 60% drop in the success of whaling efforts against them. Like humans, dolphins and whales possess spindle neurons, which support thought, reasoning, memory, emotional intelligence, and communication. 

It's the communication aspect that’s in focus for researchers in Dominica. Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) launched in 2020 to begin collecting recordings to use Artificial Intelligence to decipher the clicking that sperm whales use within and across pods. Scientists have found that unique clans of whales differ in their “codas”—patterns of clicks used to communicate—much like humans differ in dialects.

On my second day on the water in Dominica, I was treated to another spectacular socialization event, where around 15 whales met at the surface, rolling and rubbing their bodies together to bond with one another. As the animals began to disperse and descend out of view, a few stragglers remained. One female showed the most courage of the group, swimming directly towards me. Sperm whales will use their clicking noises to inspect you, sounds that can reach levels louder than a jet engine. These pulses are so powerful that you can feel them vibrating through your body. The whales roll upside down to receive the return pulses through their lower jaw, helping them make sense of their visitor.

This image captures an encounter you long for: one where your subject is engaged and interactive. The interest and curiosity are no longer solely on your end. In this moment, the feelings are mutual. 

It may be true that these animals are sharing some profound observations with their language. It is also possible they are just saying “hello” hundreds of times. If the research efforts go according to plan, we may finally understand what they have to say. And maybe, one day, we’ll be able to respond to them.