Sperm Whale

Photo: Gabriel Barathieu · CC BY-SA

Sperm whales use the deep Vestfjorden trench as a feeding ground through the dark Arctic winter, diving repeatedly to 500 metres or more in pursuit of giant squid and fish. Surface intervals between dives last 10 to 15 minutes, and whales often linger near the surface long enough for divers to drift alongside them in the open water. The Norwegian Sea population includes both resident females with calves and transient males, making age and social structure observations a key draw for marine researchers who join guided diving expeditions.