Diving among sleeping giants

Do sperm whales really sleep standing up? It was not until 2008 that scientists gained insights into the sleeping behaviour of the animals. Today, the resting giants are among the most spectacular subjects of underwater photography ¬- Frenchman Stéphane Granzotto visited them in their resting area.

The sight is surreal. Rays of light dance in the deep blue of the Indian Ocean and in the middle of it all, these motionless colossi suddenly float. Like oversized menhirs, the sperm whales seem to linger weightlessly in the water. With a weight of up to 41 tonnes and a length of up to 16 metres, adult bulls have the dimensions of a semi-trailer truck. But what makes these "parked" sperm whales really unique is this sleeping behaviour, standing vertically in the sea - only a few metres below the water surface.

The short sleepers have to catch their breath every 30 minutes

According to new scientific findings, sperm whales only spend about seven percent of a day asleep, in units of usually less than 15 minutes. With good reason: a sperm whale has to come up for air about every 30 minutes.

Filmmaker and photographer Stéphane Granzotto has been accompanying a group of sperm whales for many years. In the course of time, he has become acquainted with the social behaviour of these gentle giants in many facets. He has swum with them through shallow waters and photographed them at play. But what the 48-year-old found "absolutely heartbreaking" was the moment when he first dived past the sleeping giants with careful, slow diving movements and in deep reverence. In conversation with the picture maker, his affection and respect for the sperm whales, to which he has already dedicated a picture book, becomes clear.

From the local stream to the Pacific

The Frenchman held a camera in his hand for the first time at the age of ten. In the garden behind his parents' house flowed a stream whose underwater world fascinated him from childhood. At the age of 18, Granzotto decided to go diving for the first time. Independently of this, he intensified his interest in photography and soon brought his two passions together. Today, the photographer prefers wildlife, portrait and landscape photography. He never goes on diving expeditions without his Canon R5 with underwater housing. This pays off. He has a fantastic underwater portfolio with shots from the world's oceans but also from inland waters.

Respect and patience required

The sleeping whales are an absolute highlight among all his underwater shots. But how big is the chance for ambitious amateur photographers to get similar motifs in front of the underwater camera? After all, only a few photographs of them exist so far. Despite intensive research, the animals were only discovered sleeping vertically in 2008, and it was not until another nine years later that photos by Granzotto's Swiss colleague Franco Banfi made them more widely known. Nevertheless, Stéphane Granzotto believes it is entirely possible for amateur photographers to experience the magic of these sleeping giants weighing tons - provided they have the appropriate underwater equipment and two basic character traits: respect and patience. In the waters off Mauritius and in the Indian Ocean, the chance of encountering the animals is greatest. The ideal time for this is in spring from April to May. With a little luck, you too can experience this unique feeling.

If, like Granzotto, you would like to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of underwater photography, you can look around for the right equipment at PHOTOPIA Hamburg from 13 to 16 October 2022 and improve your own skills in master classes, conferences, workshops, photo walks and much more.

The photographer

Stéphane Granzotto (48) works as a filmmaker and photographer. He has produced over forty television films and has received several awards for his work, including a Silver Palm at the Cannes International Film Festival. His photographic work today is wide-ranging, with a focus on underwater photography. The Frenchman has already published two illustrated books on this subject.

Website of the photographer:
https://www.stephanegranzotto.com/

Photos: © Stéphane Granzotto

Der Fotograf und Filmemacher Stéphane Granzotto