Diving with giants: The extraordinary shots that capture the gentleness of nature's largest predator

[Judi Lynn]

Diving with giants: The extraordinary shots that capture the gentleness of nature's largest predator
By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 10:50 AM on 08th April 2010

http://i.dailymail.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/i/pix/2010/04/07/article-1264241-090884E1000005DC-895_634x952.jpg

These incredible pictures shows the gentleness of giant sperm whales as they play near the surface.
Taken in Dominica in the Caribbean, the pod even allows snorkellers to touch and interact with them.
Hunted for their oil and demonised as savage brutes in fiction such as Herman Melville's Moby Dick, these pictures show a gentler side to one of the planet's largest mammals.

They were taken by Dr Peter G Allinson, from Florida, who specialises in Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine who travels to Dominica on a regular basis to highlight these magnificent creatures.

Dr Allinson, 61, said: 'When they interact with us they approach us very closely, rolling over again and again, trying to get us to rub their abdomens and bodies.

'When you start getting close to them you feel nervous, intimidated and then as they interact with you pleasure - you realise they are intelligent.'

More:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1264241/Diving-giants-The-extraordinary-shots-capture-gentleness-natures-largest-predator.html#ixzz0kVUqiCDC

[corpseratemedia]

1. all i can say is

WOW!!!!

[DrDan]

2. spectacular pictures

[xchrom]

3. How extraordinary. Nt

[supernova]

4. Gorgeous!

Thanks for a most beautiful way to start my day. :-)

I love whales. :loveya:

In these pix, they seem to be acting like giant cats who want to snuggle. :rofl:

[gordianot]

5. Alas, much easier to interact with Whales than the GOP (subsidiary of FOX News).

[D-Lee]

7. Thanks, that comment gave me a good laugh!

And thanks to the poster also ...

[amborin]

6. K&R thanks for posting

[Blue_Tires]

8. i'm amused that bubbles from scuba tanks disturb the whales

i didn't even think they would be big enough to notice....

[JohnWxy]

9. WOW! what a picture!