Encounter between sperm whales, ROVs is rare, Nautilus researchers say
Researchers aboard the Nautilus, a research vessel making a tour through the Gulf of Mexico, received a special gift when a sperm whale swam laps around the remotely operated underwater vehicle nearly 2,000 feet below the surface.
“What the heck is that?” one of the researchers is heard saying as a large form passes near the ROV. “Oh, my goodnes. What is that?”
It didn’t take long for the folks operating the ROV Hercules and watching via several cameras to figure out that it was a sperm whale. Encounters between sperm whales and ROVs are very rare, the researchers said.
“Zoom out; look around,” one of the men says.
The whale, which was first thought to be a humpback, quickly returns to the delight of the researchers.
“Oh, wow!” one of the men exclaims. “I hope we are streaming right now.”
It’s hard to tell who is talking — the crew often were “oohing” and “ahhing” over each other — but there was no doubt that if nothing else came from the day’s ROV dive the researchers would have been happy.
“He’s just doing laps!” one of the men says.
“Hello, baby,” another says as the whale hovers next to the craft and gives the ROV a good look. “See the eye? You can see the eye. Fantastic.”
