"Lying on the surface in deep water off Vava'u, I found myself directly above a young calf. Despite its almost biblical pose, the calf kept one eye on me. The markings lower down on its underside resemble a face A very young calf plays at the surface, peering across with one eye before rolling upside down to look back with the other"
"Far out in the deep ocean, two humpbacks move as if in slow dance, circling one other with fluid, precise and expressive control. Their movements reveal the remarkable agility of these giants, offering sculptural moments both in solitude (as pictured here) and together A young calf uses its pectoral fin to gauge the distance as it passes by. It's remarkable how aware they are of their size"
"The barnacle Coronula diadema, unique to humpback whales, clings to the underside. You can see the circular scars left where others were once attached The two whales, still locked in their dance, one arching back over the other as a trail of bubbles follows the sweep of the pectoral fin A young calf rests on her mother's back as she lifts her gently to the surface to breathe"
Young humpback calves off Vava'u exhibit curiosity and rapid growth, repeatedly approaching swimmers and locking eyes. Calves use pectoral fins to gauge distance, roll to view with either eye, and rest on mothers' backs during gentle lifts to the surface. Mothers suspend vertically in the water column to nurse while calves descend to feed. Groups produce heat runs with multiple males pursuing a mother and calf, and pairs weave through beams of midday light in synchronized, sculptural movements. Tail slaps and pectoral sweeps create trails of bubbles. Barnacle Coronula diadema attaches to ventral undersides, leaving circular scars.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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