Equipment: Canon EOS R5 C, Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM lens, Nauticam NA-R5C housing
Settings: 1/320 sec, f/13, ISO 1000
Location: Rurutu, French Polynesia
Each year humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to the Austral Islands, where they use the sheltered waters around Rurutu as a calving and nursing area. Observers there can document the whales’ natural behaviors with minimal disturbance.
During this encounter, a mother, her calf, and an escort male were traveling in circles near the surface. The trio maintained a consistent formation. The mother set the pace, the calf held close, and the escort followed behind. This spacing reflects the temporary associations formed during breeding season, when males position themselves near females with calves without being threatening to them.
I was already in the water when the group began circling, following a nearly identical path on each rotation. Their speed was slow for humpbacks but required my continuous effort to frame the correct positioning. They aligned briefly in late afternoon light, allowing a rare view of all three individuals moving in coordinated motion.
The lead image documents a stable, short-term social unit in Rurutu during peak season. It illustrates the behaviors that calves learn early, such as positioning, following the mother’s movements, and navigating around other whales within one of the most important reproductive habitats for humpbacks in the South Pacific.
© Alert Diver – Q1 2026