Uploaded December 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
On the morning of December 4 2014, the crew aboard Pacific Whale Foundation's vessel Ocean Explorer sighted a sperm whale swimming in Ma'alaea Bay, Maui. This is not typical for a sperm whale as they are usually found in deep, offshore waters or near deep ledges, such as the Kona coast of Hawai'i island. Sperm whales are one of the deepest diving and longest ranging cetaceans, and they are the largest of the toothed whales, or odontocetes.
Members of PWF's research team were onboard a different PWF vessel, Ocean Liberty, for a whalewatch as part of the "Researcher on Board" program, and they were able to take photos and video of the sperm whale and observe its behavior. The whale was not diving, but stayed at the surface during the time the vessel stayed with it. This may indicate the animal is sick or in distress.
On the morning of December 4 2014, the crew aboard Pacific Whale Foundation's vessel Ocean Explorer sighted a sperm whale swimming in Ma'alaea Bay, Maui. This is not typical for a sperm whale as they are usually found in deep, offshore waters or near deep ledges, such as the Kona coast of Hawai'i island. Sperm whales are one of the deepest diving and longest ranging cetaceans, and they are the largest of the toothed whales, or odontocetes.
Members of PWF's research team were onboard a different PWF vessel, Ocean Liberty, for a whalewatch as part of the "Researcher on Board" program, and they were able to take photos and video of the sperm whale and observe its behavior. The whale was not diving, but stayed at the surface during the time the vessel stayed with it. This may indicate the animal is sick or in distress.
