THE SEA IS WATCHING YOU

This photograph was taken in Tonga on August 10, 2023 — one of the few places in the world where swimming with whales is both legal and ethical.

Encountering a mother humpback whale and her calf in the open ocean is an exceptionally rare experience. Success depends entirely on the captain’s deep understanding of whale behavior and the ability to navigate vast waters with patience and respect.



Even after spotting whales, the approach must be calm and quiet. A single careless movement can break the fragile bond of trust between human and whale.

Through freediving and takigyo — the Japanese practice of meditative waterfall training — I cultivated stillness in both body and mind, moving in harmony with the rhythm of the sea. Of course, I used no scuba tanks or artificial light. I was diving on a single breath.



That day, we found a mother and her calf — the mother resting below, the calf lingering near the surface.

Earning the trust of a whale mother so she allows her child to interact with humans requires more than skill; it demands sincerity and peace.

I floated at the surface, motionless and open-hearted, waiting for the calf to come closer of its own will.



And then, the moment arrived.

The young whale turned toward me, as if to say, “Come play.”

He swam gently around me, again and again, his enormous fin passing close yet never touching.

Despite the scale, I felt no fear — only trust. I knew he would not harm me.

We had accepted each other.



To capture such a living moment required total control of timing, buoyancy, framing, and instinctive camera work — a fusion of calm awareness and technical precision.



When the calf finally rejoined its mother and they disappeared into the blue, I smiled in quiet gratitude.

This image is not merely a record of wildlife; it is a poem of trust — a rare instant when nature accepts humanity not as an intruder, but as a silent witness to its harmony.