Whales

close up of a juvenile humback whale near the surface of the ocean

Humpback whale songs change with their dives

ByDIVE StaffAug 26, 2026
New research finds that humback whales change the songs they sing based on whether they are ascending, descending, or hanging our at depth
On the Record – The extraordinary world of underwater sound

On the Record – The extraordinary world of underwater sound

ByDIVE ContributorsNov 13, 2025
Musician and composer Steve Pretty talks to Natural History Museum curator Richard Sabin about the science of underwater sound
On the Great Ocean Road – the pygmy blue whales of Timor-Leste

On the Great Ocean Road – the pygmy blue whales of Timor-Leste

ByDIVE ContributorsNov 12, 2025
Each year, hundreds of pygmy blue whales pass Timor-Leste on their migration to Australia - a privileged few get the chance to swim with them
two beluga whales swimming in a tank in marineland, canada

Canada’s Marineland park threatens to euthanise 30 beluga whales

The Niagara Falls theme park has threatened to kill its belgua whales if the Canadian governmnet refuses their export to China
Order now! DIVE Autumn 2025 print issue preview

Order now! DIVE Autumn 2025 print issue preview

Pygmy blue whales, Turks & Caicos Aggressor, underwater sound, 50 years of Jaws, Aqaba military museum, Big Shot winners
Ten fascinating facts about sperm whales

Ten fascinating facts about sperm whales

Sperm whales are one of the largest and most complex creatures on the planet - here are ten fascinating facts exploring what we know so far
sperm whale stranded on beach in skye with ropes around its head

Entangled Skye sperm whale sadly dies

ByDIVE StaffMar 5, 2025
A sperm whale disentangled by BDMLR volunteers tragically passes away a few days later, probably due to malnourishment
Whale song shares complex similarities with human language

Whale song shares complex similarities with human language

Scientists find humpback whale song has striking similarities to human languages, implying it is 'culturally transmitted' between generations
a humpback whale at the surface entangled in ropes

British Divers Marine Life Rescue volunteers free entangled Skye whale

ByDIVE StaffFeb 5, 2025
British Divers Marine Life Rescue volunteers freed a humpback whale that had become entangled off the coast of the Scottish island of Skye.
a picture of hvaldimir, the white beluga whale, surfacing near a boat

‘Russian spy’ beluga whale Hvaldimir was not shot dead

An autopsy has concluded that Hvaldimir - the beluga whale thought to have been trained as a Russian 'spy' - was not killed by gunfire
hvaldimir the white beluga whale

‘Russian spy’ white beluga whale ‘shot dead’ off Norway

Campaigners say Hvaldimir, a white beluga whale thought to have been used in Russian spy operations, was shot dead off the coast of Norway
Breaching whale capsizes small boat off New Hampshire

Breaching whale capsizes small boat off New Hampshire

ByDIVE StaffJul 24, 2024
A humpback whale has been filmed capsizing a small boat as it breaches off the coast of New Hampshire, USA
Mass Orkney pilot whale stranding

Mass Orkney pilot whale stranding

A pod of 77 long-finned pilot whales have all died after a mass stranding on a beach in the Scottish Orkney Islands
Grey whales in the northeastern Pacific are shrinking

Grey whales in the northeastern Pacific are shrinking

ByStuart ButlerJun 19, 2024
A new study reveals that grey whales are rapidly shrinking and scientists fear this could have a significant impact on whale health.
still from video showing freediver removing entanglement from sperm whale

Whale asks divers to free it from plastic entanglement

ByStuart ButlerJun 13, 2024
A video has emerged showing a sperm whale entangled in rubbish swimming up to a group of divers and asking them for help.
Decoding sperm whales’ ‘phonetic alphabet’

Decoding sperm whales’ ‘phonetic alphabet’

Scientists have analysed sperm whales' clicks and found they are combined in a way that strongly suggests a form of language
Dominican Republic commits to conserving 30 per cent of its ocean

Dominican Republic commits to conserving 30 per cent of its ocean

ByStuart ButlerApr 24, 2024
The Domincan Republic will be joining only a handful of other countries to have committed to conserving 30 per cent of its ocean water.
Marine heatwave leads to decline in humpback whales

Marine heatwave leads to decline in humpback whales

ByStuart ButlerFeb 29, 2024
A marine heatwave could have been responsible for a recent 20 per cent decline in the Pacific humpback whale population.
Featured Photographer – Ollie Clarke

Featured Photographer – Ollie Clarke

ByDIVE StaffFeb 12, 2024
British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023, Ollie Clarke, showcases some of his spectacular megafauna shots of sharks, rays and whales
group of sperm whales at the surface looking like they are having a meeting

Sperm whales make consensus, democratic decisions – but slowly

Sperm whales appear to make communal, democratic decisions - but take a long time discussing and disagreeing before they do
Dominica to create first sperm whale marine reserve

Dominica to create first sperm whale marine reserve

Dominica has announced that the world’s first marine reserve for sperm whales will be established in the Caribbean island nation’s waters
Petition launched to ban captive cetaceans in the UK

Petition launched to ban captive cetaceans in the UK

There are no captive cetaceans in the UK - but its not illegal to keep them. Marine Connection has launched a petition to change that
hmas toowoomba frigate sailing into Perth harbour

Australian Navy divers injured by ‘unsafe’ Chinese sonar

Divers from the Australian Navy have been injured by the 'unsafe and unprofessional' use of active sonar by a passing Chinese warship
Stranded fin whale found dead on Cornwall beach

Stranded fin whale found dead on Cornwall beach

A 16.5m-long fin whale, the second largest species of animal in the world, has been found dead on Fistral Beach in Cornwall, UK
a tiger shark swimming past with golden trevallies

Featured Photographer – Daniel Browne

ByDIVE StaffOct 19, 2023
Daniel Thomas Browne, winner of DIVE's BigShot Megafauna underwater photo competition, showcases some of the best of Western Australia's reefs
Nudibranchs & Whales: an extract from Helen Scales’ Around the Ocean in 80 Fish

Nudibranchs & Whales: an extract from Helen Scales’ Around the Ocean in 80 Fish

Extracts from Helen Scales’ beautifully illustrated Around the Ocean in 80 Fish & Other Sea Life, featuring two of its most iconic ocean creatures
Featured Photographer – Kaush Subramaniam

Featured Photographer – Kaush Subramaniam

ByDIVE StaffSep 8, 2023
Some stunning whale and whale shark portraits - and more - by British wildlife conservation biologist, photographer and filmmaker, Kaush Subramaniam
Thomas Cook ends tickets sales to captive cetacean attractions

Thomas Cook ends tickets sales to captive cetacean attractions

ByDIVE StaffJul 18, 2023
Thomas Cook has announced it will cease ticket sales to any attraction featuring captive cetaceans, including dolphins, whales and orcas
Featured Photographer – Catherine ‘CatSharks’ Cushenan

Featured Photographer – Catherine ‘CatSharks’ Cushenan

ByDIVE StaffJul 14, 2023
Catherine Cushenan (@catsharks) is a shark ecologist, freediver and underwater photographer with a particular love of charismatic megafauna
Our Planet II coming to Netflix in June – trailer

Our Planet II coming to Netflix in June – trailer

ByDIVE StaffMay 22, 2023
Check out the teaser trailer for Our Planet II, a four-part series narrated by David Attenborough coming to Netflix on 14 June
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